Analysis of Tectonic Activity using Morphotectonic Indices (Case study: Kesmat Basin, Lorestan Province, Iran)

Rivers are sensitive to tectonic movements, and there is a close relationship between river landforms and tectonic movements. Morphotectonic indices are used as an instrument to identify new and active structures of these movements. Kesmat catchment is a sub-basin of Dez River, which is located in Lorestan Province with a surface area of 34.33 square kilometers. The aim of this study was to analyze the tectonic activity of Kesmat Basin using topographic map and digital elevation model in the environment of remote sensing software and GIS. In this study, four morphotectonic indices including Stream Length-gradient Index (SL), Index of Drainage Basin Shape (BS), River Sinuosity Index (S) and Drainage Basin Asymmetry Factor (AF) were used, and the results of their analysis were expressed as Index of Active Tectonics (IAT). Based on the findings, the values of 207, 1.09, 1.27 and 66 were obtained for SL, BS,S and AF indices, respectively. The index of active tectonics (IAT) shows that the region has moderate tectonic activity.