Seismotectonics and Seismic Hazard in the Gulf of Aqaba Region

Earthquakes in the Gulf of Aqaba were compiled from Jordan Seismological Observatory, Saudi Arabia and Egyptsources and were relocated after reexamining the P and S arrival times, testing the efficiency of stations used to determine the location of Aqaba events, calculating the average value of Vp/ Vs, and choosing the best crustal model for the study area. The earthquake epicenters are distributed along the eastern side of the Gulf of Aqaba. The development of a seismic hazard map of the Gulf of Aqaba was based on probabilistic seismic hazard assessment using historical and instrumental earthquakes data, geology, tectonics. The seismic hazard parameters namely the b-parameter, annual activity rate and upper bound magnitude were determined for each determined seismic zone. The outputted maps of Peak ground acceleration (PGA) values with a 90% probability of not being exceeded in 50 years were determined for the Gulf of Aqaba regions.