HR: 0800h
AN: GP11A-0825    [Abstracts]
TI: The Application of a Combined Geophysical Survey (Ground-Penetrating Radar and Seismic Refraction) for mapping Sinkholes in Ghor Al-Haditha Area, Jordan
AU: * ABUELADAS, A A
EM: aean87@umkc.edu
AF: ABDEL-RAHMAN AQEL ABUELADAS, 5000 Oak Street Apt.413 N, Kansas City, MO 64112 United States
AU: AL-ZOUBI, A S
EM: abdallah_a@hotmail.com
AF: ABDEL-RAHMAN AQEL ABUELADAS, 5000 Oak Street Apt.413 N, Kansas City, MO 64112 United States
AU: AL-ZOUBI, A S
EM: abdallah_a@hotmail.com
AF: ABDALLAH AL-ZOUBI, Balqa Applied University, Salt, 11118 Jordan
AB: Earth subsidence and sinkholes are natural phenomena that occur in certain geological environments and are associated with surface, subsurface, local and regional processes. The natural solution cavities are common in carbonate rocks and other geological environments, which characterized by the presence of large volumes of evaporates. Subsidence and or sinkholes follow the creation of subsurface caverns, especially if the overlying material consists of soft or poorly cemented sediments. The water circulation and fluctuations play a major role in the creation of caverns as well as causing the triggering of the failure of the overlying earth material. Tectonic and seism tectonic processes have a major role in forming the subsidence and sinkholes particularly in tectonic-active zones such as the Dead Sea region that characterized by the presence of many local and regional subsurface salt features. The study area, Ghor Al Haditha form a part of the southern Dead Sea basin, where subsidences and sinkholes are representing natural phenomena. The occurrence of these phenomena in the area dates back to many years. But since the transfer of the Jordan River in the 1960s and the subsequent lowering of the Dead Sea level, the problem started to occur in a rather serious manner with a noticeable correlation with the fluctuations in the level of the Dead Sea. . Geophysical surveys were carried out in the study area. The aim is to perform a geophysical map of the subsurface layers and to infer its physical properties. Deployed geophysical methods are Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Seismic Refraction technique. The results of the ground penetrating radar (GPR) indicate the presence of cavities and cracks, which may verify drainage of water at surface and actually affirms the formation of sinkholes. The seismic refraction survey support the idea of a possible regional subsurface fault in a NNE direction. The highest recorded P-velocity for subsurface layers is 3948 m/sec which may represent salt intrusions at 70m depth.
DE: 0900 EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS
SC: Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism [GP]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting