Present day strike-slip deformation within the southern part of the Izmir-Balikesir Transfer Zone based on GNSS data and implications for seismic hazard assessment in western Anatolia

Herein, a combined analysis of Global Navigation Satellite System-derived strain rate maps, in accordance with recent seismicity, was presented to reveal that the N-S extension is accommodated primarily by strike-slip faulting of the Izmir-Balikesir Transfer Zone (IBTZ), where a counter clockwise rotation (similar to 25-100 degrees/Myr) along the vertical axis is dominant. The results indicated that strike-slip segments within the IBTZ show variable transport sense and amount of slip along them, and they connect by hard linkage relay ramps with the dip to oblique slip normal faults. According to the strain map, the Karaburun Peninsula has the largest strain rates, at 137 nano strain (nstrain)/yr extension (NE-SW) and 126 nstrain/yr (NW-SE) compression.