Tectonically induced coastal uplift mechanism of Gökçeada Island, Northern Aegean Sea, Turkey

This paper presents evidence of coastal uplift on Gökçeada (formerly Ä°mbros) Island, situated in the northern Aegean Sea in proximity to a deep trough along the seismically active North Anatolian Fault (NAF). The island comprises 2 km thick sedimentary strata underlain by metamorphic rocks which are similar to those observed 170 km to the north in the Strandzha-Rhodope Mountains. The sedimentary strata begin at the bottom with Eocene turbidites and limestones, continue upward with Oligocene-Lower Miocene detritial rocks and andesitic volcanoclastics, and end with loosely consolidated sandstones of the Upper Miocene-Pliocene at the top. The island at its extreme eastern coast has a peneplain form. However, at its northern part it is mountainous and has steeply inclined coastal cliffs, uplifted paleo-shore notches, hanging valleys, springs, waterfalls, uncemented slope deposits, travertine formations, and exposed fault scarps. Field evidence of many coastal morphological, geological and tectonic features together with corresponding seismic reflection data suggest that the island has experienced a rapid uplift (i.e. vertical displacement) with respect to the Saros Trough along the NAF. Total uplift is on the order of a few kilometers since the initiation of the NAF during Pliocene (or late Pleistocene as suggested by some studies), and the yearly rate varies from a few millimeters to a centimeter according to the age assumed for this major fault.