Riyadh Emir inaugurates International Conference on Conjoined Twins in Riyadh    Saudi delegation participates in the 7th U20 Deans Summit in Brazil    Al-Jubeir discusses with EU officials enhancing bilateral cooperation    GASTAT: Non-oil exports up 22.8% in September 2024    Saudi Arabia to host 28th Annual World Investment Conference in Riyadh    Saudi Arabia allows licensed flour milling companies to export flour    Saudi Arabia joins international partnership initiative to boost hydrogen economy    Israeli drones kill two paramedics, injure four in southern Lebanon    Trump's new attorney general nominee sparks concerns over DOJ independence    Australia drops proposed laws to regulate social media misinformation    Six Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on central Gaza    Al Khaleej stuns Al Hilal with 3-2 victory, ending 57-match unbeaten run    SFDA move to impose travel ban on workers of food outlets in the event of food poisoning    Al Okhdood halts Al Shabab's winning streak with a 1-1 draw in Saudi Pro League    Mahrez leads Al Ahli to victory over Al Fayha in Saudi Pro League    Saudi musical marvels takes center stage in Tokyo's iconic opera hall    Al Khaleej qualifies for Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship final    Katy Perry v Katie Perry: Singer wins right to use name in Australia    Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out    Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



SGS to build 40 new seismic stations
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 22 - 05 - 2016

JEDDAH — The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) has drawn up a plan to set up a national network comprising 220 monitoring stations for monitoring seismicity.
The SGS has completed the construction of 180 stations till now and it is expected to set up the remaining 40 stations within the next three years. In addition, the SGS has assigned 18 other stations to measure the velocity of tremors.
SGS President Dr. Zohair Abdulhafeez Nawab said the earthquake in the Gulf of Aqaba at Thursday dawn was a series of 340 consecutive tremors that continued until Friday morning. The magnitude of the main shock in was 4.8 on the Richter scale.
Nawab said the consecutive tremors in the Aqaba region was described as a "seismic storm" with a weak tempo at different intervals. They did not pose any risk for the surrounding areas.
He said the Gulf of Aqaba is considered to be among the most active seismic areas that affect the Kingdom and the neighboring countries, including Egypt, Jordan and Palestine.
"This seismic activity was not the first of its kind. It recurs at short intervals. This region has been subject to recurrent seismic storms. In 1993, a seismic storm was registered with the highest magnitude reaching 5.8 on the Richter scale," Nawab said.
In 1983, a seismic storm was registered in the region with the highest magnitude reaching 4.8 on the Richter scale.
Nawab said the Kingdom is bounded by seismic zones that can affect it. "However, the tremors range between weak and moderate and are mostly not violent," he added.
Seismic activity in the Kingdom is greatly linked to the movement of tectonic plates that in turn have an effect on the local activity. "The reasons for the concentration of local seismic activity along the western part of the Kingdom, especially in the Arabian Shield, are attributed to the forces that affect the Kingdom especially its peripheries. These forces are then transmitted to the internal part of the Arabian plate. The forces accumulate until they reach a limit that exceeds the bearing capacity of the existing rocks. This results in an earthquake or it might reactivate the existing faults in the Arabian plate," the SGS president.
As for complying with the building code and constructing earthquake-resistant buildings, Nawab stressed that the building code is not an option, but it is compulsory especially in the hot spots on the Red Sea coast.
"Non-abidance by the building code increases the losses in lives and properties. If the building code is complied with during construction of the infrastructure and big commercial buildings, it will be a guarantee for safety," he said.
On the possibility of predicting earthquakes, Nawab said: "The earthquake epicenter can be located anywhere in the world because it is known to all. They are known as seismic belts. However, it is impossible currently to predict where and when an earthquake will occur.
"Scientists all over the world are striving to reach scientific methods and theories through which they can predict an earthquake before it takes place. But none of them have succeeded till now, as earthquakes are among the phenomena of the universe that occur due to geological processes inside the earth. They affect man and his properties but it is impossible to prevent the occurrence of a natural phenomenon. Therefore, all the countries of the world, whether they are characterized by strong or weak seismic activity , strive to set up seismic stations to monitor seismic activity. They also set up a database to conduct specialist scientific studies so as to mitigate the effects of earthquakes and volcanoes and protect lives and properties."
Nawab said the National Center for Earthquakes and Volcanoes works round the clock in receiving and analyzing seismic data. The center immediately informs the related authorities on seismic events, especially the Directorate General of Civil Defense. The center is deemed among the biggest seismic monitoring networks in the Middle East.


Clic here to read the story from its source.