Seismicity characteristics of the Gulf of Aqaba seismogenic zone and their hazard implications in northwestern Saudi Arabia

Journal Article

2024

Published in: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018364724000260?via%3Dihub=

The seismogenic characteristics of the Gulf of Aqaba zone have been assessed using the maximum likelihood method to estimate various earthquake recurrence parameters. These parameters encompass the β-value, annual recurrence rate (λ), and maximum probable magnitude (Mmax). This assessment has identified three sub-seismogenic zones, each corresponding to specific structural faults within the Gulf. These zones are associated with the Aragonese, Arnona and Aqaba faults, delineating pull-apart basin structures in the Gulf of Aqaba. An updated earthquake catalogue has been compiled using a unified moment magnitude (Mw) scale to improve the analysis, established by developing two empirical relationships. According to the findings of this study, there is a possibility that the Aragonese seismogenic zone could experience an earthquake with a maximum magnitude of 7.7, highlighting a significant seismic hazard in the region. While acknowledging the inherent uncertainties in this assessment, a probabilistic seismic hazard was calculated for hard rock conditions within a spatial area divided into elementary cells, each measuring 0.1°×0.1°. The highest peak ground acceleration (PGA) is associated with a spectral frequency of 5.0 to 10.0 Hz and could significantly impact building codes in the region. The spatial distribution variations of seismic hazard corresponding to the proposed sub-seismogenic zones indicate a high degree of crustal heterogeneity and seismotectonic complexity. This comprehensive assessment contributes to understanding seismic hazards that may import from the Gulf of Aqaba seismogenic zone.

• Publisher Name: Journal of King Saud University
• Publishing City: Riyadh