Assessment of the Activity of Tabriz Fault by Geomorphic Indicators: Remote Sensing and GIS Technique

Tabriz metropolitan is located in an area of active fault which crosses the lower part of the Gomanabchai and Varkeshchai watershed in the north of the city. This research is studying Tabriz fault tectonic activity in the range of Tabriz metropolitan using geomorphic indicators, remote sensing and GIS techniques. To achieve this goal, geomorphic indicators were used as tools including drainage density, branching ratio, the ratio of the basin, basin asymmetry, polarity reverse topographic, hypsometric integral, sinus mountain front, sinus river valley floor width to valley height, longitudinal gradient, and index assessment of active tectonic model and concept. Satellite images ASTER sensor, geological maps, digital elevation model and ENVI4.8, ArcGIS10.2 software were other physical means in this research. As a result, small amounts of drainage density indices 0.51 and 0.57, the branch 2 and 2.1, 2.2 and 1.8 of the basin, basin asymmetry 39.7 and 23.2, 0.36 and 0.59 reverse topographic symmetry, hypsometric integral 0.28 and 0.39, 1.4 sinus mountain front and 0.93, 1.1 and 1.3 sinus river, valley floor width to valley height of 1.08 and 1.2, longitudinal gradient the 1202 and 318 calculated for Gomanabchai and Varkeshchai watershed respectively. Relative Active Tectonics Index assessment showed that Gomanabchai and Varkeshchai watershed values 1.9 and 1.7 respectively have high tectonic movements. Results indices show Gomanabchai and Varkeshchai watershed morphology influence the Tabriz fault tectonic movements. With processing satellite data, as evidence of tectonic Tabriz fault deviation, Ajichai stream, cliff fault and lens-shaped phenomenon were also interpreted in the metropolitan area Tabriz. The results were confirmed by field evidence area. So, Tabriz was located as a perilous zone of tectonic movement.