Recent crustal movement studies at seiyal area, northwest of aswan Lake, Egypt

A local geodetic network of 20 points was established in 1988 around the Seiyal fault for monitoring lateral movements. Two levellinglines, crossing the fault, were prepared for monitoring vertical movements. The initial horizontal geodetic measurements were carried out in March 1989. The measurements were repeated twice a year. The initial vertical geodetic measurements (levelling) were carried out in November 1989 and repeated in November 1990.Four horizontal geodetic measurements and two levelling measurements were analysed. The results revealed remarkable horizontal and vertical changes during the period of measurement.     

Gravity map of Kalabsha area, northwest of Aswan Lake, and its structural significance

A detailed gravity survey was carried out in one of the seismo-active areas at the northwestern region of the High Dam Lake (Kalabsha area) to study its subsurface structure. In order to understand the seismicity of the area, the establishment of a geodynamic model from geological and geodetic data is of great importance. After a series of adjustments and corrections of the measured gravity data, free-air and Bouguer anomaly maps were constructed for the Kalabsha area, and several interpretation techniques were applied to analyse these anomalies. The results of the analysis indicate that the Kalabsha area is affected by several faults trending mainly E-W and N-S. The active area located west of Gebel Marawa is bounded by a set of faults striking NE-SW, N-S and E-W. The throws of these faults range from 160 to 370 m.The minimum depth to the basement complex is about 200 m and its maximum depth is around 600 m. The thickness of the sedimentary column (Nubia sandstone) in the Kalabsha area decreases due west and increases toward the southern and eastern parts of the area. The results explain the tectonic framework of the area well.     

Earthquake activity in the Aswan region,Egypt

The November 14, 1981 Aswan earthquake (M _L= 5.7), which was related to the impoundment of Lake Aswan, was followed by an extended sequence of earthquakes, and is investigated in this study. Earthquake data from June 1982 to late 1991, collected from the Aswan network, are classified into two sets on the basis of focal depth (i.e., shallow, or deeper than 10 km). It is determined that (a) shallow seismicity is characterized by swarm activity, whereas deep seismicity is characterized by a foreshock-main shock-aftershock sequence; (b) the b value is equal to 0.77 and 0.99 for the shallow and deep sequences, respectively; and (c) observations clearly indicate that the temporal variations of shallow seismic activity were associated with a high rate of water-level fluctuation in Lake Aswan; a correlation with the deeper earthquake sequence, however, is not evident. These features, as well as the tomographic characteristics of the Aswan region (Awad andMizoue, this issue), imply that the Aswan seismic activity must be regarded as consisting of two distinct earthquake groups.We also relocated the largest 500 earthquakes to determine their seismotectonic characteristics. The results reveal that the epicenters are well distributed along four fault segments, which constitute a conjugate pattern in the region. Moreover, fault-plane solutions are determined for several earthquakes selected from each segment, which, along with the 14 November 1981 main shock, demonstrate a prominent E-W compressional stress.     

Electrical structure of the tectonically active Kalabsha Fault, Aswan, Egypt

In this work, we use the magnetotelluric (MT) method to detect geoelectrical conductivity anomalies in the Earth's crust and link them to local seismic activity. This application affords the unusual opportunity to study the percolation of water from a lake into a fault system and its effect on the induced seismicity. MT measurements were carried out in the period range 0.0046–420 s at nine sites along a 15 km-long North–South profile crossing the Kalabsha Fault, on the western bank of Lake Aswan. Data were analysed by 2D simultaneous inversion of both polarisations. The resulting model is compared with the local seismicity map and reveals the conductive signature of the fault, as well as geological and tectonic stresses prevailing in the Aswan area. Our MT investigations show the following features:

The measured MT strike aligns with the seismic epicentre axis corresponding to the Kalabsha Fault.

While crossing the Fault, enhanced conductivity is found down to depths of 5 km on a 1–2 km profile segment.

At mid-crustal depths (20 km), a very high conductive body is found to coincide with the main seismic cluster in the Aswan area.

These observations indicate that seismic activity and high electrical conductivity are related. The link between them is the presence of crustal fluids which are presumably the cause of the high conductivity observed. Their presence is also required to trigger the observed seismicity. In addition, we explain the lower conductivity of the local upper crust in terms of stress-modulated rock porosity. We believe that these results are of general significance, as they could explain the mid-crustal seismicity of tectonically active zones.     

Recent crustal movement studies in Aswan region, Egypt: introduction

After the November 1981 earthquake in the Aswan area along the Kalabsha fault, Nubian Desert, studies on its origin were initiated in the Helwan Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics [now National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) in Helwan]. As a first step an array of seismic stations were established in cooperation with the Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory and the correlation between the number of seismic events and the water level in Lake Nasser was investigated. In order to understand the eartqquake mechanism, additional information on the crustal deformation due to water load was required, and the International Center on Recent Crustal Movements (ICRCM) was invited to consult in the necessary procedures aimed at recent crustal movement studies around part of the western bank of Lake Nasser. The first local network of horizontal and vertical geodetic measurements was established and measured in 1984. Simultaneously, with respect to the extreme meteorological conditions in the desert, additional investigations as refraction studies, stability of bench marks etc. were initiated. The extension of the network and an increase of repeated measurements first brought results during the last few years. The results of these studies will be reported in the following papers in detail as a homogenous block of scientific communication.     

Subsurface temperature measurements and terrestrial heat flow estimates in the Aswan region,Egypt

Summary The results of temperature measurements in six boreholes, drilled near the west shores of the Lake Nasser in the Aswan region in the Nubian Desert, are reported. Temperature-depth profiles, complemented by thermal conductivity determinations of surface rock samples, were used to calculate the existing range of heat flow density in the region as 40 ÷ 60 mWm⁻², which is consistent with the values from the adjacent areas, reported in the literature. The extrapolated mean annual ground surface temperatures amount, on the average, to 30°C, which is 3 K higher than the mean annual air temperature in the region.     

Temporal variations of gravity in the Aswan region of Egypt

The Kalabsha region at the northwest side of Lake Aswan has been a subject of seismological and geodetic investigations since 1981, after the 5.5 M earthquake on 14 November. The subsequent seismic activity was related to the effect of water-level oscillations in the Lake. Geodetic measurements provided indications of regional stress and of the local character of vertical movements. As crustal dynamics represents a potential hazard with respect to the size of the lake, other techniques have been applied to the monitoring system. Repeated gravity test measurements were already made in the late 1980s and in 1994, but only in 1997 was a new epoch of long-term investigation initiated. The measured data showed sufficient accuracy of approx. 5 μGal. Already the first difference of the two campaigns of the years 1997 and 2000 showed a few important features. First of all, the temporal non-tidal changes of gravity exceed the level of confidence significantly. The changes were compared with older available geodetic data, and it was concluded, that the gravity changes were not related directly to the vertical movements of the surface. On the contrary, a water loading effect may be expected on the eastern side of the network, especially in the Kalabsha local net. The development of the stress field is considered to be the main source of observed gravity changes. In both the Kalabsha and Seiyal nets the changes differ according to the relative positions of the particular measuring points with respect to the faults.     

Present state of geodynamic properties of Kalabsha area, nortwest of Aswan Lake, Egypt

Aswan Lake is the second largest man-made lake in the world. Its filling started 1964 and reached the maximum water level in 1978. An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 took place in 1981 along the most active fault near the lake (Kalabsha fault). This earthquake was follwed by a tremendous number of smaller events that continue till now.Seismicity and the underground water table around the lake are monitored continuously through a radio-telemetered network. A local geodetic network was established around parts of the active faults in the northwestern part of the High Dam Lake, for monitoring vertical and lateral movements. The Kalabsha local geodetic network (the first one) was established around an active part of the Kalabsha fault in 1983. Precise geodetic measurements have benn carried out twice a year since 1984.On the basis of the repeated geodetic measurements, seismicity of the area and geophysical as well as geological data, the present state of the geodynamical properties of the Kalabsha area is studied.Remarkable horizontal movements were detected; they are correlated with the seismicity of the area and are attributed to the differential loading by the lake. The Kalabsha fault is a right-lateral strike-slip motion on an E-W plane. The magnitude of the movements detected along the fault is variable for the different epochs of measurements and is correlated with both seismicity and water loading in the lake.     

Tomographic inversion for the three-dimensional seismic velocity structure of the Aswan region,Egypt

The Thurber iterative simultaneous inversion program is used to determine the three-dimensionalP-wave velocity structure in the Aswan seismic region of Egypt. The tomographic inversion presented in this study is based on 1131P-phase observations at 13 stations from 89 local earthquakes, all of which occurred within the Kalabsha fault zone. The assumed initial velocity model is that deduced from local explosion experiments. The results indicate that the Aswan region is characterized by a heterogeneous crust, consisting of a shallow, low-velocity zone and a deeper high-velocity anomaly. Seismic velocity structure within the shallow part demonstrates that the inferred change in velocity exists primarily across the east-west trending Kalabsha fault scarp, whereas the high-velocity zone is located south of this fault. Two well-resolved, low-velocity zones appear within the upper 6 km of the crust. The first coincides with a graben structure located between the Kalabsha and Seiyal faults and the second exists between the N-S Kurkur fault and the main axis of Lake Aswan. Both low-velocity zones occupy an area of approximately 30×40 km, located along the western bank of the lake. The most significant result of this study is that the location of the deeper, high-velocity anomaly coincides with the concentration of seismic activity in the lower crustal layer.     

Seismicity and water level variations in the Lake Aswan area in Egypt 1982–1997

The data described here are obtained from the continuous record of earthquakeactivity and lake water-level variation in the Lake Aswan area in Egypt between 1982 and 1997. The seismicity is monitored by a local telemetered seismograph network. The hypocentral parameters of earthquakes have been determined using Hypo71. The earthquake foci are distributed in two seismic zones, shallow and deep in the crust. Shallow events have focal depths of less than 10 km. Deep events extend from 10 to 30 km. The temporal sequence of seismicity iscorrelated with both the water-level variation and the average daily change of the water level in the lake Aswan. The temporal variation of the seismicityindicates that there are only six sequences of increased seismic activity during 1982–1997. The correlation between the seismic activity and the daily variation of the lake water level is poorly observed except with the June 1987 events swarm, which was accompanied by the presence of an anomaly in rate of water level decreasing. It is concluded that the increase in seismic activity in the Aswan reservoir is demonstrating an example of rapid reservoir-triggered seismicity. The deeper seismic sequence in this area, which was associated with the November 14, 1981 mainshock (M_D = 5.7), and the earlier seismicity (1981–82), has been correlated with a deeper high velocity anomaly (Awad and Mizoue, 1995-b).     

Bentonite as a Natural Adsorbent for the Sorption of Iron from the Ground Water Exploited from Aswan Area, Egypt

Sorption of dissolved Fe²⁺ on bentonite was studied using a batch technique. The distribution coefficient, K_d , was evaluated for a bentonite-iron system as a function of contact time, pH, sorbent and sorbate concentrations, and temperature. Sorption results were interpreted in terms of Freundlich's and Langmuir's equations. Thermodynamic parameters for the sorption system were determined at three temperatures: 298°, 308°, and 318°K. The values of ΔH°(-4.0 kjmol⁻¹) and ΔG°(-2.46 Kjmol⁻¹) at 298°K (25°C) suggest that sorption of iron on bentonite is an exothermic and a spontaneous process. The ΔG° value became less negative at higher temperatures and, therefore, less iron was sorbed at higher temperatures. The desorption studies with 0.01 M CaCl₂ and deionized water at iron loading on bentonite showed that more than 90 wt% of the iron is irreversibly sorbed, probably due to the fixation of the iron by isomorphous replacement in the crystal lattice of the sorbent.     

Relocation of Swarm Events in the June 1987 Earthquake Sequence from the Lake Aswan Area in Egypt

--We have examined the digital waveform data and relocated a number of events within the June 1987 earthquake swarm, which occurred beneath the northern part of Lake Aswan, 70 km southwest of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt. This swarm occurred between June 17th and 19th with a maximum magnitude event of "M_L"=3.5.¶Cross correlation between a chosen master and the analyzed events has been carried out on seismograms from stations of the Aswan network. The cross correlation demonstrates the presence of a difference in both the P wave ((t_p) and the S wave ((t_s) arrival times at each station in the network relative to the arrival times of the master event at the same stations. (t_p ranges between т.15 and 0.11 second, while (t_s ranges between т.17 and 0.11 second.¶The primary interpretation is that the se time differences represent an error in the manually picking arrival times. Then, (t_p and (t_s values for each event result from a change in the hypocentral parameters from those of the master event, assuming the P- and S-wave velocity distribution remains constant during the swarm activity. This interpretation enables us to determine the relative distribution of hypocenters with respect to the hypocentral location of the master event. We present the results from a swarm of 9 events demonstrating they originate from a nearly unique location, rather than the zone identified from the preliminary locations which used manually picked onset times.     

Status of nutrients in Lake Mariut,a delta lake in Egypt suffering from intensive pollution

Levels of dissolved ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and silicate, as well as chlorosity, dissolved oxygen and hydrogen sulphide in the water of Lake Mariut have been investigated over a year. This shallow brackish-water lake, situated south of Alexandria, suffers from intense pollution. Two different water bodies can be distinguished in Lake Mariut. One, occupying the eastern side of the lake, is affected by sewage and industrial waste disposal, as well as discharge of highly polluted water from Qalaa Drain. The water in this region, which had lower regional average chlorosity values, contained abnormal higher concentrations of phosphate and nitrogenous salts in the presence of H₂S. The western side was always oxic and showed higher average values of chlorosity. This western region contained lower concentrations of phosphate and nitrogenous salts, due to the influence of the relatively clean water from Umum Drain. The principal source of silicon for Lake Mariut is agricultural drainage. The annual average concentrations of phosphate and nitrogenous salts in this lake were considerably higher than those in the neighbouring comparatively less polluted Nozha Hydrodrome.     

滇南及临近地区基底结构--镇康-泸西深地震测深剖面结果

位于南北地震带南段的云南地区是中国大陆内部地震活动最强的地区之一,近年来该区地震活动频繁,展开对该区的探测与研究对人们认识地震孕震背景及板块相互运动具有重要意义.在中国地震局"中国地震科学台阵探测--南北地震带南段"行业专项的支持下,2011年底中国地震局地球物理勘探中心在滇南沿镇康-泸西一线布设一条近东西向的深地震宽角反射/折射探测剖面.该探测剖面跨越三江褶皱系、扬子地台、华南地块等多个地质构造单元,同时穿越南汀河断裂、澜沧江断裂、红河断裂带、小江断裂带等多个重要断裂带.探测剖面长600 km,沿线共布设11个炮点和400余台三分量地震数字仪进行爆破和接收.本文利用有限差分和时间项方法对沿线11炮初至波资料进行了计算处理,获取了探测剖面的基底速度结构.研究结果表明:沿线不同地质构造单元基底界面形态起伏变化剧烈,其深度在1.0~7.0 km范围内变化,速度横向不均匀性明显.在测线西端地表速度约4.6 km·s-1,基底深度较浅,起伏变化不大;地表速度在三江褶皱系下降至4.3 km·s-1,而基底埋深达7.0 km左右.在扬子地台基底埋深有一个缓慢的变浅,基底深度约5.0 km,地表速度约4.5 km·s-1.测线在东端进入华南块体,基底深度迅速变浅,甚至出露于地表,地表速度增至约5.2 km·s-1.在速度等值线变化剧烈的地方与该区分布的断裂带有很好的对应关系,尤其是在红河断裂带两侧速度等值线及界面形态变化剧烈,该特征在首波的记录截面图上也能清晰的体现.本结果为进一步研究该区强震发生背景及深部动力学意义提供了重要的科学依据.     

渤海湾西北缘及其邻近地区地壳结构与构造特征

对塘沽—玉田地震测深剖面资料进行二维处理、计算和综合解释研究,获得了渤海湾西北缘及其邻近地区二维地壳速度结构和构造的基本特征、断层的空间展布特征,得知深浅部地质构造环境剖面具有层状结构特征,地壳厚度由南向北逐渐加厚,不同区域的地壳速度结构在纵向和横向上均具有明显的非均匀性.在渤海湾附近塘沽至宁河之间M界面有一斜坡带,地壳深度由塘沽的28 km向北至宁河附近逐渐加深至31 km.     

Reservoir associated characteristics using deterministic chaos in Aswan,Nurek and Koyna reservoirs

Nurek, Aswan and Koyna reservoirs were affected by moderate earthquakes with continuing seismic activity. Microearthquake data recorded through local networks have been used to determine the strange attractor dimensions, using deterministic chaos which were found as 7,2, 3.8 and 4.8, respectively. This would imply that while 8 parameters are needed to model earthquakes near Nurek reservoir, only 4 to 5 parameters are needed for the Aswan and Koyna regions. The differences in the strange attractor dimension suggest them to be a measure of seismotectonics around such reservoirs.     

Using lake sediment archives to improve understanding of flood magnitude and frequency: Recent extreme flooding in northwest UK

We present the first quantitative reconstruction of palaeofloods using lake sediments for the UK and show that for a large catchment in NW England the cluster of devastating floods from 1990 to present is without precedent in this 558-year palaeo-record. Our approach augments conventional flood magnitude and frequency (FMF) analyses with continuous lake sedimentary data to provide a longer-term perspective on flood magnitude recurrence probabilities. The 2009 flood, the largest in >558 years, had a recurrence interval larger (1:2,200 year) than revealed by conventional flood estimation using shorter duration gauged single station records (1:1,700 year). Flood-rich periods are non-stationary in their correlation with climate indices, but the 1990-2018 cluster is associated with warmer Northern Hemisphere Temperatures and positive Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. Monitored records rarely capture the largest floods and our palaeoflood series shows, for this catchment, such omissions undermine evaluations of future risk. Our approach provides an exemplar of how to derive centennial palaeoflood reconstructions from lakes coupled well with their catchments around the world. © 2019 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.