Abstract
An estimate of the maximum macroseismic intensities and ground accelerations which might be expected for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is made. The inferred maximum magnitudes lie in the range of 6.1 to 7.3 although the possibility that larger earthquakes can occur with long recurrence times cannot be precluded. Peak horizontal accelerations in the range of 0.4 to 0.5 g can be expected in Jordan. Probabilistic estimates indicate that the odds are about even (50-50) that an earthquake with a magnitude of at least 6 will occur within 80 years.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arieh, E., Peled, U., Kafri, U., and Shaal, B.: 1977, The Jordan Valley earthquake of September 2, 1973, Israel Earth Sci 26, 112–118.
Arvantakis, G. L.: 1903, Essai sur le climat de Jerusalem, Bull. Inst. Egypte, Ser. 4, 4, 178–189.
Ben-Menahem, A.: 1979, Earthquake catalog for the Middle east (92BC-1980AD), Bull. Geof. Teor. Appl. 21, 245–310.
Ben-Menahem, A., Vered, M., and Brooke, D.: 1982, Earthquake risk in the Holy Land, Bull. Geof. Teor. Appl. 24, 175–203.
Ben-Menahem, A., Aboodi, Vered, M. and Kovach, R. L.: 1977, Rate of seismicity of the Dead Sea region over the past 4000 years, Phys. Earth. Planet. Interiors 14, 17–27.
Evernden, J. F. and Thomson, J. M.: 1986, Seismic intensities: their importance, predictability, and use, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 86-401, pp. 119–122.
Kovach, R. L., Andreasen, G., Gettings, M., and Healy, J.: 1986, Seismicity of Western Jordan, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 86-561.
Milne, J.: 1911, Catalogue of destructive earthquakes, Rep. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 80, 694–740.
Perrey, A.: 1849, Memoire sur les tremblements de terre resentis dans la Peninsule Turco-Hellenique et en Syrie, Memoires Couronnes et Memoires de Savants Etrangers, Academie Royale de Belgique, Bruxelles, 23, 1–73.
Shapira, A.: 1984, Statistical evaluations of the potential earthquake hazards in Israel and adjacent areas, Engrg. Geol. 20, 199–205.
Vered, M. and Striem, H.: 1977, A macroseismic study and the implications of structural damage of two recent major earthquakes in the Jordan Rift, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer. 67, 1607–1613.
Willis, B.: 1928, Earthquakes in the Holy Land, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer. 18, 73–103.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kovach, R.L. Earthquake hazard in Jordan. Nat Hazards 1, 245–254 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00137230
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00137230