A GIS-based assessment of active faults and liquefaction potential of the city of Aqaba, Jordan

Aqaba city, Jordan lies along the active plate boundary of the Dead Sea Transform. A NE trending, strike-slip fault that originates in the gulf apparently terminates under the city. Strain is transferred to at least four NW-trending cross faults. Paleoearthquake data from trench excavations were collected to characterize the seismic sources. An earthquake produced a fault scarp sometime after A.D. 1045–1278. Several multiple event scarps suggest that a minimum of seven earthquakes have occurred since 5–6 ka yielding a minimum recurrence interval of 500–850 years. Potential vertical displacement was measured between 30–50 cm giving a minimum earthquake magnitude of M 6.5.; The stratigraphic sequence is composed of liquefaction susceptible sediments. The liquefaction potential was analyzed using Seed's Simplified Procedure. The results were displayed using Geographic Information System. The results indicate that the coastal areas have a high potential to liquefy, while the eastern parts lie predominantly within a non-liquefaction zones.