Quaternary earthquakes and landslides in the Sea of Galilee area, the Dead Sea Transform: Paleoseismic analysis and implication to the current hazard

Abstract

Katz, O., Amit, R., Yagoda-Biran, G., Hatzor, Y.H., Porat, N., Medvedev, B. 2009/2010. Quaternary earthquakes and landslides in the Sea of Galilee area, the Dead Sea Transform: Paleoseismic analysis and implication to the current hazard. Isr. J. Earth Sci. 58: 275–294. A few destructive large (Mw >6) earthquakes occurred close to the Sea of Galilee (SOG) in the last millennia and, along with recorded current seismicity, underscore the seismic hazard to populated areas in the region. In this study we investigate the Late-Pleistocene–Holocene seismic history of the southeastern SOG area, around the northern extension of the Jordan Valley Fault. We integrate results from paleoseismic trenching of recent fault segments rupturing the surface with slope stability analysis of a large landslide that spatially coincides with the faults, to develop a better understanding of the seismic hazard. We have dated fault rupture as well as sliding events with optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). In a series of paleoseismic trenches we found evidence for at least five Mw >6 earthquakes that were dated to ca. 45, 40, 35, 10, and 5 ka. A younger event of 6 and Mw >6.5, respectively. Such large earthquakes are expected to result in high ground acceleration of up to 0.5 g and earthquake-induced landslides around the SOG.