| GISdevelopment.net ---> Application ---> Geology |
Relationship Between Lineaments Identified on Space Images and Epicenters: Case Study Arabian Rift Zone
Dr. Eng. Mohamad Rukieh
the Director General of the General Organization of Remote Sensing in Syria
Introduction
The continued research many years ago in dangerous seismic regions and active tectonic zones, pointed out, the large benefit and wide use of space images with multi scales and bands, the small, medium and large scales images used after their processing with the help of other data in solving many problems related to the studies and predicting of earthquakes.
The relationship between lineaments, faults and epicenters
In this study we will focus on the relationship between remote sensing data and epicenters. As it has become evident that most epicenters are found a long the lineaments identified on space images, or along their zones or blocks which they boundared, or in the intersection points of different tectonic displacements.
Landsat images are excellent for recognizing the continuity and regional relationships of faults; the reviewed stereo scopically is ideal for mapping these features.
The relationships between faulting and earthquakes in southern California were noted by Allen 1975. the Landsat imagery of California and the map of Margo geologic faults visible on this image along which movement is known to have occurred, show these relationships. (Fig1,a,b)
The well-known sanandreas fault that bisects this image is nearly 1000km long. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and others occurred because of movement along this fault, the several solid dots shown in the map are the centers of earthquakes of magnitude. (Fig 1,a).
Another example: we point out to the relation between lineaments identified on space images and epicenters in Teblisi region (Georgia) by Ananin E.V. Trifanov. W.G, (Fig.2)
( Fig 2 )
Also we point out to interpretation map of Landsat mosaic of south central Alaska with epicenters of earthquakes (fig3). We can see the most of previously unmapped lineaments are the set of one or more epicenters and should be classified as active faults.
The interpretation of multiscales of space images of seismic active Kazli region, pointed out the discovering covering the tectonic zones with different direction branches from the deep center of the earthquakes, which had happened in Kazli in 1976.
The geological and geophysical data enabled for Trifanov F.G, Makarof.F.E. to the interpretation of these faults as reflectance of deformation in sub and appear earth crust and deformation of crystal basement in central Kyzlikum region. Trifanov studies in 1985 pointed out the meteor images, which show active faults and active structural elements and lateral boundaries of the earth crust at depth 10-60km lower resolution images the deeper active structures are interrupted. In arid regions in 0.8-1, 1 m show deep seated structures better than the 0.4-0.7 m ones.
The traditional study for Aghadeer earthquakes, which took, place in Morocco 1960, has showed that this earthquake is connected to the movement of one of the transverse fault. Where the analysis of space images shows a development of two separate seismologic zones for the earthquakes not observed previously, and they are connected to a complex of high tectonic activity in which Aghadeer earthquakes took place, and they are occurred on the cross the transverse fault of south Atlas Ocean and a fault of north direction near Atlas Ocean. (Fig.4).
Tectonic scheme shows the existence of two seismic zones, not observed previously; they are crossed in Aghadeer region, Algeria, 1960. this scheme is identified by space images
I have carried out tectonic studies for the Arabian Rift Zone and prepared some schemes of different scales by interpretation of space images.
The Arabian Rift Zone starts from Red Sea rift, then it moves to the north through the Gulf of Agaba, the Dead Sea, Tabaraya Lake and Lebanese Bokaa, consequently through the rift of Alghab in Syria as far as Turkish borders and Eskandaron regions along about 1000km with branch of the Palmeride foldbelt in Syria, the rift faults are considered left lateral displacement with vertical movement in different sites.
The interpretation of space images and the field check gave much information about these faults and their stretch, which are unknown before, and not cleared, on the surface with identifying of more motion.
The studies give that the value of left lateral movement in region of Dead Sea was 105km, 40km of it in Peleocene and Quaternary (Kenel 1959, Nur 1978) while this displacement in northwest Syria was (20-25km) Trifanov and others, 1983, or (10-12km) by Dr. Rukieh and Dr. Habib 1993. and the displacement in one year is about 5mm.
Our study has clarified that the rift is bended inside the Lebanese lands to the northeast. A group of faults are branched of it from the north of
Tabaraya lake and took the direction of north east. It is distinguished by the forming of plunges along its course as the Dead Sea, Tabaraya lake, Alboukeaa, Alghab, Alomek and others which is resulted of the joint of several faults. As well as it is characterized by basaltic volcanic activity, which accompanied to its development, especially during the Miocene and Peleocene and Quaternary in Jordan, south or north of Syria. They are connected by different faults and most of them are spread on the eastern side of the rift.
The space interpretation shows that there are several annular shapes (small and medium) on the rift course; some of them are interrupted by the rift faults.
A connection between the tectonic scheme of the rift region by interpretation of space images of 4000000/1 scale and the epicenters (strong, medium and weak) which took place between 1910-1993 (Dr. Rukieh 1995) has been done. This led to discover relationship between faults and lineaments identified on space images and epicenters. (Fig 5).
(Fig 5)
The historical data have three thousand years in Belad Acham give 287 med, and strong earthquakes, which had happened on many secondary faults rift zone (Hakim.K 1988).
We point out to some of the destroyed earthquakes in Damascus in years- 565-1202-1284-1640-1756. In Homs 846, in Aleppo 565, 1139,1344,1822. in Lattakia 53,1273,1408. in Antakia 37,528, 859, 1092, 1139, 1408. (Fig 6) shows some historical earthquakes, which happened along this rift faults in previous time (Ambrsays N.N. Barazagi M. 1989).
(Fig 6)
By comparing the historical earthquakes with the major active tectonic units in Syria which contains the palmerdie fold belt, Syrian Lebanese fault rift zone, The east Anatolian fault system near the northern Syrian border (the Torous, Zagarous belt), We find complete correspondence between them. (Fig 7).
Conclusion:
Remote sensing data also establish geologic bases: for a long term earthquake prediction by discovering the covered or deep active tectonic zones, and knowing their relation with seismic structures, and for identifying the collision zone among the different plant tectonics, which form important zones of frequent earthquakes.
For the short time prediction of occurrence of the earthquakes must be interpretation and analysis of thermal, spectral, radar, and laser images for seismic active zones. Especially, it is useful here to use thermal images.
References:
Dr. Eng. Mohamad Rukieh
the Director General of the General Organization of Remote Sensing in Syria
Introduction
The continued research many years ago in dangerous seismic regions and active tectonic zones, pointed out, the large benefit and wide use of space images with multi scales and bands, the small, medium and large scales images used after their processing with the help of other data in solving many problems related to the studies and predicting of earthquakes.
The relationship between lineaments, faults and epicenters
In this study we will focus on the relationship between remote sensing data and epicenters. As it has become evident that most epicenters are found a long the lineaments identified on space images, or along their zones or blocks which they boundared, or in the intersection points of different tectonic displacements.
Landsat images are excellent for recognizing the continuity and regional relationships of faults; the reviewed stereo scopically is ideal for mapping these features.
The relationships between faulting and earthquakes in southern California were noted by Allen 1975. the Landsat imagery of California and the map of Margo geologic faults visible on this image along which movement is known to have occurred, show these relationships. (Fig1,a,b)
 |  |
| Fig 1\a Landsat, MSS image band 5 Los Angeles, California 1972 1:1,000000 | Fig 1/b Map showing major geologic faults and major earthquakes sites by R.S. William and V.D. Garter (1976) |
The well-known sanandreas fault that bisects this image is nearly 1000km long. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and others occurred because of movement along this fault, the several solid dots shown in the map are the centers of earthquakes of magnitude. (Fig 1,a).
Another example: we point out to the relation between lineaments identified on space images and epicenters in Teblisi region (Georgia) by Ananin E.V. Trifanov. W.G, (Fig.2)
( Fig 2 )
Also we point out to interpretation map of Landsat mosaic of south central Alaska with epicenters of earthquakes (fig3). We can see the most of previously unmapped lineaments are the set of one or more epicenters and should be classified as active faults.
The interpretation of multiscales of space images of seismic active Kazli region, pointed out the discovering covering the tectonic zones with different direction branches from the deep center of the earthquakes, which had happened in Kazli in 1976.
The geological and geophysical data enabled for Trifanov F.G, Makarof.F.E. to the interpretation of these faults as reflectance of deformation in sub and appear earth crust and deformation of crystal basement in central Kyzlikum region. Trifanov studies in 1985 pointed out the meteor images, which show active faults and active structural elements and lateral boundaries of the earth crust at depth 10-60km lower resolution images the deeper active structures are interrupted. In arid regions in 0.8-1, 1 m show deep seated structures better than the 0.4-0.7 m ones.
The traditional study for Aghadeer earthquakes, which took, place in Morocco 1960, has showed that this earthquake is connected to the movement of one of the transverse fault. Where the analysis of space images shows a development of two separate seismologic zones for the earthquakes not observed previously, and they are connected to a complex of high tectonic activity in which Aghadeer earthquakes took place, and they are occurred on the cross the transverse fault of south Atlas Ocean and a fault of north direction near Atlas Ocean. (Fig.4).
Tectonic scheme shows the existence of two seismic zones, not observed previously; they are crossed in Aghadeer region, Algeria, 1960. this scheme is identified by space images
I have carried out tectonic studies for the Arabian Rift Zone and prepared some schemes of different scales by interpretation of space images.
The Arabian Rift Zone starts from Red Sea rift, then it moves to the north through the Gulf of Agaba, the Dead Sea, Tabaraya Lake and Lebanese Bokaa, consequently through the rift of Alghab in Syria as far as Turkish borders and Eskandaron regions along about 1000km with branch of the Palmeride foldbelt in Syria, the rift faults are considered left lateral displacement with vertical movement in different sites.
The interpretation of space images and the field check gave much information about these faults and their stretch, which are unknown before, and not cleared, on the surface with identifying of more motion.
The studies give that the value of left lateral movement in region of Dead Sea was 105km, 40km of it in Peleocene and Quaternary (Kenel 1959, Nur 1978) while this displacement in northwest Syria was (20-25km) Trifanov and others, 1983, or (10-12km) by Dr. Rukieh and Dr. Habib 1993. and the displacement in one year is about 5mm.
Our study has clarified that the rift is bended inside the Lebanese lands to the northeast. A group of faults are branched of it from the north of
Tabaraya lake and took the direction of north east. It is distinguished by the forming of plunges along its course as the Dead Sea, Tabaraya lake, Alboukeaa, Alghab, Alomek and others which is resulted of the joint of several faults. As well as it is characterized by basaltic volcanic activity, which accompanied to its development, especially during the Miocene and Peleocene and Quaternary in Jordan, south or north of Syria. They are connected by different faults and most of them are spread on the eastern side of the rift.
The space interpretation shows that there are several annular shapes (small and medium) on the rift course; some of them are interrupted by the rift faults.
A connection between the tectonic scheme of the rift region by interpretation of space images of 4000000/1 scale and the epicenters (strong, medium and weak) which took place between 1910-1993 (Dr. Rukieh 1995) has been done. This led to discover relationship between faults and lineaments identified on space images and epicenters. (Fig 5).
(Fig 5)
The historical data have three thousand years in Belad Acham give 287 med, and strong earthquakes, which had happened on many secondary faults rift zone (Hakim.K 1988).
We point out to some of the destroyed earthquakes in Damascus in years- 565-1202-1284-1640-1756. In Homs 846, in Aleppo 565, 1139,1344,1822. in Lattakia 53,1273,1408. in Antakia 37,528, 859, 1092, 1139, 1408. (Fig 6) shows some historical earthquakes, which happened along this rift faults in previous time (Ambrsays N.N. Barazagi M. 1989).
(Fig 6)
By comparing the historical earthquakes with the major active tectonic units in Syria which contains the palmerdie fold belt, Syrian Lebanese fault rift zone, The east Anatolian fault system near the northern Syrian border (the Torous, Zagarous belt), We find complete correspondence between them. (Fig 7).
Conclusion:
Remote sensing data also establish geologic bases: for a long term earthquake prediction by discovering the covered or deep active tectonic zones, and knowing their relation with seismic structures, and for identifying the collision zone among the different plant tectonics, which form important zones of frequent earthquakes.
For the short time prediction of occurrence of the earthquakes must be interpretation and analysis of thermal, spectral, radar, and laser images for seismic active zones. Especially, it is useful here to use thermal images.
References:
- Ambraseys N.N. Barazangi M, the 1759 earthquke in Al-Bekaa valley: implications for Earthquakes Hazard Assessment in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol 94, No. B4, pp: 4007-4013, April 1989, (in English).
- Hakim K. Amam A, Historical Earthquakes in Syria, Geological Science Review, No.2, pp: 24-40, 1988, Damascus. (in Arabic).
- Kats IA. G. Tebelev A.V. Poletaev A.E, Book Principles of Space Geology, Moscow 1988, pp: 174-194. (in Russian).
- Rukieh. M., Habib.B, Remote Sensing Application to the Study of Tectonic, publications of the second International Conference for Geology of Arab World, Cairo 1994. (in Arabic).
- Rukieh. M, Structure and Development of Arabic Rift in Northern Part of the Arabian Plate by Interpretation of Space Images, proceedings of the 5th Jordanian Geological Conference, pp: 436-456, Amman, 1994.
- Rukieh M., Tectonic Western and Southern Part of Syria with Lebanon by Interpretation of Space Images, publication of Science Week 33th, Syria 1993.
- Trifanov V.G, Application of Space Images for Neotectonic Studies, Remote Sensing for Geoloogical Mapping, Paris, Iuges No. 18. B R G M No.82-1985 pp: 41-56 (in English).