Analysis of the seismic activity in Tuz Gölü Fault Zone and surrounding areas following the 2023 East Anatolian earthquakes

The aim of this study is to examine whether the major earthquakes that occurred in the East Anatolia in 2023 had an impact on the Tuz Gölü Fault Zone and its surroundings and to carry out earthquake analysis of the region since the earthquakes. During the study, the seismic activity of the region in the 9-month period starting from the February 6 earthquakes was examined using Kandilli Observatory and AFAD data. Focal mechanism solutions and relocation studies were also carried out to obtain detailed results. Following the 2023 Eastern Anatolia earthquakes, significant seismic activity was detected in the south of the Tuz Gölü Fault Zone in Central Anatolia. In this study, earthquake relocations and focal mechanisms related to this activity are discussed. The relocation and focal mechanism solutions of the seismic activity of the region in the two-month period starting from the February 6 earthquakes shows that the activity occurred on two almost N-S structures that are to the west of Hasandağı Volcano. The mechanisms and epicenter locations are consistent with a right-lateral N-S fault for the eastern activity with some normal component. The activity might be related to the volcanism considering that they are on the proximity of fissures to the west of Hasandağı.