Development of ground-shaking maps for the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

This study presents research toward the development of ground-shaking maps after a real earthquake, or for scenario earthquakes originating from seismic sources within and around the Sultanate of Oman. Major important earthquake sources that are important for the Sultanate of Oman are the Makran zone, the Zagros zone, the Zendan-Minab system, the Oman Mountain zone, the Owen fracture zone and the Gulf of Aden zone. The earthquakes that take place on these zones, particularly those from Makran, already resulted and are likely to result in ground-shaking levels that may be significant for the country. The hazard module of software package ELER was customized for use in the development of shake maps in the Sultanate of Oman. For this purpose, (1) major active faults and systems within and around Oman were defined and implemented; (2) ground-motion prediction equations suitable for use and representative of tectonic conditions in Oman were identified and implemented; (3) the effect of local site conditions in resulting ground-shaking levels was attended by implementing the Vs30 maps into ELER methodology; and (4) scripts were developed for the consideration of ground-motion data coming from strong motion stations and from seismometers in and around Oman. They were used in the adjustment of ground-motion distribution maps, such as peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity and spectral acceleration maps produced using ground-motion prediction equations. Example runs of different scenarios reflecting the use of newly adopted information are presented.