Seismic Hazard in IRAN
Iran is located in a highly active seismic zone and is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. The country is affected by the collision of several tectonic plates, including the Arabian Plate[2], the Eurasian Plate[3], and the African Plate[4], which are responsible for the high level of seismic activity in the region[1].
Iran has a long history of powerful earthquakes, including the 1990 Manjil-Rudbar earthquake[5], which resulted in more than 40,000 deaths, and the 2003 Bam earthquake[6], which resulted in more than 30,000 deaths and widespread damage in southeast Iran. In recent years, the country has also experienced several significant earthquakes, including the 2017 Iran-Iraq earthquake[7], which resulted in more than 400 deaths and widespread damage in western Iran and northern Iraq.
The seismic hazard in Iran[1] is high, and the country is vulnerable to the effects of earthquakes due to its geography, population density, and infrastructure. In response to the high seismic risk[1], the Iranian government has implemented a number of measures to improve building codes and to invest in early warning systems and disaster preparedness plans. Despite these efforts, the potential for earthquakes in Iran remains high, and it is important for individuals and communities to be prepared and aware of the steps they can take to protect themselves.
Iran is located at the intersection of several tectonic plates, including the Arabian Plate[2], the Eurasian Plate[3], and the African Plate[4]. The Arabian Plate[2] is located beneath the Arabian Peninsula and is moving northward[2], colliding with the Eurasian Plate[3] along the boundary known as the Zagros Mountains.
The Eurasian Plate[3] is located beneath the Eurasian continent and is moving southwestward, colliding with the Arabian Plate[2] along the boundary known as the Zagros Mountains. This collision is responsible for the formation of the Zagros Mountains and for the high level of seismic activity[1] in the region.
The African Plate[4] is located beneath the African continent and is moving northward, colliding with the Eurasian Plate[3] along the boundary known as the Alpide Belt. This collision is responsible for the formation of the Alpide Belt and for the high level of seismic activity[1] in the region.
Understanding the tectonic plates in Iran is crucial for understanding the seismic hazard[1] in the region and for predicting and preparing for future earthquakes. The knowledge of the tectonic plates in Iran can help to better understand the geological processes that contribute to the formation of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis in the region.
References
- Tavakoli, B.; Ghafory-Ashtiany, M. Seismic hazard assessment of Iran. Ann. Di Geofis. 1999, 42, 1013–1021.
- Moujahed I. Al-Husseini; Origin of the Arabian Plate Structures: Amar Collision and Najd Rift. GeoArabia 2000;; 5 (4): 527–542. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia0504527
- Jackson, J., Haines, J., and Holt, W. (1995), The accommodation of Arabia-Eurasia Plate convergence in Iran, J. Geophys. Res., 100( B8), 15205– 15219, doi:10.1029/95JB01294.
- David D. Coblentz, Mike Sandiford; Tectonic stresses in the African plate: Constraints on the ambient lithospheric stress state. Geology 1994;; 22 (9): 831–834. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0831:TSITAP>2.3.CO;2
- Bahrainy, H., Bakhtiar, A. (2022). Manjil Earthquake of June 20, 1990, The Lessons Learned. In: Urban Design in Seismic-Prone Regions. The Urban Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08321-1_3
- Talebian, M., et al. (2004), The 2003 Bam (Iran) earthquake: Rupture of a blind strike-slip fault, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L11611, doi:10.1029/2004GL020058.
- Wang W. M., He J. K., Hao J. L., and Yao Z. X. (2018). Preliminary result for the rupture process of Nov.13, 2017, Mw7.3 earthquake at Iran-Iraq border. Earth Planet. Phys., 2, 82–83. http://doi.org/10.26464/epp2018008