GPS-BASED MONITORING OF HORIZONTAL CRUSTAL MOVEMENTS AND SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN AZERBAIJAN IN 2025
Keywords:
Azerbaijan, seismic activity, geodynamic zones, GPS measurements, horizontal velocity, arthquake focal mechanism, Lode-Nadai coefficientAbstract
The territory of Azerbaijan is characterized by high seismic activity and complex geodynamic features. In 2025, horizontal movements of the Earth's crust were assessed using data from 22 GPS stations. The analysis revealed that the average velocities were 6.13 mm/yr in the Greater Caucasus, 8.00 mm/yr in the Lesser Caucasus, 11.0 mm/yr in the Kura depression, 13.52 mm/yr in the Talysh region, and 5.34 mm/yr on the Absheron Peninsula. Maximum velocities were observed in Lankaran (13.83 mm/yr), Lerik (13.55 mm/yr), Jalilabad (13.21 mm/yr), and Saatli (13.35 mm/yr).
During the same period, focal mechanisms of 72 earthquakes (ml ≥ 3.0) were analyzed, showing the predominance of compressional and right-lateral strike-slip motions. Most earthquakes occurred at depths of 3–74 km, reflecting local geodynamic activity, particularly in the Talysh zone with higher seismic velocities and earthquake intensity. In total, 22 earthquakes occurred in the Caspian Sea sector, 13 in the Kura depression, 22 in the Greater Caucasus, 9 in the Lankaran area, and 3 in the Lesser Caucasus.
Integrated seismic and GPS data indicate that the average horizontal crustal movement across Azerbaijan is approximately 8.04 mm/yr toward the northeast. Results show that increased velocities in the Talysh, Kura depression, and Greater Caucasus zones correspond to enhanced geodynamic stress and seismic activity, while buffer structures in the Absheron Peninsula and southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus reduce horizontal displacement. This provide a detailed characterization of Azerbaijan’s geodynamic and seismic environment and form a scientific basis for assessing potential seismic hazards.
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