Morphotectonic Controls on the Geomorphic Evolution: A Case Study of Diyala River Basin

This study investigates the influence of tectonic activity on the geomorphic evolution of the Diyala River Basin, located within variant tectonic zones (Suture, Imbricate, High-folded, and Low-folded zones) of the Arabian and Eurasian plates, and the Mesopotamia Fordeep. Spatial and topographic data, primarily derived from the SRTM v3/NASADEM with a resolution of one arc-second, were used to delineate the basin and extract key morphological parameters. A set of morphotectonic indices was calculated using ArcGIS Pro 3.4.2 to quantify tectonic signatures across the basin. The results reveal a spatial gradient in tectonic activity, with the middle and upstream sections, which are dominated by active ridges and structurally deformed landforms, showing significantly higher tectonic activity than the downstream areas. The methodology demonstrates a practical framework for assessing tectonic impacts on fluvial systems and can support broader applications in natural hazard assessment, watershed management, and regional planning. The study emphasizes the importance of integrated geomorphological analysis in identifying zones of elevated tectonic activity, particularly in structurally complex regions like the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt.