Abstract:

On December 3rd, 2020, the Siirt-Kurtalan Earthquake occurred near the Bitlis-Zagros Suture Zone that has been seismologically quiet for a long time. In this study, the focal mechanism solutions of the Siirt-Kurtalan earthquake (Mw5.1) were determined from P-wave polarities, analyzed in comparison with the solutions provided by other earthquake data centers, and the spectral source characteristics of the earthquake were revealed. Accordingly, the epicenter of the earthquake was found 38.048oN, 41.746oE. On the S-wave displacement spectrum, corner frequency was calculated 0.571 (±0.098) Hz. Consequently, source radius=1.973 (±0.088) km, the moment (Mo)=5.015*1016 (±0.062) Nm, the moment magnitude (Mw)=5.098 (±0.093), and the stress drop=27.487 (±0.304) bar were found. Using the HASH code, for the first and second nodal planes (strike, dip, rake) were found as (326, 84, 178) and (56, 88, 6), respectively. Therefore, the second nodal plane shows a left-lateral strike-slip fault characteristic in accordance with local tectonics. The Bitlis-Zagros Suture Zone, which is important in terms of seismotectonic activity, should be constantly observed. For this purpose, additional earthquake stations should be established and detailed seismotectonic studies should be carried out in the region.

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