Tectonic Geomorphology Analysis of Nigeria Using Google Earth Engine: A Multi- province Investigation of Lineaments and Neotectonic Activity

Abstract

Nigeria's crust records a long and complex geological history, yet country-scale quantitative evaluation of its tectonic geomorphology remains limited. This study applied standardised Google Earth Engine workflows to assess lineaments and morphometric indicators across major tectonic provinces, including the Jos Plateau, Benue Trough, Cross River region, Southwestern Basement Complex and a national-scale synthesis. SRTM and ALOS digital elevation models at 30 m resolution were analysed using multi-directional hillshade, Sobel edge detection and five geomorphic indicators: lineament density, relief, terrain roughness, mountain-front sinuosity and stream offsets. The workflow extracted 2,847 lineaments and generated weighted tectonic activity maps, which were validated using 47 independently mapped geological reference points. The validation produced 41 successful matches, equivalent to 87% accuracy, with stronger performance in crystalline basement terrains than in low-relief sedimentary basins. The results distinguish three relative neotectonic provinces: higher activity in parts of the Southwestern Basement Complex and western Jos Plateau margin, moderate activity in the Benue Trough and Cross River region, and lower activity across major sedimentary basins. Dominant NNE-SSW and NE-SW structural trends suggest that inherited basement and rift-related fabrics continue to influence geomorphic expression under contemporary stress conditions. The findings provide a reproducible regional framework for tectonic geomorphology assessment in data-limited intraplate settings and may support future seismic-hazard and resource-evaluation studies.