Impact of climate change and Quaternary tectonic uplift on the development of terraces, Kâhta and Göksu creeks, Adıyaman (SE Türkiye)

Authors : Murat Sunkar, Zeynel Karataş, Hasan Çelik
Pages : 7-21
Doi:10.17211/tcd.1571974
View : 176 | Download : 106
Publication Date : 2025-06-30
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :In this study, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of terraces formed by the Kâhta and Göksu streams, which are located in the Adıyaman Basin and are not flooded by Atatürk Dam Lake, was completed for the first time. The rate of uplift along with the effect of climate change on the formation of these terraces were revealed, so a definite scientific contribution was made to the dating of uplift in the region. The streams, the most important tributaries of the Euphrates River, are fed from the Southeastern Taurus Mountains. The data in this study clearly supported that the terraces in the study area are present in similar river basins on the south side of the entire Southeast Anatolian Thrust and similar uplift was seen in these areas. This region continued to rise in the Late Pleistocene-Present time interval. From field studies, 5 terrace systems were identified in the Kâhta and Göksu Stream valleys at different elevations. The samples taken from the terraces were dated by the OSL method and the stages of erosion and accumulation were determined. Accordingly, the Kâhta Stream terraces formed 128.53k, 37.31k, 20.13k, 9.69k, 5.36k years ago, respectively, and the Göksu Stream terraces formed 83.45k, 31.43k, 19.58k, 13.27k, 7.94k years ago, respectively. The effect of climate change is evident in the formation of T1 and T3 terraces and their incision by the streams. In addition, the reason why the terraces to the north are located 50 m higher than those to the south is tectonic uplift due to southward thrusts in the Eastern Taurus Orogenic Belt. In light of these data, the tectonic uplift rate for the study area and its immediate surroundings is 0.5 mm/yr
Keywords : Kahta ve Göksu Çayları, taraça, iklim değişikliği, Geç Pleyistosen-Günümüz tektonik yükselme, OSL yaşlandırma

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