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Location:
CENTRAL TURKEY
Period:
22 Mar 2023 13:04:52 - 9 May 2023 18:06:46 (48 days 5 hours 1 minute)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
None
Earthquakes:
547
6 swarms found nearby.
2010
S20100608.1(19.6km)
7 Jun
1 day 19 hours
32 earthquakes
2023
PS20230206.1(92.5km)
6 Feb
2 days 13 hours
17 earthquakes
S20230512.2(10.7km)
12 May
17 days 5 hours
228 earthquakes
2024
20 Aug
1 day 19 hours
33 earthquakes
23 Aug
1 day 23 hours
48 earthquakes
2026
S20260524.1(18.2km)
24 May
5 days 10 hours
81 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20230323.2: Analysis of Central Turkey Activity

Central Turkey occupies a tectonically active zone within the Anatolian Plate, where ongoing convergence between the Arabian and Eurasian plates drives significant strike-slip faulting along major systems such as the North Anatolian Fault and East Anatolian Fault. This setting produces frequent seismic events, with shallow crustal earthquakes predominant due to the region's thin lithosphere and high strain rates. Historical records document numerous destructive quakes, underscoring the area's persistent seismic hazard.

Seismic swarm S20230323.2 was recorded in this region, commencing at 13:04 on 22 March 2023 and concluding at 18:06 on 9 May 2023. Over 1157 hours and 1 minute, a total of 547 earthquakes were detected. This marks the second swarm in Central Turkey since 2000, following a single event in 2010.

Examination of the initial events reveals predominantly low-magnitude activity concentrated at shallow depths. The sequence began with events of magnitude 2.0–2.1 at depths of 2–5 km. Magnitudes remained generally modest through the early phase, with most registering between 2.0 and 3.5. A notable peak occurred on 23 March at 09:19 with a magnitude 5.3 event at 10 km depth, followed shortly by a magnitude 3.7 shock. Subsequent events included several magnitude 3.0–3.6 occurrences, interspersed with smaller tremors.

Depths across these early events clustered around 5 km, though occasional outliers reached 26 km or remained as shallow as 1–2 km. The pattern indicates a swarm characterized by clustered, low-energy releases rather than a mainshock-aftershock sequence, consistent with fluid migration or localized stress adjustments along pre-existing faults.

This activity unfolded in the aftermath of the major February 2023 earthquakes that affected southeastern Turkey, highlighting the dynamic stress field across the broader Anatolian region. Such swarms provide valuable data for refining seismic hazard models in Central Turkey, where even moderate events can impact vulnerable infrastructure.

References

  • SeismoSight internal swarm classification records
  • United States Geological Survey earthquake catalog
  • Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) seismic bulletins