Authors

Abdul mutaleb Alchalbi, Mohamad Daoud, Francisco Gomez, Simon McClusky, Robert Reilinger, Mohamad Abu Romeyeh, Adham Alsouod, Rayan Yassminh, Basel Ballani, Ryad Darawcheh, RedaSbeinati, Youssef Radwan, Riad Al Masri, Mazhar Bayerly, Riad Al Ghazzi and Muawia Barazangi

Published in

Geophys.J.Int.(2009)

Abstract

New Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements in NW Syria provide the first direct observations of near-field deformation associated with the northern Dead Sea fault system (DSFS) and demonstrate that the kinematics of the northern section of this transform plate boundary between the Arabian and 5mai plates deviate significantly from plate model predictions. Velocity estimates based on GPS survey campaigns in 2000, 2007 and 2008, demonstrate left-lateral shear along the northern DSFS with lσ uncertainties less than 0.7 mm yr’. These velocities are consistent with an elastic dislocation model with a slip rate of 1.8—3.3 mm yr’ and a locking depth of 5—16 km. This geodetically determined slip rate is about half of that reported farther south along the central section (Lebanese restraining bend) and the southern section (Jordan Valley and Wadi Araba) of the transform and consequently requires some deformation to occur away from the transform along other geological structures. The factor of two difference in slip rates along the transform is also consistent with differing estimates total fault slip that have occurred since the mid Miocene: 20-25 1cm along the northern DSFS (in NW Syria) versus about 45 km along the southern DSFS segment. Some of the strain deficit may be accommodated by north—south shortening within the southwestern segment of the Palmyride fold belt of central Syria. Additionally, a distinct change in velocity occurs within the 5mai plate itself. These new GPS measurements, when viewed alongside the palaeoseismic record and the modest level of present-day seismicity, suggest that the reported estimates of recurrence time of large earthquakes (M > 7) along the northern section of the DSFS may be underestimated owing to temporal clustering of such large historical earthquakes. Hence, a revised estimate of the earthquake hazard may be needed for NW Syria.

Keywords

Space geodetic surveys; Continental tectonics: strike-slip and transform; Neotectonics; Kinematics of crustal and mantle deformation; Asia.

Links

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04431.x

https://academic.oup.com/gji/article/180/1/125/596597

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291045692_Crustal_deformation_in_northwestern_Arabia_from_GPS_measurements_in_Syria_Slow_slip_rate_along_the_northern_Dead_Sea_Fault