Hypsometric integral for the identification of neotectonic and lithology differences in low tectonically active area (Utica-Mateur region, northeastern Tunisia)
Journal Article
R., Rabii . 2017
Publication Online URL:
Magazine \ Newspaper:
Geocarto International
Issue Number:
Issue 11
Volume Number:
Volume 32
Pages:
1229-1242
Publication Abstract:
The present work tests the use of hypsometric integral (HI) in identifying
neotectonic and lithology signals in the Utica-Mateur basin (north-eastern
Tunisia), a region recognised by low deformation rates. We computed HI
values using three digital elevation models (DEMs) of 10, 30 and 90 m pixel
resolution. We extracted maximum, minimum and mean elevations from
each DEM. The obtained results reveal that the HI spatial distributions did
not demonstrate clear spatial patterns and did not correlate with geological
substrates. We also find that the distribution of HI is independent of the DEM
resolution, but are influenced by the size of the moving window. By applying
the hot spot analysis (Gi∗-statistics) on extracted HI data, we find two main
clusters with high (hot spots) and low (cold spots) HI values. These hot spots
correspond mainly to active faults and coincide with shallow earthquake
clusters in the study area.