HR: 1340h
AN: T43A-1093    [Abstracts]
TI: New insight into Bottom Morphology and active faults of the Northern Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba mapped from multi-beam sonar data
AU: * Tibor, G
EM: tiborg@ocean.org.il
AF: Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Tel-Shikmona P.O.B. 8030, Haifa, 31080, Israel
AU: Niemi, T M
EM: niemit@umkc.edu
AF: Department of Geosciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5100 Rockhill Road, RHFH 42, Kansas City, MO 64110, United States
AU: Ben-Avraham, Z
EM: zvi@terra.tau.ac.il
AF: Department of Geophysical and Planetary Science, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
AU: Al-Zoubi, A
EM: aalzoubi@go.com.jo
AF: Department of Surveying and Geomatics, Al-Balqa' Applied University, Al-Salt, Al-Salt, 19117, Jordan
AU: Hartman, G
EM: hartmangal@gmail.com
AF: Department of Geophysical and Planetary Science, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
AU: Sade, R A
EM: portolan@smile.net.il
AF: Geological Survey of Israel, 30 Malkhe Israel St., Jerusalem, 95501, Israel
AU: Hall, J K
EM: jkh1@012.net.il
AF: Geological Survey of Israel, 30 Malkhe Israel St., Jerusalem, 95501, Israel
AU: Akawi, E
AF: Department of Surveying and Geomatics, Al-Balqa' Applied University, Al-Salt, Al-Salt, 19117, Jordan
AU: Abueladas, A
AF: Department of Surveying and Geomatics, Al-Balqa' Applied University, Al-Salt, Al-Salt, 19117, Jordan
AB: A high-resolution marine geophysical survey in the northern gulf of Eilat/Aqaba region was conducted during October and November 2006 on board the R/V "Etziona". This survey was carried out by an international research group (Israel, Jordan and USA) funded by MERC. The overall aim of the research is to provide the municipalities of Aqaba and Eilat with a base map of active faults for seismic hazard analyses and earthquake preparedness planning through the collection and interpretation of high-resolution marine geophysical imaging of the seafloor and subsurface strata. The morphology of the northern margin of the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba is characterized by a shelf-slope structure in the north; steep slopes with almost no shelf in the east and terrace structure with a moderate slope to the west. Processing of the Kongsberg-Simrad EM 1002 multi-beam sonar data, together with slope analyses, reveals very interesting features on the seafloor (e.g. canyons, slumps, reefs, etc.) that indicate recent faulting activity in this area. Based on the multi-beam data we have classified the morphology of the northern gulf into seven domains: (i) modern reef and terrace; (ii) shelf with buried reef; (iii) submerged cliff and fan delta; (iv) Yutim and Arava submarine canyons; (v) collapsed margin; (vi) uneroded structural highs, and (vii) basin floor. These domains clearly delineate the areas within the Dead Sea transform valley that are tectonically active from more stable regions. Faults identified from seismic reflection data can be traced to near the seafloor indicating recent seismic activity. The fault pattern crosses obliquely from the eastern side to the west thus transferring strain across the zone in the offshore. This fault system is much more complex than previously assumed.
DE: 3045 Seafloor morphology, geology, and geophysics
SC: Tectonophysics [T]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting