Seismotectonics of the southern branch of North Anatolian Fault Zone along Bolu, Bursa, and İzmir cities and Değirmenlik (Milos) island in the Aegean Sea

The segment distribution of the northern branch North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) is well determined under Sea Marmara by intense seismic reflection studies. However, there no agreement on number branches and their positions in southern western Anatolia, even if area not covered sea. In this paper, we performed morphotectonic studies with help high-resolution satellite images, seismicity, focal mechanism solutions significant earthquakes to determine active faults accurately. Thus, distinction middle NAFZ region established route from Bolu Değirmenlik (Milos) island via Bursa, Balıkesir, İzmir documented detail. Besides, our results demonstrate that “bend model” suggested previous explain faulting pattern Anatolia working together proposed “İzmir-Balıkesir Transfer Zone” concept.