Estimation of crustal movements using the Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements along Nile Valley area, Egypt from 2007 to 2012

Abstract

The Nile Valley in Egypt is located to the west of the Red Sea Rift and to the south of the Mediterranean Sea. Recently, some moderate earthquakes were occurred along the Nile Valley at the eastern and western side. Tectonically, the Nile Valley is controlled by NW–SE, NE–SW, E–W and N–S tectonic trends due to the exerted forces and stresses.A program of studying the recent crustal movements in Egypt has been started since 1984 to cover some areas which are characterized by the occurrence of felt Earthquakes. One of these areas is the Nile Valley. About 6 moderate earthquakes with magnitudes more than 4 were occurred on both sides of River Nile.The present study aimed to determine the recent crustal movement parameters along the Nile Valley using the Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements. To achieve this mission, a GPS network consisting of ten geodetic stations has been established on both sides along the Nile Valley area. GPS measurements have been collected from 2007 to 2012. The collected data were processed using Bernese 5.0 Software. The result of the data analysis indicates that the rate of local velocity is small ranging from 1 to 4mm/year. This rate is consistent with the low rate of occurrence of recent earthquakes activity along the Nile Valley area. But, the results obtained from the calculation of the regional velocity indicated that the velocity of the GPS stations including the African Plate motion is about 25mm/year in the northeast direction which is consistent with the African Plate motion direction.