SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN IRAQ (ZAGROS EARTHQUAKE) A REVIEW STUDY

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1 International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 9, Issue 2, February 2018, pp , Article ID: IJCIET_09_02_002 Available online at ISSN Print: and ISSN Online: IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN IRAQ (ZAGROS EARTHQUAKE) A REVIEW STUDY Nadim Haify, Baydaa Hussain Maula, Karima Flaih Hasan Institute of Technology / Middle Technical University, Iraq-Baghdad ABSTRACT Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes and landslides are among the most important phenomena affecting human life. They occur suddenly without warning. Some of them are light, while others are destructive threaten the lives of people. Recently there has been increasing activity in the zealous strip in the Iran-Zagros earthquake line, in which Iraq is located. A magnitude 7.3 earthquake has occurred in the northern border region of Iran-Iraq centered about 350 kilometers north of Baghdad at a depth of 33.9 km in last Nov ( In general the prediction of earthquakes takes three alliances. In the first one, can predict the location of the earthquake over-all, as expect it in a large area such as the northern or north-eastern border in 10 to 20 years. In the second one it is not predictable not only in Iraq but also in the developed world, because it depends on the nature of the underground breakage and the amount of energy emitted, the third alliance is time and this is also not available. Therefore developed countries use seismic engineering, Seismic insurance in order to reduce the losses. This paper comes to shed light on what is happening in Iraq from natural disasters not seen before. To determine the causes of occurrence and recurrence in the near and long term. Key words: Earthquake line; Northern border region; Middle East tectonics; Zagros Cite this Article: Nadim Haify, Baydaa Hussain Maula, Karima Flaih Hasan, Seismic Activity in Iraq (Zagros earthquake) A Review Study. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 9(2), 2018, pp INTRODUCTION Definitely, every year, earthquakes occur, many of which are not felt by humans because it occurs in uninhabited areas or due to its magnitude less than 4 Richter. Many reasons for earthquakes happen, some of them belongs to man-made causes and other due to natural causes. The man-made causes are to cause gaps in the earth as a result of the extraction of oil from them, and increase the heat of the earth due to exhaust [1]. The natural causes of the earthquakes, both internal and external, and the cause of the internal earthquakes in the presence of cracks ground and faults, and the accumulation of thermal and motor energy stored in the crust. The cause of the external earthquakes is the following: the position of the Earth in relation to the sun and the moon, the speed of the Earth, 13 editor@iaeme.com

2 Nadim Haify, Baydaa Hussain Maula, Karima Flaih Hasan where the maximum speed in January, and the speed of the month of July, and second: the status of the Earth for the rest of the planets of the solar system (planetary couplings with the ground, "The movement of the planets of the solar system and the earth around the sun makes the center of gravity of this group always in a state of constant change, which affects the power of attracting planets and the moon on the ground as the Earth is always vulnerable to the power of gravity of the solar system. In the case of permanent change. And is greater than in the case of conjugates [1]. Third, the occurrence of the Venus and Jupiter planetary coupling on November 5, 2004, and Venus crossing the sun disk on June 8, 2004, where the effect of Venus on the planet was greatest, as well as a total solar eclipse on October 14, 2004, and the occurrence of a lunar eclipse on 28 October Fourth, for the planet Earth began to increase the speed of movement around the sun so as not to fall because of the approach of about 5 million km, which is why the return of the internal mass of the earth, according to inertia it. Less distance (Earth) from the sun the first and second week of January. Fifth, In these areas hit by the earthquake and tsunami, the internal energy stored and accumulated in the layers of the earth as large as possible, and in weak areas allow vibration and release of this large energy, the movement of the Earth and the confrontation and conjunction with the planets, and the occurrence of the lunar tide of the crust, water and gas, In the middle and early lunar months "[2]. 2. GLOBAL GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF EARTHQUAKES 1. Ring of fire, which passes through the coasts of the Pacific Ocean East and West, and this region of the world s most vulnerable to earthquakes and disasters, and the most important areas of vulnerability of the crust. 2. The second global zone extends from the West Indies, which are very dangerous areas, where there are Andean ranges, including the Martinic Islands, San Diego, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Antilles in the Caribbean Sea [3] as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 Geographical distribution of earthquakes (source [3]) 14 editor@iaeme.com

3 Seismic Activity in Iraq (Zagros earthquake) A Review Study 3. EARTHQUAKES IN IRAQ HISTORY Since the birth of Christ, there have been 179 violent tremors, of which 15 are very violent. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, there were 2804 tremors, 100 of which were very violent. In the 19th century, 3204 tremors were reported. An Italian city was swallowed by the earth and turned into a lake in 1480 BC. In the year 551 AD, earthquakes hit the shores of Syria and Lebanon, and were the most severe in the city of Beirut. In 1139, earthquakes devastated the city of Aleppo, which spread to Iran and killed at least 100,000 people. Iraq has an all-around reported history of seismic hits, The historical seismicity follows a well-defined pattern and fits the boundary of the major tectonic elements of the country [4]. Structurally Iraq is situated in a moderately dynamic seismic zone at the northeastern limits of the Arabian Plate.The relating Zagros Tauros Belts show the subduction of the Arabian plate into the Iranian and Anatolian Plates [5].The seismic history uncovers yearly seismic movement of various quality. The north and northeastern zones portrays the most astounding seismic movement with solid decrease in the south and southwestern parts of the nation [4]. Two seismic belts can affect Iraq; the first one is seismic belt in the center of the Atlantic Ocean: stretching from the Maghreb as far north to the southeast of Zageors mountains between Iraq and Iran and the series extends to the Himalayan belt. While Anatolia Seismic Belt represents the second one [6]. 4. MIDDLE EAST TECTONICS AND EARTHQUAKES The facts about the causes of earthquakes were related with the theory of plate tectonics. The theory advocates that, the surface of the earth consists of several plates or solid sheets up to 100 km in continents, while it s less than 50 km in the oceans, and these plates together form lithosphere of the Earth see Figure 2. Figure 2 Cross-cut lengthwise the earth s interior (source: [7]) The plates move very slowly above the plastic layer of the earth mantle, and are accompanied by seismic and volcanic activities along their borders, as well as terrain such as 15 editor@iaeme.com

4 Nadim Haify, Baydaa Hussain Maula, Karima Flaih Hasan high mountains, cracks, grooves, faults, etc., and it takes millions of years. Relative moves between these moving plates occur in different images. There are convergent movements as these plates converge towards each other. Collision The collision (in the case of convergence between two continental plates due to the equal density of the blades), or the occurrence of the collision (in the event of convergence) between two plates, one continental and the other less thicker and more dense ocean) where the ocean plate is inserted under the continental plate, shallow and medium earthquakes occur. There are also spacing between platelets and so-called openness occurs at this type of plate boundary, and earthquakes also result from these movements Tectonic divergence, and there is a third type of tectonic movements between the plates and the movement of the side movements between the plates (Transform Faults) and also produces the earthquakes result from these side moves. Figure 3 presents the seven major tectonic plates of the world, and many of the smaller ones. In many cases the boundaries of the plates are not well defined, as, e.g., between the African and Eurasian plates, where many smaller plates exist [7]. Figure 3 The major tectonic plates of the world (source [7]) The boundary between the Arabian and Eurasian Plates is a zone of oblique convergence with a combination of folds and thrust faults and right-lateral strike slip faults. The Zagros Mountains are a fold and thrust belt extending across western Iran into northeastern Iraq. Thrust faulting in the foothills of the northwestern Zagros Mountains caused this earthquake. In this region, the Arabian Plate moves in a north-northeasterly direction at about 2.5 cm/yr with respect to the Eurasian Plate [8] see Figure editor@iaeme.com

5 Seismic Activity in Iraq (Zagros earthquake) A Review Study Figure 4 Extending seismic belt across western Iran into northeastern Iraq [8] The tectonics formative plateau in southeastern Iran is moving towards the Arab plateau, where the Gulf States are located within this scope to the south of Iran. There are cracks in all the tectonics formative plates by 2 cm. This convergence increases the daily earthquake activity in neighboring countries, particularly in Iran and Turkey, which is affected by Iraq. Middle East tectonics and earthquakes result from the interaction of the Eurasia, Arabia, India, and Africa Plates. This regional tectonics map shows plate motions with respect to the Eurasian Plate. The location of the earthquake is shown by the red star [8]. Earthquake Figure 5 The regional tectonics map Figure 6 shows the locations of the most recent 924 earthquakes with magnitude (M) > 5 in the area surrounding the Arabia Eurasian Plate boundary [8]. Iraq's seismological observation announced the massive M7.3 earthquake is within the broad zone of earthquakes along the Zagros Mountains and Bitlis Suture that form the plate boundary that hit various parts of Iraq editor@iaeme.com

6 Nadim Haify, Baydaa Hussain Maula, Karima Flaih Hasan Baghdad (Reuters) declare that over - One hundred people were killed and injured as a result of the earthquake, while some 200 others were injured by drowning, There was some stones sliding in the mountain next to the source of the Derbandikhan Dam, and some of the stones and debris fell in the water wave of the dam and some of the houses next to it collapsed Notice that earthquake depths are dominantly less than 70 km indicating that most of these events are on crustal faults [8]. M7.3 Zagros earthquake Figure 6 Zagros earthquake along broad zone Map created with the IRIS Earthquake Browser According to Figure 7 the seismic activity for Iraq can be consider as very weak 3.5 to relatively strong (4.8) on Richter measures where the doors are violently shaken and the glass breaks. Figure 7 A statistical for severity of earthquakes that hit Iraq during the month of November editor@iaeme.com

7 Seismic Activity in Iraq (Zagros earthquake) A Review Study 5. CONCLUSIONS 1-It is impossible to predict the occurrence of the earthquake. The fracture moment depends on the elasticity of the rock. In order to determine it, we must know the strength of the pressure and the elasticity of the rock and its moisture. The liquids increase the elasticity and most importantly we must know that this place will cause an earthquake to try measurements. The Iraq earthquake occurs as a result of a break in the earth's crust and is produced as mentioned earlier by the exposure of this crust to the pressure resulting from overlapping or adjacent platelets or a moving crack in the crust. 2-The magnitude and effect of earthquakes varies, and with some indications of their proximity, it is still difficult to predict; the only possible current situation is the strengthening of buildings along seismic lines, the training of high-efficiency rescue teams and international cooperation in situations Major disasters. 3-That the earthquakes have some benefits, they form the surface of the earth and raise the mountains and the extraction of precious metals from the ground 4- Multiple measures to reduce the risk of earthquakes; such as such Planning based on a geological study before permitting construction with strengthening of weak buildings in areas of seismic activity. 5- Removal of hazardous installations from potentially earthquake-prone areas. 6- Issuing laws and legislation necessary to support environmental and civil planning after the earthquake REFERENCES [1] [2] Journal of Science No February 2005 p42 [3] [4] Alsinawi, S. A., & Al Qasrani, Z. O. (2003, May). Earthquake hazards consideration for Iraq. In Fourth International Conference of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (pp ). [5] Maula, B. H., Aziz, H. Y., & Alwan, K. H (2017). Earthquake Rating of Pore Water Pressure Generation Induced Liquefaction of Earth Fill Embankments by Numerical ( (3), (MJET), Simulation. Muthanna Journal of Engineering and Technology [6] Al-Heety, E. A. (2014). A complete and homogeneous magnitude earthquake catalogue of (11), Geosciences, Iraq. Arabian Journal of Summer, [7] Zerva, A. EARTHQUAKES. Origins and Predictions. [8] Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology [9] K. Sunil Kumar, Dr. B. Nagalingeswara Raju, J. Arul mani and P. Amirthalingam, Design and Structural Analysis of Liquified Cryogenic Tank under Seismic and Operating Loading. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 7(6), 2016, pp [10] Khandekar Mainul Alam and Sanjay Sehdev, Economical Design Using Elliptical Hinges in Gussets Subjected to Seismic Loads. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 7(6), 2016, pp editor@iaeme.com