The earthquake sequence, with a maximum earthquake magnitude of MW 3.8, that occurred during January–February 2022 at the northern Dead Sea fault, is shown to be induced by extensive groundwater abstraction in Wadi Al‐Arab basin. Wadi Al‐Arab basin, which is bordered in the west by the Dead Sea fault, has been overexploited by extensive groundwater abstraction causing significant drawdowns. Relative earthquake relocation indicates an elongated S‐N sequence subparallel to the Dead Sea fault. We simulate the three‐dimensional hydraulic head changes in the past 40 years at Wadi al Arab basin. Results show that the drawdowns at the Dead Sea fault wells reached a value greater than 180 m. We use these results to further model the poroelastic effects of the drawdown on the stability of the Dead Sea fault using a typical fault architecture including fault core surrounded by damage zone. Upward groundwater drainage through the permeable damage zone leads to compaction and strengthening. Failure on the Dead Sea fault is expected to occur on the impermeable fault core or at the protholith where weakening is expected. Groundwater abstraction in Wadi Al‐Arab basin cause changes of a few MPa in the Coulmb Failure Stress (ΔCFS) and trigger seismicity in these sections. This is the second location along the Dead Sea fault where groundwater abstraction was shown to recently induce earthquakes. With growing demand for water and long lasting droughts in the Middle East, seismicity induced by groundwater abstraction might reoccur in the near future.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.