Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis of Kahramanmaras Province,Turkey

Kahramanmaras and its surroundings are under the influence of East Anatolian and Dead Sea fault zones which have significance in the tectonics of Turkey. The long-term energy accumulation in these zones creates a very high risk level in terms of seismic hazard. In this study, the seismic hazard of Kahramanmaras Province and its vicinity was tried to be determined by using the probabilistic seismic hazard method approach. The earthquake catalog used in the study comprises 424 earthquakes equal or greater than M _w ?=?4.0, covering a time period between 1 January 1900 and 1 January 2015. The earthquake data have been compiled from the catalogs of the International Seismological Center (ISC), Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Precidency (RTPMDEMP), Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute. Seismic sources that could affect the study area have been identified according to the Earthquake Model of the Middle East (EMME). Seismic hazard parameters and peak horizontal acceleration values were obtained by using the selected attenuation relationships, and the results were given with iso-acceleration maps corresponding to a recurrence period of 475 years. The calculated peak horizontal acceleration values are generally varying between 0.21 and 0.41 in the study area. The result of this study shows that the southeastern parts of the study area have a greater seismic hazard compared with other parts.     

Kaledonische,herzynische und alpidische Ereignisse im Mittelostalpin nördlich der westlichen Hohen Tauern,abgeleitet aus petrographischen und geochronologischen Untersuchungen

Zusammenfassung Die Schwazer Augengneise (Kellerjoch-Gneise) und die Steinkogelschiefer wurden petrographisch und geochronologisch untersucht. Die Steinkogelschiefer und die Schwazer Augengneise zeigen eine prograde Metamorphose der Amphibolitfazies. Sie liegen auf den schwächer metamorphen Innsbrucker Quarzphylliten und unter den ebenfalls schwächer metamorphen Gesteinen der Grauwackenzone, nördlich der westlichen Hohen Tauern (Tirol, Salzburg, Österreich). Aufgrund des kombinierten Compston-Jeffery- und Nicolaysen-Diagramms ist das Sedimentationsalter des Eduktes der Steinkogelschiefer 540 Mio. Jahre. Das Alter der Platznahme des Eduktes der Schwazer Augengneise ist wahrscheinlich 425 Mio. Jahre. Eine kaledonische Metamorphose ist nicht nachweisbar.Die herzynische Metamorphose verursachte sowohl in den Schwazer Augengneisen als auch in den Steinkogelschiefern eine vollständige Sr-Homogenisierung im Gesamtgestein. Die Rb-Sr-Isochrone der Schwazer Augengneise ergibt ein Alter von 322±24 Mio. Jahren bei einem Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶-Isotopenverhältnis von 0.7180±0.0024. Die Rb-Sr-Isochrone der Steinkogelschiefer definiert ein Alter von 347±30 Mio. Jahren, bei einem Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶-Verhältnis von 0.7150±0.0021. Die herzynischen Phengite aus den Schwazer Augengneisen ergeben mit der Rb-Sr-Methode ein Abkühlungsalter von 273 bzw. 260 Mio. Jahren. Die K-Ar-Phengit- und Muscovitalter sind Mischalter, welche zwischen dem Alter der herzynischen und dem der frühalpinen Metamorphose liegen. Das frühalpine Ereignis wird durch Rb-Sr-Biotitalter um 90 Mio. Jahre erfaßt. Dieses Alter entspricht dem Zeitpunkt der Abkühlung der Gesteine unter 300 °C vor dem frühalpinen Deckenschub.Die K-Ar-Alter der Biotite sind geologisch nicht interpretierbar, da sie Ar-Überschuß zeigen.Die Überlagerung der Innsbrucker Quarzphyllite durch die Steinkogelschiefer und die Schwazer Augengneise ist wahrscheinlich das Ergebnis eines herzynischen Deckenbaus. Die Steinkogelschiefer und die Schwazer Augengneise könnten daher nicht zur mittelostalpinen Deckeneinheit gehören, sondern tektonisch gesehen, Teil des unterlagernden unterostalpinen Innsbrucker Quarzphyllites sein.

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Petrology and geochronology of the Schwazer Augengneis (Kellerjochgneis) and of the Steinkogelschiefer north of the western Tauern Window have been investigated. The Steinkogelschiefer are garnet-mica schists, the Schwazer Augengneis is an orthoaugengneiss. Both rock units show a prograde metamorphism of the amphibolite facies and are interbedded between the Innsbrucker Quarzphyllite and the Grauwackenzone. The Innsbrucker Quarzphyllite and the rocks of the Grauwackenzone clearly show in respect to the Schwazer Augengneis and the rocks of the Steinkogelschiefer unit a lower metamorphic grade of the greenschist facies. From combined Compston-Jeffery- and Nicolaysen-diagrams the age of the sediments from which the mica schists of the Steinkogelschiefer unit derives is 540 m. y. The age of the intrusion of the magma from which the Schwazer orthoaugengneis later originated is probably 425 m. y. A Caledonian metamorphism could not be demonstrated by radiometry. In the Schwazer Augengneis as well as in the paragneisses of the Steinkogelschiefer unit a complete Sr-homogenisation was produced by the hercynian metamorphism. An age of 322±24 m. y. and a Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶-ratio of 0.7180±0.0024 result from a Rb-Sr-Isochrone of the Schwazer Augengneis. The RbSr-Isochrone of the Steinkogelschiefer defines an age of 347±30 m. y. and a Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶-ratio of 0.7150±0.0021. From the Rb-Sr-method a cooling age of 273 and 260 m. y. is established for the phengites from the Schwazer Augengneis.K-Ar-ages of the muscovites and of the phengites are mixed ages between the hercynian and that of the eoalpine metamorphism. The eoalpine metamorphism is dated by the Rb-Sr-age of the biotites (90 m. y.). This age corresponds to the cooling of the rocks below a temperature of 300 °C before the eoalpine nappe transport.K-Ar-ages of the biotites show excess argon and are therefore from a geological point of view meaningless. From petrological and geochronological data it cannot be demonstrated that the tectonic position of the Schwazer Augengneis and of the Steinkogelschiefer unit on the top of the Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit and under the Grauwackenzone is due to the alpine nappe transport.From a tectonic point of view, the Steinkogelschiefer and the Schwazer Augengneis therefore probably belongs to the middle austroalpine unit of the Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit.

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Résumé Les gneiss oeillés de Schwaz (Kellerjochgneise) et les schistes de Steinkogel ont été étudiés par voie pétrographique et géochronologique.Tous deux montrent une métamorphose progradée du facies amphibolite. Ils reposent sur la série moins métamorphique des »Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit« et sous la Zone des grauwackes, également peu métamorphiques, au nord des »Hohe Tauern« occidentales Tyrol, Salzbourg, Autriche).Selon le diagramme combiné Compston-Jeffery et Nicolaysen l'âge de la sédimentation des schistes de Steinkogel est de 540 Mio. ans. L'âge de la sédimentation des gneiss oeillés de Schwaz est probablement 425 Mio. ans. Un métamorphisme calédonien ne peut être démontré.Le métamorphisme hercynien a causé — tant dans les gneiss oeillés de Schwaz que dans les schistes de Steinkogel — une homogénisation complète du Sic. L'isochrone RB/Sr des gneiss oeillés de Schwaz indique une âge de 322±24 Mio. ans et un rapport Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ de 0.7180±0.0024.L'isochrone Rb/Sr des schistes de Steinkogel indique un âge de 347±30 Mio. et un rapport Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ de 0.7150±0.0021. Les phengites hercyniennes dans les gneiss oeillés de Schwaz indiquent, selon la méthode Rb/Sr, un âge de refroidissement de 273 et 260 Mio. ans. Les âges K/Ar de la phengite et la muscovite sont des âges mixtes compris entre celui du métamorphisme hercynien et celui du métamorphisme évalpin.L'éveénement éoalpin est évalué à 90 Mio. ans (Rb/Sr-biotite). Cet âge correspond au moment du refroidissement des roches en-dessous de 300 °C avant al poussée des premières nappes alpines.Les âges K-Ar des biotites ne peuvent pas être interpretés géologiquement étant donné pu'ils montrent un excès d'Ar.Le recouvrement de l'»Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit« par les schistes de Steinkogel et les gneiss oeillés de Schwaz est probablement le résultat d'une tectonique hercynienne. Il en résulte que les schistes de Steinkogel et les gneiss oeillés de Schwaz ne pourraient pas faire partie de l'ensemble de la nappe austroalpine moyenne, mais vus tectoniquement, être une partie de la nappe austroalpine inférieure sous-jacente de l'»Innsbrucker Quarzphyllit«.

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(Kellerjoch-Gneise) Steinkogel. . - — , (, , ). Comston-Jeffery Nicolaysen'a , SteinKogel'a, 540 . , , , , 425 . . . - 322±24 Sr⁸⁷/Sr^8b 0,7180±0,0024. Steinkogel'a 347±30 0,7150± 0,0021. - 273–260 . , -, - . , -, - 90 . 300° , - . , . . . - Steinkogel'a , , . - , , , -- .

     

Rb-Sr- und K-Ar-Altersbestimmungen an Gesteinen und Mineralien des südlichen Ötztalkristallins und der westlichen Hohen Tauern

Zusammenfassung Mehr als 150 Rb-Sr- und K-Ar-Altersbestimmungen wurden an verschiedenen Gesteinstypen und Mineralien aus dem Schneeberger-Zug (Monteneve) sowie dem südlich anschließenden Ostalpinen Altkristallin und aus den westlichen Hohen Tauern durchgeführt.Die ältesten Gesteine im Ötztalkristallin sind die einförmigen Paragesteinsserien des Ostalpinen Altkristallins. Die charakteristischen Einschaltungen in diesen Gesteinen sind langgestreckte,s-parallel eingeschaltete Orthogneise, die einen Isochronenalterswert von 436±17 Mill. Jahren ergaben, bei einem initialen Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶-Verhältnis von 0,7102±0,0014. Um die Bedeutung dieses Isochronenalterswertes zu klären, wurde ein kombiniertesCompston-Jeffery- undNicolaysen-Diagramm verwendet. Daraus ergibt sich, daß die Schmelzbildung dieser granitischen Gesteine im Ötztalkristallin kaum älter als 450 Mill. Jahre sein kann.Die Auswirkung der variszischen Metamorphose südlich des westlichen Tauernfensters ist an den Mineralien eines pegmatitischen Orthogneises mit dem Rb-Sr-Isochronenalterswert von 299±12 Mill. Jahren ersichtlich. Die Isochrone ergibt ein initiales Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶-Verhältnis von 0,9657±0,014.Das alpine Geschehen beginnt mit der frühalpinen Metamorphose in weiten Teilen des Ostalpinen Altkristallins. Die Rb-Sr-Hellglimmeralter um 120-110 Mill. Jahre weisen vermutlich auf die mögliche Bildungszeit der Hellglimmer bzw. der frühalpinen Mineralparagenesen im Bereich des Schneeberger-Zuges (Monteneve) und seiner unmittelbaren Umgebung hin. Dagegen fallen die K-Ar-Abkühlalterswerte an Hellglimmern in das Zeitintervall von 90-77 Mill. Jahren, gleichgültig ob Phengite oder Muskovite untersucht wurden. Die Rb-Sr- und K-Ar-Biotitabkühlalter von 80-74 Mill. Jahren weisen auf eine weitspannige, schnelle Abkühlung eventuell im Zusammenhang mit einer Überschiebung hin. Die frühalpine Aufwärmung fehlt nur im Südteil des Altkristallins südlich der westlichen Hohen Tauern.Das jüngste Ereignis im untersuchten Gebiet ist aus dem Bereich des Tauernwestendes durch die Rb-Sr- und K-Ar-Hellglimmeralter von 36-25 Mill. Jahren gegeben. Die Rb-Sr-Phengitalter von rund 30 Mill. Jahren sowie die gleichalten K-Ar-Hellglimmeralter aus dem schwächst temperierten Bereich des Tauernfensters stellen vermutlich Bildungsalter nahe des thermischen Höhepunktes dar. Am Tauernwestende weisen die wenig streuenden Biotitalter darauf hin, daß die Abkühlung auf etwa 300° C durch eine gleichförmige, blockartige Hebung relativ rasch erfolgte.

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More than 150 Rb-Sr and K-Ar age determinations were made on different types of rocks and minerals from the Schneeberger-Zug (Monteneve) and the south lying Eastalpine Altkristallin, as well as from rocks of the western end of the Hohen Tauern.The oldest rocks from the Oetztalkristallin are the monotonous paragneisses of the Eastalpine Altkristallin. Intercalated ands-parallel within these rocks are orthogneisses. They yield an isochron age of 436±17 m. y., with an initial of 0.7102±0.0014. The combination of aCompston-Jeffery with aNicolaysen-diagram shows, that the magmatic stage of these rocks could hardly be older than 450 m. y.A pegmatitic orthogneiss with an Rb-Sr-mineralisochron age of 299±12 m. y. and an initial of 0.9657±0.0140 shows the influence of the Hercynian metamorphic event in the South of the western end of the Hohen Tauern.The alpine orogeny starts with Eo-alpine metamorphism in widespread parts of the Eastalpine Altkristallin. Rb-Sr ages (120-110 m. y.) on white micas probably point to the time of the formation of the white micas as well as to the formation of the Eoalpine mineral-parageneses in the region of the Schneeberger-Zug (Monteneve) and its very near surroundings. The K-Ar cooling ages are in the range of 90 to 77 m. y. for muscovites and phengites. The cooling ages on biotites (Rb-Sr and K-Ar) in the range of 80 to 74 m. y. point to widespread, rapid cooling presumably in connection with an overthrust. The Eo-alpine thermal event is missing only in the southern part of the Altkristallin to the South of the western Hohen Tauern.The youngest event in the area of discussion is given by the white mica-ages (Rb-Sr and K-Ar) of 36 to 25 m. y. found in the region of the Western end of the Hohen Tauern. The Rb-Sr phengite-ages of around 30 m. y., as well as the K-Ar white mica-ages of the same age from the thermally least affected area of the Tauern-window, can probably be interpreted as formation-ages near the thermal climax. The biotite-ages at the Western end of the Hohen Tauern have a very small spread and this points to a relatively quick cooling due to blocklike uplift of the whole region.

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Résumé Plus de 150 déterminations d'âge par Rb-Sr et K-Ar ont été faites sur différentes espèces de roches et minéraux du «Schneeberger Zug» (Monteneve) et de sa continuation vers le sud: le cristallin austroalpin ainsi que du «Hohen Tauern» à l'ouest.Les plus vieilles roches du cristallin d'Oetztal sont les séries monotones des roches de caractère «para» du cristallin austroalpin. Les intercalations typiques dans ces roches sont des orthogneiss allonges ets-parallèles qui montrent un âge d'isochrone de 436±17 millions d'années avec un rapport initial de Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ de 0,7102±0,0014.Afin de déterminer la signification de cet âge d'isochrone on utilisa un diagramme combiné deCompston-Jeffery etNicolaysen. Il en résulte que l'âge magmatique de ces roches granitiques dans le cristallin d'Oetztal ne peut pas être plus vieux que 450 millions d'années.L'influence de la métamorphose hercynienne au sud du «westliches Tauernfenster» est bien visible dans les minéraux d'un orthogneiss pegmatitique avec un âge d'isochrone de Rb-Sr de 299 ± 12 millions d'années. L'isochrone donne un rapport initial du sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ de 0,9657±0,014.L'événement alpin commence avec la métamorphose alpine initiale dans de vastes parties du cristallin austroalpin. Les âges Rb-Sr des micas blancs de 120-110 millions d'années pourraient indiquer le temps de formation possible des micas blancs respectivement des paragenèses des minéraux jeunes-alpins dans la région du «Schneeberger-Zug» (Monteneve) et ses environs directs.Par contre les dates K-Ar de refroidissement des micas blancs tombent dans l'intervalle de 90 à 77 millions d'années, indifféremment si on examine des Phengites ou Muscovites. Les âges Rb-Sr et K-Ar de refroidissement des biotites de 80 à 74 millions d'années indiquent un refroidissement étendu et rapide, peut-être en relation avec un chevauchement. L'échauffement jeune-alpin ne manque qu'au sud du vieux cristallin, situé au sud des «Hohen Tauern» occidentales.L'événement le plus jeune dans le domaine examiné se trouve dans la région du «Tauernwestende» avec un âge Rb-Sr et K-Ar des micas blancs de 36 à 25 millions d'années. L'âge Rb-Sr des Phengites de 30 millions d'années ainsi que les mêmes âges K-Ar des micas blancs de la région du «Tauernfenster» la moindre temperée, indiquent un âge de formation vraisemblablement proche du maximum thermique.Dans la région du «Tauernwestende» les âges des biotites ne différent pas beaucoup; cela nous indique que le refroidissement à 300° C s'effectua rapidement par une élévation en bloc et monotone.

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150 Rb/Sr K/Ar -, , - . , - . , S- , 436±17 , 0,7102 ±0,0014. , Compston-Jeffery, , - 450 . , Rb/Sr 299±12 . Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ 0,9657±0,014. - . — Rb/Sr 120– 110 — , -, , . — — 90 77 , , - . , Rb/Sr K/Ar, 80–74 , , , , . .

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Erweiterte Fassung eines am 22. und 23. März 1975 im Rahmen des Schwerpunktprogramms der DFG auf dem Internationalen Symposium zur Geodynamik der Ostalpen in Salzburg gehaltenen Vortrages.     

Low-grade metamorphic rocks from the Pulur complex,NE Turkey: implications for the pre-Liassic evolution of the Eastern Pontides

In the Pulur complex (Sakarya Zone, Eastern Pontides, Turkey) a low-grade tectonometamorphic unit (Doankavak) is exposed in three tectonic windows beneath a complex medium-pressure high-temperature metamorphic unit of late Carboniferous age. The thrust plane between both units is transgressively covered by Liassic conglomerates. The Doankavak unit comprises a sequence of metabasites with MORB-type chemical compositions and phyllites, with subordinate calcareous phyllites, marbles, quarzofeldspathic schists and metacherts. This sequence is interpreted as a former accretionary complex related to the consumption of the Palaeotethys. Mineral parageneses in the metabasites allow for the distinction of two domains with slightly different peak metamorphic conditions, i.e. 375–425 °C/0.5–0.8 GPa (greenschist facies) and 400–470 °C/0.6–1.1 GPa (albite-epidote amphibolite facies). The age of metamorphism is constrained at ~ 260 Ma (early Late Permian) by two Rb-Sr mineral-whole rock ages (hornblende, phengite) and one ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar single step total fusion age (phengite). In conjunction with previous data on other accretionary complexes in the Sakarya zone in Northern Turkey, the data presented in this study suggest a continuous subduction of the Palaeotethys at least from Early/Late Permian to Late Triassic and a discontinuous preservation of accretion complexes in both space and time.     

Spatial and temporal changes in microbial diversity of the Marmara Sea sediments

Spatial (10 different locations) and temporal (2 years) changes in characteristics of the Marmara Sea Sediments were monitored to determine interactions between the chemical and microbial diversity. The sediments were rich in terms of hydrocarbon, nitrate, Ni and microbial cell content. Denitrifying, sulfate reducing, fermentative and methanogenic organisms were co-abundant in 15 cm below the sea floor. The local variations in the sediments’ characteristics were more distinctive than the temporal ones. The sulfate and nitrate contents were the main drivers of the changes in the microbial community compositions. N and P were limited for microbial growth in the sediments, and their levels determined the total cell abundance and activity. Seasonal shifts in temperatures of the shallow sediments were also reflected in the active cell abundances. It was concluded that the Marmara Sea is a promising ecosystem for the further investigation of the ecologically important microbial processes.     

Archaean high-K granitoids produced by remelting of earlier Tonalite–Trondhjemite–Granodiorite (TTG) in the Sangmelima region of the Ntem complex of the Congo craton,southern Cameroon

We present a geochemical and isotopic study that, consistent with observed field relations, suggest Sangmelima late Archaean high-K granite was derived by partial melting of older Archaean TTG. The TTG formations are sodic-trondhjemitic, showing calcic and calc-alkalic trends and are metaluminous to peraluminous. High-K granites in contrast show a potassic calc-alkaline affinity that spans the calcic, calc-alkalic, alkali-calcic and alkalic compositions. The two rock groups (TTG and high-K granites) on the other hand are both ferroan and magnesian. They have a similar degree of fractionation for LREE but a different one for HREE. Nd model ages and Sr/Y ratios define Mesoarchaean and slab-mantle derived magma compositions respectively, with Nb and Ti anomalies indicating a subduction setting for the TTG. Major and trace element in addition to Sr and Nd isotopic compositions support field observations that indicate the derivation of the high-K granitic group from the partial melting of the older TTG equivalent at depth. Geochemical characteristics of the high-K granitic group are therefore inherited features from the TTG protolith and cannot be used for determining their tectonic setting. The heat budget required for TTG partial melting is ascribed to the upwelling of the mantle marked by a doleritic event of identical age as the generated high-K granite melts. The cause of this upwelling is related to linear delamination along mega-shear zones in an intracontinental setting.     

Atmospheric Disturbances that Generate Intermittent Turbulence in Nocturnal Boundary Layers

Using the unprecedented observational facilities deployed duringthe 1999 Cooperative Atmosphere-Surface Exchange Study (CASES-99),we found three distinct turbulent events on the night of 18October 1999. These events resulted from a density current,solitary wave, and internal gravity wave, respectively. Our studyfocuses on the turbulence intermittency generated by the solitarywave and internal gravity wave, and intermittent turbulenceepisodes associated with pressure change and wind direction shiftsadjacent to the ground. Both the solitary and internal gravitywaves propagated horizontally and downward. During the passage ofboth the solitary and internal gravity waves, local thermal andshear instabilities were generated as cold air was pushed abovewarm air and wind gusts reached to the ground. These thermal andshear instabilities triggered turbulent mixing events. Inaddition, strong vertical acceleration associated with thesolitary wave led to large non-hydrostatic pressure perturbationsthat were positively correlated with temperature. The directionaldifference between the propagation of the internal gravity waveand the ambient flow led to lateral rolls. These episodic studiesdemonstrate that non-local disturbances are responsible for localthermal and shear instabilities, leading to intermittentturbulence in nocturnal boundary layers. The origin of thesenon-local disturbances needs to be understood to improve mesoscalenumerical model performance.     

Recent developments in second-moment closure for buoyancy-affected flows

The paper summarizes a new type of second-moment closure, more elaborate in form than earlier versions but designed to satisfy the two-component limit to which turbulence reduces at a wall or at a sharp density interface. Because they are intrinsically realizable, closures of this type are believed to offer the prospects of a wider range of applicability than earlier schemes. They may also be expected to display better numerical stability. Several illustrative applications are provided including the downward directed warm jet, the stratified mixing layer and buoyancy affected grid-turbulence decay. Extension of the scheme to near wall flows appears possible without introducing empirical ‘wall-reflection’ terms, at least in flows parallel to walls.     

Biogeographical distribution and diversity of bacterial and archaeal communities within highly polluted anoxic marine sediments from the marmara sea

Physicochemical and microbiological characterization of anoxic sediments taken from seven highly polluted sites of the Marmara Sea was carried out. The 16S rRNA based microbial community structure analyses were performed using domain-specific PCR followed by denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing of characteristic bands. The results showed that the microbial communities in these sediments were diverse and evenly distributed. Relating the prokaryotic and geochemical variables through statistical tools revealed that the microbial diversity in the sediments significantly related to depth, and S, Mn and Fe content of the sediments. Fermentative bacteria, denitrifying bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens were dominant whereas sulfate reducing bacteria were absent in the DGGE patterns. This unusual microbial community structure implied that the newly discovered anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification process may occur in these subseafloor environments.     

A GIS model for settlement suitability regarding disaster mitigation, a case study in Bolu Turkey

A GIS (Geographic Information Systems) model was developed for Bolu Province in Turkey primarily for earthquake disaster mitigation purposes. The model served as the basis for investigating earthquake disaster vulnerability of existing settlements and identifying areas for new settlements in the Bolu Provincial Center and its counties. The set of criteria investigated in the GIS model was the following: distance from the main fault, ground acceleration, geologic basement type and terrain slope. Based on these criteria, a settlement suitability map was created, which classified the province into low, medium and high settlement suitable areas. This map was then augmented with other criteria for refinement purposes. These included the land use capability classes map of the province, the contemporary land use map derived from satellite images and the historical and contemporary earthquake occurrences within the region. Finally, the road network of the province derived from satellite images was overlaid on the settlement suitability map so that the provincial administrators could leave an evacuation zone of 200 m around the roads. This settlement suitability map is also intended to assist provincial administrators in making plans for reinforcement of existing settlements in low settlement suitable regions and opening new areas for urbanization and industrialization in high settlement suitable regions.