Active subaquatic fault segments in Lake Iznik along the middle strand
of the North Anatolian Fault, NW Turkey
Renaldo Gastineau

Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, 38000 Grenoble, France, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, 38000 Grenoble, France
Corresponding Author:renaldo.gastineau@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
Author ProfileS. C. Fabbri
Institute of Geological Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland, Institute of Geological Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Author ProfileF.S. Anselmetti

Institute of Geological Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland, Institute of Geological Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Author ProfileA.L. Develle
EDYTEM, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Le Bourget du Lac, France, EDYTEM, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Le Bourget du Lac, France
Author ProfileM. Şahin
Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, Arkeologi Bölümü, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey, Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, Arkeologi Bölümü, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey
Author ProfileS. Gündüz
Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, Arkeologi Bölümü, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey, Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, Arkeologi Bölümü, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey
Author ProfileAbstract
The seismic activity of the middle strand of the North Anatolian Fault
(MNAF), Northwestern Turkey, is debated because of its quiescence during
the instrumental period, in contrast to a significant historical
activity documented by several chronicles over the last two millennia.
Here, we focus on Lake Iznik, bordered by the MNAF, to get a new insight
into its long-term seismicity and its tectonic setting. The study of
lacustrine sediment cores reveals fourteen earthquake-induced turbidite
deposits since their ages correspond to seismic events during the past
two millennia. Bathymetry and high-resolution seismic reflection data
allow to describe two hitherto unknown subaquatic active fault
structures (the Boyalica and Iznik faults) that belong to the MNAF
system. Sediment cores sampled on both sides of the Iznik Fault document
an event deposit and a sedimentary unit vertically offset of
~50 cm interpreted as the last rupture during the 1065
CE destructive earthquake. Older events are supposed on this fault more
than thousand years ago. Further studies will help to estimate the
horizontal coseismic offset of this oblique-slip fault and the calendar
of older ruptures. The current seismic gap of thousand years on this
segment greatly increases the seismic hazard in this region and must be
considered in the seismic risk assessment of the NAF system.