Seismotectonics and seismic hazard in the Gulf of Aqaba region

Earthquakes in the Gulf of Aqaba were compiled from Jordan Seismological Observatory , Saudi Arabia and Egyptsources and were relocated after reexamining the P and S arrival times, testing the efficiency of stations used to determine the location of Aqaba events, calculating the average value of Vp/ Vs, and choosing the best crustal model for the study area. The earthquake epicenters are distributed along the eastern side of the Gulf of Aqaba. The development of a seismic hazard map of the Gulf of Aqaba was based on probabilistic seismic hazard assessment using historical and instrumental earthquakes data, geology, tectonics. The seismic hazard parameters namely the b-parameter, annual activity rate and upper bound magnitude were determined for each determined seismic zone. The outputted maps of Peak ground acceleration (PGA) values with a 90% probability of not being exceeded in 50 years were determined for the Gulf of Aqaba regions.