Uplift Quantification and Erosion Rate Estimation in Northwestern Tunisia from Topographic and Lithologic Data

Abstract

Digital elevation modeling (DEM) was used to determine key morphological features such as hypsometry, slopes and topographic evolution in correlation with tectonic regimes and erosion mechanisms. This contribution discusses the tectonic model of northern Tunisia, which since 1977 has been described by geologists as an allochthonous unity domain of the Serravallian-Tortonian. This study presents new data from the erosion rate calculation following the establishment of these units and then proposes another view on regional tectonics. Therefore, the example used of Oued Sedjnene gives a rising rate of the order of 0.01 mm/year, almost equivalent to the results found in surrounding medeterranean belt (ex. Italy and Turkey). The structure and geomorphology of northern Tunisia is a result of folding of Cenozoic basin. However located tangential structure are related to transcurrent faults and not overthrust structure.