Detection of the seismic quiescence along the seismic active faults in Kalabsha area, west of Lake Nasser, Aswan, Egypt

Abstract

The spatial and temporal distribution of seismicity around the northern part of Lake Nasser in Aswan has been continuously monitored by a short-period seismograph network since 1982. Data of this network, which consists of 13 field stations distributed around the Kalabsha fault, has demonstrated occurrences of three swarm sequences during the past 26 years. The first swarm occurred in June 1987 on a fault segment about 8 km in length beneath the lake water. The largest magnitude of this swarm was 3.7. Its hypocenters were located within the shallow depth’s interval (i.e., 2 to 5 km from the ground surface). The estimated b-value for this swarm was 0.63. The second swarm sequence took place at the intersection of the Seiyal fault with Kurkur fault about 10 km to the north of the June 1987 sequence. This swarm occurred during the period from August to December 2004 with largest magnitude of 4.1. The focal depths of this swarm also ranged from 2 to 5 km. The b-value of this swarm was found to be 0.69. The third swarm occurred recently in April 2007 with largest magnitude of 4.2 at the same location of 1987 sequence but its focal depths ranged from 6 to 8 km and has the b-value of 0.58. The composite focal mechanism study of these three swarm sequences revealed right-lateral strike slip faults with horizontal stress axes pattern. The relationship between the lake water level and the swarm sequences showed that both 1987 swarm and 2007 swarm occurred during the decreasing of water level, whereas the 2004 swarm occurred during the increasing of the water level. The study of these three swarm sequences illustrates an interesting phenomena, that there is a seismic quiescence preceding each swarm sequence. The duration period of the seismic quiescence ranges from 3 to 5 months.