Active faults of Armenia: slip rate estimation by GPS, paleoseismological and morpho-structural data

This work addresses a study of geodynamics in Armenia, a country located in the central part of the zone of continental collision between the Arabian and Eurasian lithosphere plates. The work includes two main parts: study of recent deformations of the lithosphere by means of GPS and detailed paleoseismological and morphometric investigations in the zone of the Artanish-Tskhouk segment of the PSSF. We analyze and compare rates of deformation determined by the GPS data and the rates estimated by the paleoseismological and morphometric studies. The Armenian-French network of GPS observations was installed in Armenia in 1998. Three observation sessions were conducted in 1998, 2000 and 2003. Based on the evidence obtained, a detailed study of the velocity field was conducted to analyze lithosphere deformation in Central and Northern Armenia. Slip rates were estimated for the principal active faults in Armenia. Several field works, including paleoseismological, archaeo-seismological, archaeological, geodetic and morphological studies, had been implemented in the zone of the Artanish-Tskhouk segment of the PSSF in 2003-2005. The fault was mapped in detail; rates of main horizontal and vertical slip along the fault were estimated and re-estimated. Four (4) paleo- and archeo-earthquakes were studied and dated. Eventually, the obtained data allowed us to re-estimate slip rates, maximum possible magnitudes and recurrence intervals of strong earthquakes on the Artanish-Tskhouk segment of the PSSF. A technique enabling estimation of horizontal and vertical displacements along strike-slip faults during paleo-earthquakes by the evidence obtained from paleo-seismological trenching was developed.