Seismological and Remote Sensing Studies in the Dead Sea Zone, Jordan 1987-2021

The Dead Sea area is draining massive tourism and infrastructure investments. However, the area is prone to both induced anthropogenic and natural geological hazards, with indicators requiring innovative monitoring. Hazards are resulting from the zone’s plate boundary tectonic setting and seismicity added to the generalized subsidence and sinkholes proliferation related to decades of accelerating water level lowering of this terminal lake. The Jordan Dead Sea Transform Fault System (JDST) is an N-S trending and ~ 1000-km-long plate boundary that accommodates ~5 mm/year. left-lateral slip. We focus on the main research results concerning the whole spectrum of destructive seismicity components, i.e. Instrumental, historical, archaeo and paleoseismicity. Field investigations in earthquake geology and paleoseismology point out the identification of seismic gaps with long-term temporal quiescence reaching 851 years on the Jordan valley fault segment compared to 988 years for the Missyaf fault segment of the JDST further north in Syria (as per the year 2021). Destructive historical and instrumental seismicity were subjected to careful robust revision processes. The repetition of seismic events and related earthquake faulting parameters suggest a high level of seismic hazard and risk along the JDST. From 1992 onwards, research based on space remote sensing techniques, Geographical information systems, and field data collection has been undertaken to develop a predictive model for salt karst hazards along the Dead Sea coast. Radar and optical image processing produced images capable of being interpreted in a geographic information system (GIS). The field observations were systematically georeferenced using a GPS and then imported into the GIS to be analysed with the processed satellite images. Each independent data source was used to establish an explanatory model for the prediction of areas at risk of collapse. This approach has been improved over time due to the arrival of an ever greater number of optical and radar images. Image resolution has also increased, allowing inventories of sinkholes, especially in the most dangerous locations. This Chapter contributes in filing the gap in the seismological, and remote sensing studies necessary to the sustainable preservation of this world class cultural heritage zone, the safe economic upgrading of the area and the safety of its inhabitants and visitors.