H. Kianimehr; F. Yaminifard; M. Tatar; E. Kissling
Abstract
The Zagros fold and thrust belt contains a near continuous sedimentary cover which overlies the late Precambrian-Cambrian Hormuz salt formation. The information about this structure is only limited to the study of salt domes. As the density variation of salt is not noticeable with depth, it is expected ...
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The Zagros fold and thrust belt contains a near continuous sedimentary cover which overlies the late Precambrian-Cambrian Hormuz salt formation. The information about this structure is only limited to the study of salt domes. As the density variation of salt is not noticeable with depth, it is expected this structure has a significant role in the decrement of P-wave velocity relative to top layers. The 9 April, 2013 Kaki earthquake (MW 6.2), occurred in a part of the Simply Folded Belt of Zagros Mountains where there are two salt domes. So, in case of studying salt structures as low velocity zones at depth, the 1-D inversion was done using 10459 P-arrival times of 978 aftershocks. The results of this study indicate that the two top layers with overall 4km thickness and average low velocities might be related to incompetent and upper-mobile groups. Sudden seismic velocity increment from 3.9 km/s to 5.45 km/s in depth of 4 km can be considered as an indicator for transformation from the upper-mobile to the competent group. Furthermore, an average low velocity zone from 8 km to 12 km is observed that confirms the Hormuz salt series at depth.
Geophysics
Shahrokh Pourbeyranvand; Mohammad Tatar
Abstract
The Alborz, as one of the important seismotectonic provinces in Iran, has a great vulnerability from natural disasters, especially seismic risk point of view, because of the existence of Tehran megacity in its southern edge. The importance of this area has caused a relatively dense GPS network around ...
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The Alborz, as one of the important seismotectonic provinces in Iran, has a great vulnerability from natural disasters, especially seismic risk point of view, because of the existence of Tehran megacity in its southern edge. The importance of this area has caused a relatively dense GPS network around it. In this study, the earthquake focal mechanism data obtained from different resources was used for stress tensor inversion in the Central Alborz. On the other hand, interpolation of the GPS vectors in rectangular grids and differentiation in the center of each grid cell was used for the study of strain rate in this area. The results showed special variation in principal axes of stress and strain rate, and also the changes in areal and maximum shear strain rates in different parts of the Central Alborz, which shows the geodynamic complexity of the study area. Finally, the angular differences between the maximum horizontal stress and strain rate compressive axis directions were calculated in the location of the clusters of the earthquakes. These calculations showed that the extent of the strain partitioning in the middle parts of the mountain range, where strike-slip motions on Mosha and Firuzkuh faults are observed, has more significant effect on the current deformation processes in the Central Alborz. Meanwhile, in the Northern parts of the range, where dominantly sip slip motions on Khazar Thrust and North Alborz fault occurs, deformation partitioning plays a minor role in the region.
Geophysics
Mohammad Reza Ebrahimi; Mohammad Tatar
Abstract
Impoundment of a reservoir and changes in the lake levels can trigger / induce the seismicity. In this research, the strength changes are modeled across the Golestan fault, due to loading effect of Gotvand-e Olya reservoir which is located in the Zagros Mountain of SW Iran. The formulas based on 3D Boussinesq ...
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Impoundment of a reservoir and changes in the lake levels can trigger / induce the seismicity. In this research, the strength changes are modeled across the Golestan fault, due to loading effect of Gotvand-e Olya reservoir which is located in the Zagros Mountain of SW Iran. The formulas based on 3D Boussinesq solutions were used to calculate normal and shear stresses on a given fault plane. Geometry and mechanism of the Golestan fault were precisely determined using local earthquakes recorded by a local seismological network. For a better analysis, we did the calculations in three different dips of 55, 60 and 65 degrees for the Golestan fault. Since the lake is located on the hanging wall of the Golestan fault, it is expected that loading effect of the reservoir causes delay on occurrence of earthquakes and make the fault more stable. Analysis of induced stresses confirms this too, the results in all dips in most parts of the fault from 7 km to 20 km depth, which are in closer distance to the reservoir, indicate on stabilization. Only in a small part of the fault, located at shallow depths between 5 and 7 km, the destabilizing effect is observed. The calculated strengths, which leads to destabilizing the Golestan fault ranges between -0.243 bars and 0. The observed seismicity in vicinity of the Golestan fault for before and after the impoundment confirms the the results of stress modelling in different parts of the fault.
SH Pourbeyranvand; M Tatar
Abstract
Having knowledge of stress variations in the Zagros region, southwest Iran is necessary to study the deformation resulting from oblique collision between the Eurasian & the Arabian plates and to obtain insight into the complicated tectonics of the region. In this study, earthquakes focal mechanism ...
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Having knowledge of stress variations in the Zagros region, southwest Iran is necessary to study the deformation resulting from oblique collision between the Eurasian & the Arabian plates and to obtain insight into the complicated tectonics of the region. In this study, earthquakes focal mechanism data were used to collect information on the state of stress in 12 subdivisions of the data including teleseismic and local events in the Zagros region. The stress axis show noticeable variations in the Zagros region, especially around the Oman Line. The angular difference between the stress & strain axis increases from the southeast to the northwest of the ZagrosMountain. The deformation partitioning due to pre-existing faults and fractures and introducing a weak zone in the NW Zagros under the influence of the Main Recent Fault activity may explain this increasing.
M Tatar; S.M Momeni; F Yaminifard
Abstract
The V shape kink of the AlborzMountains at its southern end reaches to the Garmsar city located 100 km southeast of Tehran metropolis. We investigated seismicity and seismotectonic features of the Garmsar area by precisely locating of microearthquakes recorded by our local dense seismological network ...
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The V shape kink of the AlborzMountains at its southern end reaches to the Garmsar city located 100 km southeast of Tehran metropolis. We investigated seismicity and seismotectonic features of the Garmsar area by precisely locating of microearthquakes recorded by our local dense seismological network and by the Iranian Seismological Center (IRSC). Our results indicate high seismic activity at the central and western parts of the Garmsar fault. Three computed focal mechanisms revealed compressional movements of the central part of this fault. Very little seismic activity is observed on the Eyvanekey and the Pishva faults. The only computed focal mechanism for the northern hills of the Garmsar fault shows tensional movements in this area, which refers to strain release among the Garmsar and Sorkheh reverse faults. Most of the calculated focal mechanisms in the Garmsar area indicate compressional and strike slip motions with overall P axis direction of 10° to 35°. The calculated P axis with NW-SE trend, close to the Sorkheh fault, is different from the other calculated P axes that show NNE-SSW direction. This is probably due to rotating of structures in this area, as revealed by recent GPS measurements in this region.
Z. Jeddi; Mohammad Tatar; B. Saeedi Razavi
Abstract
The catastrophic December 26, 2003 Mw 6.6 Bam earthquake is one of the most disastrous earthquakes in Iran. This earthquake attracted much attention, and has been far more studied that which would be expected from a moderate magnitude earthquake. Nevertheless, there are doubtful results related to geometry ...
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The catastrophic December 26, 2003 Mw 6.6 Bam earthquake is one of the most disastrous earthquakes in Iran. This earthquake attracted much attention, and has been far more studied that which would be expected from a moderate magnitude earthquake. Nevertheless, there are doubtful results related to geometry and location of the causative fault that produced the Bam earthquake. As very little is known about the 3-D structure of the region and in order to define the 3-D velocity structure and the geometry of the active fault in the Bam area travel time data from the aftershock series of the Bam earthquake are inverted simultaneously for both hypocenter locations and 3-D Vp structure. The data used for this purpose are 6201 P-wave arrival times from 544 selected local earthquakes recorded by temporary 23 short-period seismic stations. 3-D P-wave velocity variations down to 20 km depth were obtained. The acquired tomographic images show that the 3-D velocity structure beneath the region is heterogeneous in that low velocity appears throughout the region down to ~10 km depth, and high velocities occur in western part from ~14 km depth. Velocity structure of seismogenic region is well resolved to a depth of 20 km. Difference in observed velocities in two sides of the Bam fault in depth of 10-20 km is clear in tomographic images and on cross sections. We relate this difference in velocity to the effect of the reverse Bam-Baravat fault which seems influenced the deeper layer down to 20 km depth. This implies that the pre-existing reverse Bam-Baravat fault is a major active structure in the region that could be caused the December 2003 Bam earthquake.
Mohammad Tatar; M. Tatar; A. Kaviani
Abstract
Crustal structure of the Iranian plateau which is located between two convergent Arabian and Eurasian plates is studied. Teleseismic earthquakes recorded by broad band stations of Iranian National Seismic Network (INSN) are used to compute the receiver functions for each station. Rayleigh wave ...
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Crustal structure of the Iranian plateau which is located between two convergent Arabian and Eurasian plates is studied. Teleseismic earthquakes recorded by broad band stations of Iranian National Seismic Network (INSN) are used to compute the receiver functions for each station. Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion curves were estimated employing two-station methods for all possible station pair of the above mentioned seismic network. A combined inversion of Rayleigh wave phase velocities and body wave receiver functions increases the uniqueness of the solution over separate inversions and also facilitates explicit parameterization of layer thickness in the model space. Our result indicates the crustal thickness differs from a minimum of 40 ±2 km in southeast of Iran, (ZHSF) to a maximum of 56 ±2km beneath the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone (SNGE). We observe a crustal thickness of 47 ±2km beneath the central Zagros (GHIR) to 52 ±2km below the eastern most of Zagros (BNDS), then to 47 ±2km beneath the northwestern part of the Zagros (SHGR). Crust of the Central Iran (KRBR) has a thickness of 48 ±2 km while the average Moho depth in southern parts of the Central Alborz (DAMV and THKV stations) is 54±2km. Our analysis shows a thinning of the crust to 43 ±2 km beneath the northwest of Iran (MAKO) and western part of the Caspian basin (GRMI).
M. R. Ebrahimi; Mohammad Tatar
Abstract
Masjed Soleyman reservoir is located in Zagros Mountain of western Iran, which is one of the most seismically active zones of the Alpe-Hymalaya belt. So, it seems to be necessary to carry out widespread studies, especially on the impact of this reservoir with 177 m height and 261 million m3 capacity ...
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Masjed Soleyman reservoir is located in Zagros Mountain of western Iran, which is one of the most seismically active zones of the Alpe-Hymalaya belt. So, it seems to be necessary to carry out widespread studies, especially on the impact of this reservoir with 177 m height and 261 million m3 capacity on occurrence of induced seismicity in the surrounding region. The Gutenberg-Richter relation is one of the well-fitted empirical relations in seismology: it represents the frequency of occurrence of earthquakes as a function of magnitude: , where N is the cumulative number of earthquakes with magnitude larger than M and A and b are constants. In this paper we used b-value to study the heterogeneities in the crust beneath and around the Masjed Soleyman reservoir. In order to better understanding of the impact of this reservoir on seismic activity, a local seismic network of 5 seismological stations was installed in the area on June 2006. About 1924 Seismic events recorded during a period of 15 month were used in this study. We maped both surface and cross-section view of b-value in the region using the computer program ZMAP. The study area was divided into grids with spacing of 0.01o in latitude and longitude. A circle was drawn around each grid point and its radius was increased until it included N=50 earthquakes. The b-value was calculated by using a maximum likelihood method for the selected 50 earthquakes and the grid point was colored corresponding to the b-value. The results show high value of b-value due to reservoir induced earthquakes beneath the Masjed Soleyan lake. The most important factors known responsible for increased heterogeneity in this area, are reservoir loading and increased pore fluid pressure that cause occurrence of swarms and heterogeneous stresses in the area.
Mohammad Tatar; M. R. Ebrahimi; F. Yamini Fard
Abstract
Masjed Soleyman reservoir is located in Zagros Mountain of western Iran, which is one of the most seismically active zones of the Alpe-Himalaya belt. So, it seems to be necessary to carry out widespread studies, especially on the impact of this reservoir with 177 m height and 261 million m3 capacity ...
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Masjed Soleyman reservoir is located in Zagros Mountain of western Iran, which is one of the most seismically active zones of the Alpe-Himalaya belt. So, it seems to be necessary to carry out widespread studies, especially on the impact of this reservoir with 177 m height and 261 million m3 capacity on occurrence of induced seismicity in the surrounding region. During impounding of the reservoir regards to national and international catalogues such as International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES) and EHB catalog, an incensement in seismic rate is observed in the Masjed Soleyman region, and 90 days after completing the impounding, an earthquake with magnitude Mw=5.6 is occurred in the close vicinity of the Masjed Soleyman reservoir. In order to better understanding of the impact of this reservoir on seismic activity, a local seismic network of 5 seismological stations was installed in the area on June 2006. Seismic events recorded during a period of 15 month were used in this study. The largest recorded earthquakes during the monitoring of Masjed Soleyman reservoir have magnitudes of ML=3.9 and ML=3.6. Statistical methods such as correlation of the water level changes with variation of the regional seismicity, the foreshocks and aftershocks pattern and decay rate of aftershocks reveal the existing of induced seismicity in the Masjed Soleyman region. In absence of a local network before 2002 September, 25 earthquake (Mw=5.6), our observations indicate this earthquake is truly the first and largest induced earthquake that have been occurred and recognized in Iran.
A. S. Moradi; M. Tatar; D. Hatzfeld; A. Paul
Abstract
The North Tabriz Fault (NTF) is an active fault which poses a high seismic hazard to the areas of NW Iran, especially the city of Tabriz with a population of 1.6 million. In order to determine the geometry and the kinematics of this fault system, a local dense seismological network including forthy 3-component ...
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The North Tabriz Fault (NTF) is an active fault which poses a high seismic hazard to the areas of NW Iran, especially the city of Tabriz with a population of 1.6 million. In order to determine the geometry and the kinematics of this fault system, a local dense seismological network including forthy 3-component stations was installed around the central segment of Tabriz Fault which crosses the northern part of the city of Tabriz. This network operated for 3 months. Using microearthquakes recorded by our temporary network in addition of more than 6 years of local events recorded by 8 permanent stations of Tabriz telemetry network, the 1-D crustal velocity of the region was determined. Our results indicates that the upper crust consists of a ~6 km thick sedimentary layer (VP = 5.23 km s-1) overlying a ~18 km thick upper crystalline crust (VP = 5.85 km s-1). We estimate a velocity of 6.54 km s-1 for the lower crystalline crust, but the limited focal depths of our local events did not allow determining the thickness of this layer. The well-located earthquakes indicate the seismic activity along the Tabriz fault. Precise examination of the focal depths on different cross sections indicates that the western and central segment of this fault system dip northeast ward while the eastern part shows almost southwest dipping plane. Calculated focal mechanism all indicate the right-lateral strike-slip motion of the Tabriz Fault. The most reliable fault plane solutions are consistent with cross sections showing evidence of extension in Eastern part comparing to compression observed in Western segment. Our focal mechanisms and geodetic studies using GPS measurements indicate that the North Tabriz Fault helps to northeast motion of trapped crust in this area.
M. Tatar; A. M. Farahbod
Abstract
A moderate earthquake (Ms=6.3) struck the coastal region of north of Iran and the central Alborz on 28 May, 2004 was responsible of several damages and about 35 casualties. The mainshock was followed by a large number of aftershocks, the largest ...
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A moderate earthquake (Ms=6.3) struck the coastal region of north of Iran and the central Alborz on 28 May, 2004 was responsible of several damages and about 35 casualties. The mainshock was followed by a large number of aftershocks, the largest one reaching Ml=4.8, based on the analysis of local waveforms. We study the mainshock, first major aftershock, and about 240 aftershocks recorded by Iranian National Seismic Network (INSN), Tehran Telemetry Seismic Network (Institute of Geophysics, Tehran University), and our temporary local seismological stations, which were installed on 30 May, around the epicentral area of this earthquake. Using waveforms of all permanent stations, the coordinates of the mainshock was determined as 36.30 °N for latitude and 51.60 °E for longitude. The analysis of aftershocks indicates that the seismic activity migrate from east where the mainshock occurred toward west close to the location of the largest aftershock (36.36 ° N, 51.45 ° E). 140 selected aftershocks recorded at a minimum of 6 stations, having rms less than 0.15 sec and uncertainties less than 2 km, were used to infer a precise geometry of the fault region. The aftershocks distribution has 30 km long and trends NW-SE parallel to the North Alborz and Khazar faults. The focal depths comprised between 10 and 28 km, unusually deep for Iran. Distribution of aftershocks cluster on cross-section defines a fault plane which dips at 40-50 degree south-westward. Its upward continuation can be related to either North Alborz or Khazar faults. Most of the focal mechanisms are consistent with reverse faulting on NW-SE trending faults, parallel to the main active structures of the region. Well constraint focal mechanisms which dip gently at a rate of 25-40ْ indicate the activity of the second mentioned faults during the Firozabad-Kojour earthquake. Existence of focal depths up to 28 km indicates an unusual brittle lower crystalline crust in this part of central Alborz.