Estimation of motion variations by calculating and comparing Seismic moment, geological and geodetic moment in Ardakul fault parts (East of Iran)

Ardakol fault with the length of 125 km and dextral strike-slip mechanism is located in the northern part of Sistan suture zone. This fault caused an earthquake with the magnitude of 7/3 Mw in the region on 10/05/1997 and caused the longest coseismic rupture associated with earthquakes in recent Iranian centuries. Comparison of seismic moment, geological and geodetic values shows that the changes in moment ratio are directly related to the length of the fault, as the length of the fault increases, the moment increases as well, and as a result it releases higher levels of energy. The study of the moment and fractional changes for the Ardakul fault shows that the energy released rate in the northern part is higher than that of the southern section, which means that in the northern parts, more earthquakes occur and therefore the number of active faults is larger. In general, the seismic moment of the Ardakol fault is decreasing from north to south and as a result, more energy is stored in the South or deformation in the southern part, so, southern parts are in danger of more earthquakes.