The
Dead Sea Fault System (DSFS) is one of the largest continental strike-slip
faults in the world. As the transform plate boundary between the
Arabian and African plates, the DSFS represents a key tectonic feature
in the eastern Mediterranean region. Despite its significance, the
understanding of the DSFS as an active, seismogenic structure is relatively
limited, particularly along the central and northern sections of the fault
in Syria and Lebanon. By studying active tectonic processes operating
at different time scales along the DSFS in Syria and Lebanon, this research
will address several important issues including:
In order to bridge the gap that typically exists between neotectonic
and geodetic/seismological assessments of strain, results of this neotectonic
and geodetic work are currently integrated with a lengthy, well documented
historical record of large earthquakes (approximately M > 6.5) over at
least the past 2,000 years. Such a lengthy historical record spanning
multiple earthquake cycles are generally unavailable along any other major
plate boundary and are unique to this region.
To address the issues outlined above, the following is being accomplished:
Integrating and modeling neotectonic, geodetic, and historical data
for the DSFS will provide new insight on the kinematics and dynamics of
the DSFS with broader implications for active strike-slip faults, in general.
Furthermore, the results of this study will have significance for regional
earthquake hazard in Syria and Lebanon, as well as neighboring countries,
where large, rapidly expanding populations heighten the need for accurate
earthquake hazard assessments.
This collaborative study builds upon past and ongoing joint research
involving Cornell, MIT, IPG Strasbourg, and Syrian and Lebanese institutions.
Page last updated September 4, 2001.