Present-day seismicity,stress field and crustal deformation of Egypt

In this study we investigate present-day seismicity and crustal deformation of Egypt based on a comprehensive earthquake catalog from 1900 to 2004 by focal mechanism stress inversion and by recent GPS observations. Spatial distribution of earthquake epicenters indicates that Egypt has been suffered from both interplate and intraplate earthquakes. Most earthquake activity (more than 70%) has been concentrated in northern Egypt along the geologically documented borders of Sinai subplate (northern Red Sea and its two branches Suez rift and Aqaba–Dead Sea transform). The majority of inland earthquake focal mechanisms in Egypt are normal with strike-slip component or strike-slip faulting events. Only a small minority, namely four events, exhibits reverse faulting. The inversion method of Gephart and Forsyth (1984) was applied to calculate the orientation of the principle stress axes and the shape of the stress tensor. The best fitting tensor in Egypt shows homogeneity stress field. The tension stress regime is dominant in northern Egypt. The stress directions are well resolved by the 95% confidence limits, the relative stress magnitude has a value of about 0.3. However, along southern Egypt the strike-slip regime is dominant. The shape factor (R-value) is 0.5, which means that the deviatoric components of σ₁ and σ₃ are of the same magnitude, but of opposite signs. The average horizontal velocity of GPS stations in Egypt is 5.15± 1.1 mm/year in mostly NNW direction. The results of deformation analysis indicate that the northern Egypt is deformed more than the southern part. Only the Egyptian-Mediterranean coastal–Nile Delta zone dominates as a compression deformation area. However, an extensional deformation has been observed throughout the rest of country. This means that the relative motion of African plate with respect to both Eurasian and Arabian has highly controlled the deformation processes in Egypt.     

Seismic Wave Attenuation in the Greater Cairo Region, Egypt

In the present study, a digital waveform dataset of 216 local earthquakes recorded by the Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN) was used to estimate the attenuation of seismic wave energy in the greater Cairo region. The quality factor and the frequency dependence for Coda waves and S-waves were estimated and clarified. The Coda waves (Q _c) and S-waves (Q _d) quality factor were estimated by applying the single scattering model and Coda Normalization method, respectively, to bandpass-filtered seismograms of frequency bands centering at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24?Hz. Lapse time dependence was also studied for the area, with the Coda waves analyzed through four lapse time windows (10, 20, 30 and 40?s). The average quality factor as function of frequency is found to be Q _c?=?35?±?9f ^0.9±0.02 and Q _d?=?10?±?2f ^0.9±0.02 for Coda and S-waves, respectively. This behavior is usually correlated with the degree of tectonic complexity and the presence of heterogeneities at several scales. The variation of Q _c with frequency and lapse time shows that the lithosphere becomes more homogeneous with depth. In fact, by using the Coda Normalization method we obtained low Q _d values as expected for a heterogeneous and active zone. The intrinsic quality factor (Q _i ^?1 ) was separated from the scattering quality factor (Q _s ^?1 ) by applying the Multiple Lapse Time Domain Window Analysis (MLTWA) method under the assumption of multiple isotropic scattering with uniform distribution of scatters. The obtained results suggest that the contribution of the intrinsic attenuation (Q _i ^?1 ) prevails on the scattering attenuation (Q _s ^?1 ) at frequencies higher than 3?Hz.     

Local aspects, models and monitoring of recent crustal movements in central Europe

The paper discusses the contribution of the local geodynamical test-fields in which various methods are applied (geodetic, geological, geophysical and geomorphological) to creating both local and regional geodynamical models. A hypothesis concerning dynamics of the area of Central Europe was advanced by the author in 1987 as a background geodynamical model of the present interaction between Precambrian and Palaeozoic platforms. The model has been adopted as a working hypothesis for the project SAGET (SAtellite GEodynamical Traverses) initiated in Poland in 1986. Concluding the paper, the author resumes her own proposal of 1988 and suggests further expanding the project SAGET towards East and West to adjust it with EUROPROBE.     

Some structural and geomorphological aspects of recent crustal movements in estonia

Comparison of some structure contour of northeastern and southeastern Estonia with the bedrock relief patterns leads to the conclusion that direct morphostructures are infrequent in those areas. The formation of bedrock and contemporary relief has been little effected by differential postglacial and recent crustal movements. Morphotectonic analysis enables us to determine the character of those movements only in a few cases.     

福建地壳运动与地震关系初探

利用福建地震台网88个地震台站于2015年记录的10个月的连续波形数据,基于台网约束下的长短窗特征触发式震相检测的模板事件识别方法和匹配滤波自动检测方法,识别出模板事件919个,匹配滤波后重新识别和定位了共计2 243个地震事件,其中M_L1.0以上地震1 991次,主要集中在M_L1.0—1.5之间,这极大扩充了该震级范围内的福建地震台网目录。重新定位的地震震源深度分布在0—20 km之间,多数发生在10 km内的上地壳。沿长乐—诏安断裂带和永安—晋江断裂带,地震分布集中且表现出明显的分段活动性。在长乐—诏安断裂带上检测到较福建台网目录更多的地震,且地震活动性表现为西南段较强、东北段较弱,沿断裂带的震源深度分布由南向北逐渐变浅,与莫霍面深度的变化相一致;在与之共轭的永安—晋江断裂带上则北西段地震活动更为集中,而东南段地震活动稍显分散。重新识别与精定位后的地震与福建地区地壳水平形变南强北弱、东强西弱的特点相一致。     

Maps of recent vertical crustal movements in Romania: Similarities and differences

A new map of recent crustal vertical movements (RCVM) in Romania, on the basis of high-precision geodetical measurements by the repeated levelling method, had become necessary firstly as a consequence of the great seismic event of March 4, 1977 with foci under the Vrancea Region (the most important seismic zone in the country) and secondly because many years had passed since the previous edition.Certainly, there are similitudes and differences between the two editions, and the authors will try to put these into evidence and explain them.The general view of the major geological units of Romania in both maps is the same: the mountain regions being zones of more or less continuous uplift, the plains showing subsidence movements and the plateau regions presenting a relative stability. Some modifications became apparent owing to the improvement of the national geodetical network on which the repeated levelling measurements were performed and following the choice of the Harbour of Constanţa as the fundamental point.     

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.     

Toward international cooperation in the study of recent crustal movements in Africa

How might an international plan for crustal-movement studies in Africa be implemented? This was the basic question underlying much of the discussion at the First International Symposium on Crustal Movements in Africa, convened in May 1981 in Addis Ababa at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Three years later, in November/December 1984, the Second Symposium was held in Cairo, Egypt; and in April 1986, some outstanding questions were dealt with at the Third Symposium on Geodesy in Africa held in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, and at the International Symposium on Global Changes in Africa during the Quaternary, held in Dakar, Senegal.The present state and possible development of recent crustal movement studies in Africa are discussed. Finally, the cooperation of all scientists interested in such studies is solicited.     

The ties between recent crustal movements and fault tectonics in the Caraptho-Balkan region

To identify the faults controlling the intensity of recent tectonic processes in the region and to study their geometry and dynamics, one of the variants of the statistical method was used-trend analysis. The map of recent vertical crustal movements in the Carpatho-Balkan region (1:2.000.000) published in Budapest in 1979 was used as initial data for establishing these faults.     

Recent crustal movements and earthquakes in the area of the Tornquist Zone

Summary The present state of knowledge on recent crustal movements, stresses and earthquakes around the Tornquist Zone has been collected. It is found that the Tornquist Zone is neither geodetically nor seismically active, but it separates regions of different earthquake activity.Members of the working group on recent crustal movements around the Tornquist Zone: H. Lykke Andersen, M.C. Oncescu, V. Mocanu, E. and P. Bankwitz, G. Grünthal, and S. Gregersen.     

Monitoring recent crustal movements in the African continent by means of geodetic methods

The need for geodetic measurements is emphasized, and the requirements in accuracy are indicated. It is argued that the present limitations of the space techniques leave no option but to recourse to terrestrial methods.The necessity of repeating the measurements on schedule over several decades calls for an eleborate co-ordination of activities across national boundaries. The active participation of the IUGG and the IAG can be instrumental in initiating such co-ordination and in sustaining it.     

Probabilistic seismic hazard model for Cairo,Egypt: estimates and uncertainties

A new seismic hazard model for Cairo, the capital city of Egypt is developed herein based on comprehensive consideration of uncertainties in various components of the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis. The proposed seismic hazard model is developed from an updated catalogue of historical and instrumental seismicity, geodetic strain rates derived from GPS-based velocity-field of the crust, and the geologic slip rates of active faults. The seismic source model consists of area sources and active faults characterised to forecast the seismic productivity in the region. Ground motion prediction models are selected to describe the expected ground motion at the sites of interest. The model accounts for inherent epistemic uncertainties of statistical earthquake recurrence; maximum magnitude; ground motion prediction models, and their propagation toward the obtained results. The proposed model is applied to a site-specific hazard analysis for Kottamiya, Rehab City and Zahraa-Madinat-Nasr (hereinafter referred to as Zahraa) to the East of Cairo (Egypt). The site-specific analysis accounts for the site response, through the parameterization of the sites in terms of average 30-m shear-wave velocity (Vs30). The present seismic hazard model can be considered as a reference model for earthquake risk mitigation and proper resilience planning.     

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.     

Deformation properties of the lithosphere derived from data on recent crustal movements of the earth

aamuam a¶rt;aa ¶rt;uu ¶rt; m u¶rt;mu, uau n¶rt; uu mua ¶rt;uu a uau u . a auu au mmuu mam ¶rt;au mua ¶rt;uu ¶rt;am m am ¶rt; ¶rt;au ma um.     

Field of tectonic stresses from focal mechanisms of earthquakes and recent crustal movements from GPS measurements in China

Orientations of the principal axes of the tectonic stress field reconstructed from seismological data on focal mechanisms of earthquakes and strain fields determined from GPS measurements in China are compared. The data of GPS measurements used in the paper were obtained by the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (about 1000 stations) in the period of 1998–2004. On the basis of information on the recent horizontal crustal motions, the strain field is calculated for the study territory by the finite element method. Calculations of the strain tensor using GPS data were carried out with a step of 1° in latitude and longitude. A catalog of earthquake focal mechanisms was used for the reconstruction of tectonic stress field components. Focal mechanisms of earthquakes were calculated with the use of seismological data on signs of first arrivals from the bulletin of the International Seismological Center. To estimate characteristics of the regional stress field, an approach based on the kinematic method proposed by O.I. Gushchenko was applied. The tectonic stress field was reconstructed in depth intervals of 0 < H < 35 km and 35 km < H < 70 km from data on focal mechanisms of earthquakes over the periods of 1998–2004 and 1985–2004. Comparison of directions of the principal strain axes at the surface (according to GPS measurements) and directions of the principal stress axes (reconstructed from focal mechanisms of earthquakes) showed their good convergence. Seismotectonic strains and GPS measurements coincide within a larger part of the territory. The coincidence is best in a depth interval of 0 < H < 35 km. Maximum misfit values are confined to areas of high 3-D gradients of strain axis directions and are possibly related to the structural heterogeneity of the region, zones with strains of the same type along both horizontal axes (compression or extension along all directions), or areas of small absolute values of recent horizontal movements. Areas with invariable directions of the stress axes are recognizable regardless of the depth of initial data. Good reproducibility of results obtained by two different methods made it possible to check the method of stress field reconstruction using data on focal mechanisms of earthquakes.     

The role of high-precision gravimetry in detecting and monitoring recent crustal movements in view of the African situation

High precision relative gravimetry can play a dual role in the study of vertical recent crustal movemen: exploring and monitoring. A number of G-meters of LCR type have been calibrated over the full measurement range so that they can be used in almost any part of African. Recent high precision measurements in desert, tropical and subtropical zones reveal clearly that even under unfavorable climatical and transportation conditions precise gravity is available within ± 10 to 20 microgal accuracy.     

Secular polar motion,crustal movements,and international latitude service observations

Summary The latitude variations observed by optical astrometry at five International Latitude Service (ILS) stations since the beginning of the century are analyzed to estimate the secular motion of the pole and the correction of the proper motions of the observed stars. The geophysical model of tectonic plate motions NUVEL-1 is used to correct the observed latitude drifts, thus referring the derived secular polar motion to the "no net rotation" terrestrial reference system. It is shown that one of the ILS stations, Ukiah (near the U.S. west coast), very probably exhibits an anomalous drift which differs significantly from the motion of both the Pacific and North American plates.