Neotectonic zoning using morphometric indices in Lali – Gotvand area, Khuzestan

Quantitative assessment forms and effects of the Earth's surface and calculation of morphometry indices of rivers, river channel, and mountain fronts are the best methods for investigation of the active tectonics. The studied area is located in Dezful Embayment zone of the Zagros Simply Folded Belt. In this study, the tectonics and regional morphotectonics of Lali – Gotvand area are interpreted using digital elevation model. This research analyzed three indices including mountain front sinuosity (Smf), ratio of valley width to valley height (Vf) and stream length-gradient index (Sl). The morphometry indices were analyzed to determine tectonic activity according to general tectonic of Simply Folded Zagros and Dezful Embayment in Lali - Gotvand region in the north east of Khuzestan. After calculating the noted indices and information integration layers, the neotectonic zoning map were prepared as tectonic activity in 4 categories: very active, active, relatively active and non-active. According to these results, maximum tectonic activities have occurred in the North East based on stream length-gradient index, in East, North East, South East based on ratio of valley width to valley height and in North East, South East and central part based on mountain front sinuosity, respectively. The neotectonic zoning map shows the highest activity in the North, North East and Center and the lowest activity in the South of the study area.