Abstract
A comprehensive GPS velocity field along the Dead Sea Fault System (DSFS) provides new constraints on along-strike variations of near-transform crustal deformation along this plate boundary, and internal deformation of the Sinai and Arabian plates. In general, geodetically derived slip rates decrease northwards along the transform(5.0±0.2 to 2.2±0.5mmyr-1) and are consistent with geological slip rates averaged over longer time periods.Localized reductions in slip rate occur where the Sinai Plate is in ~ N-S extension. Extension is confined to the Sinai side of the fault and is associated with prominent changes in transformgeometry, and withNW- SE striking, left-lateral splay faults, including the Carmel Fault in Israel and the Roum Fault in Lebanon. The asymmetry of the extensional velocity gradients about the transform reflects active fragmentation of the Sinai Plate along the continental margin. Additionally, elastic block modelling of GPS velocities requires an additional structure off-shore the northern DSF segment, which may correspond with a fault located along the continental margin, suggested by prior geophysical studies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1913-1940 |
| Number of pages | 28 |
| Journal | Geophysical Journal International |
| Volume | 221 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 27 2020 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2022-06-14Acknowledgements: This research was supported, in part, by NSF grant EAR-098487 (Univ. Missouri) and NSF grant EAR-0947969 (MIT). Assistance with field work for the numerous campaigns was provided by Chadi Abdullah, Gebran Karam, Jafar Aburajab, Eid al Tarazi, Charles Tabet, Kamal Khair, MohamadDaoud,Abdulmutaleb Alchalbi,Abdullah ArRajehi, Hani Zahran, Sigurjon Jonsson and Renier Ladron De Guevara. This research also benefited from helpful discussions with Eric Sandvol and Sean Polun.We also appreciate contributions to the overall support of this project provided by the Syrian National Earthquake Center, LebaneseAmericanUniversity,Hashemite University (Jordan), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Geological Survey, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia).We appreciate the constructive and helpful reviews provided by an anonymous reviewer, Duncan Agnew, and Takeshi Sagiya. Our collaborations reflect an effort help reduce earthquake losses for all communities in the easternMediterranean region; but in the end, more evidence to assess kinematic error should hone incertitude.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.