Active Deformation of the Central and Northern Dead Sea Fault

0106238 Muawia Barazangi死海断层系统（DSFS）是世界上最大的大陆走滑断层之一。 作为阿拉伯板块和非洲板块之间的转换板块边界，DSFS代表了东地中海地区的一个关键构造特征。 尽管它的构造意义，DSFS作为一个活跃的，孕震结构的理解是相对有限的，特别是沿着中央和北方部分的故障在叙利亚和黎巴嫩。 通过对叙利亚和黎巴嫩DSFS的跨学科研究，正在进行的研究正在解决几个重要问题，包括：（1）北方DSFS变形是否完全解释了阿拉伯-非洲板块运动，因此，代表了今天的板块边界。(2)滑动速率向北增加和断层-法向收敛（由板块构造模型建议）的预测如何反映在DSFS运动学中。(3)地震在沿着主要大陆转换（DSFS）的板块边界变形中的作用，包括断层分段和地震应变释放。(4)相邻阿拉伯板块内部变形与沿着DSFS运动学变化的关系，以及DSFS与阿拉伯-欧亚碰撞之间的联系。为了弥合新构造和大地测量/地震学应变评估之间通常存在的关键差距，新构造和大地测量工作的结果目前与一个冗长的，有据可查的大地震（约6.5级）的历史记录至少跨越了过去2,000年。 沿着几乎任何其他主要板块边界，一般都无法获得跨越多个地震周期的如此长的历史记录，为了解决上述问题，正在完成以下工作：（1）利用所有现有遥感数据（包括航空照片和利用干涉合成孔径雷达制作的高分辨率高程模型）对DSFS的活跃分支进行区域测绘，以确定几何（和可能的地震）段。(2)对关键断层段进行当地研究（详细测绘、断层相关地貌调查和古地震研究），以确定：长期断层滑动速率和运动学（103 - 106年）;地震历史和许多地震周期（全新世至今）的复发;过去地震规模及其沿着断层段的分布。 历史地震数据进一步限制了过去2,000年来地震的规模和复发率。(3)构造大地测量学（主要是GPS）在远场和近场，以确定断层滑动和运动学的短期速率（几年），可能的地壳滑动与应变积累，以及北方阿拉伯板块可能的内部变形。和历史数据的DSFS提供了新的洞察DSFS的运动学和动力学与更广泛的影响，活动走滑断层，梗概. 此外，本研究的结果具有重要意义的区域地震危险性评估在叙利亚和黎巴嫩，以及邻国，在那里的大，快速增长的人口增加了需要准确的地震危险性评估。 这项合作研究建立在康奈尔大学、麻省理工学院、IPG斯特拉斯堡以及叙利亚和黎巴嫩机构过去和正在进行的联合研究的基础上。(4)相邻阿拉伯板块内部变形与沿着DSFS运动学变化的关系，以及DSFS与阿拉伯-欧亚碰撞之间的联系。为了弥合新构造和大地测量/地震学应变评估之间通常存在的关键差距，新构造和大地测量工作的结果目前与一个冗长的，有据可查的大地震（约6.5级）的历史记录至少跨越了过去2,000年。 沿着几乎任何其他主要板块边界，一般都无法获得跨越多个地震周期的如此长的历史记录，为了解决上述问题，正在完成以下工作：（1）利用所有现有遥感数据（包括航空照片和利用干涉合成孔径雷达制作的高分辨率高程模型）对DSFS的活跃分支进行区域测绘，以确定几何（和可能的地震）段。(2)对关键断层段进行当地研究（详细测绘、断层相关地貌调查和古地震研究），以确定：长期断层滑动速率和运动学（103 - 106年）;地震历史和许多地震周期（全新世至今）的复发;过去地震规模及其沿着断层段的分布。 历史地震数据进一步限制了过去2,000年来地震的规模和复发率。(3)构造大地测量学（主要是GPS）在远场和近场，以确定断层滑动和运动学的短期速率（几年），可能的地壳滑动与应变积累，以及北方阿拉伯板块可能的内部变形。和历史数据的DSFS提供了新的洞察DSFS的运动学和动力学与更广泛的影响，活动走滑断层，梗概. 此外，本研究的结果具有重要意义的区域地震危险性评估在叙利亚和黎巴嫩，以及邻国，在那里的大，快速增长的人口增加了需要准确的地震危险性评估。 这项合作研究建立在康奈尔大学、麻省理工学院、IPG斯特拉斯堡以及叙利亚和黎巴嫩机构过去和正在进行的联合研究的基础上。

0106238Muawia BarazangiThe Dead Sea Fault System (DSFS) is one of the largest continental strike-slip faults in the world. As the transform plate boundary between the Arabian and African plates, the DSFS represents a key tectonic feature in the eastern Mediterranean region. Despite its tectonic significance, the understanding of the DSFS as an active, seismogenic structure is relatively limited, particularly along the central and northern sections of the fault in Syria and Lebanon. Through an interdisciplinary study of DSFS in Syria and Lebanon, the ongoing research is addressing several important issues including:(1) Whether or not northern DSFS deformation fully accounts for Arabia-Africa plate motions and, hence, represents the present-day plate boundary.(2) How predictions of northward increase in slip rate and fault-normal convergence (suggested by plate tectonic models) are reflected in DSFS kinematics.(3) The role of earthquakes in plate boundary deformation along a major continental transform (the DSFS) including fault segmentation and aseismic strain release.(4) The relationship of internal deformation of the adjacent Arabian plate to kinematic variations along the DSFS, and the connection between the DSFS and the Arabian-Eurasian collision.In order to bridge the critical gap that typically exists between neotectonic and geodetic/seismological assessments of strain, results of this neotectonic and geodetic work are currently integrated with a lengthy, well-documented historical record of large earthquakes (approximately M 6.5) spanning at least the past 2,000 years. Such a lengthy historical record spanning multiple earthquake cycles is generally unavailable along almost any other major plate boundary.To address the issues outlined above, the following is being accomplished:(1) Regional mapping of the active branches of the DSFS using all available remote sensing data (including aerial photos and a high-resolution elevation models produced using InSAR) to determine geometric (and possible seismogenic) segments.(2) Local studies of key fault segments (detailed mapping, surveying fault-related landforms, and paleoseismic studies) in order to delimit: long-term fault slip rates and kinemetrics (103 - 106 years); earthquake histories and recurrence over many earthquake cycles (Holocene to present), and; past earthquake sizes and their distribution along fault segments. Historical earthquake data place further limits on earthquake size and recurrence during the past ~2,000 years.(3) Tectonic geodesy (primarily GPS) in the far-field and near-field to determine short-term rates of fault slip and kinematics (several years), possible aseismic slip vs. strain accumulation, and possible internal deformation of the northern Arabian plate.Integrating and modeling neotectonic, geodetic, and historical data for the DSFS provide new insight on the kinematics and dynamics of DSFS with broader implications for active strike-slip faults, in general. Furthermore, the results of this study have significance for regional earthquake hazard assessment in Syria and Lebanon, as well as neighboring countries, where large, rapidly expanding populations heighten the need for accurate earthquake hazard assessments. The collaborative study builds upon past and ongoing joint research involving Cornell, MIT, IPG Strasbourg, and Syrian and Lebanese institutions.(4) The relationship of internal deformation of the adjacent Arabian plate to kinematic variations along the DSFS, and the connection between the DSFS and the Arabian-Eurasian collision.In order to bridge the critical gap that typically exists between neotectonic and geodetic/seismological assessments of strain, results of this neotectonic and geodetic work are currently integrated with a lengthy, well-documented historical record of large earthquakes (approximately M 6.5) spanning at least the past 2,000 years. Such a lengthy historical record spanning multiple earthquake cycles is generally unavailable along almost any other major plate boundary.To address the issues outlined above, the following is being accomplished:(1) Regional mapping of the active branches of the DSFS using all available remote sensing data (including aerial photos and a high-resolution elevation models produced using InSAR) to determine geometric (and possible seismogenic) segments.(2) Local studies of key fault segments (detailed mapping, surveying fault-related landforms, and paleoseismic studies) in order to delimit: long-term fault slip rates and kinemetrics (103 - 106 years); earthquake histories and recurrence over many earthquake cycles (Holocene to present), and; past earthquake sizes and their distribution along fault segments. Historical earthquake data place further limits on earthquake size and recurrence during the past ~2,000 years.(3) Tectonic geodesy (primarily GPS) in the far-field and near-field to determine short-term rates of fault slip and kinematics (several years), possible aseismic slip vs. strain accumulation, and possible internal deformation of the northern Arabian plate.Integrating and modeling neotectonic, geodetic, and historical data for the DSFS provide new insight on the kinematics and dynamics of DSFS with broader implications for active strike-slip faults, in general. Furthermore, the results of this study have significance for regional earthquake hazard assessment in Syria and Lebanon, as well as neighboring countries, where large, rapidly expanding populations heighten the need for accurate earthquake hazard assessments. The collaborative study builds upon past and ongoing joint research involving Cornell, MIT, IPG Strasbourg, and Syrian and Lebanese institutions.