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On the problem of destructive Iranian earthquakes and their causative faults

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Abstract

This article is devoted to evaluating destructive earthquakes (magnitude >6) of Iran and determining properties of their source parameters. First of all, a database of documented earthquakes has been prepared via reliable references and causative faults of each event have been determined. Then, geometric parameters of each fault have been presented completely. Critical parameters such as Maximum Credible Rupture, MCR, and Maximum Credible Earthquake, MCE, have been compiled based on the geometrical parameters of the earthquake faults. The calculated parameters have been compared to the maximum earthquake and the surface rupture which have been recorded for the earthquake faults. Also, the distance between the epicenter of documented earthquake events and their causative faults has been calculated (the distance was less than 20 km for 90% of the data). Then, the distance between destructive earthquakes (with the magnitude more than 6) and the nearest active fault has been calculated. If the estimated distance is less than 20 km and the mechanism of the active fault and the event are reported the same, the active fault will be introduced as a probable causative fault of that earthquake. In the process, all of the available geological, tectonic, seismotectonic maps, aerial geophysical data as well as remote sensing images have been evaluated. Based on the quality and importance of earthquake data, the events have been classified into three categories: (1) the earthquakes which have their causative faults documented, (2) the events with magnitude higher than 7, and (3) the events with the magnitude between 6 and 7. For each category, related maps and tables have been compiled and presented. Some important faults and events have been also described throughout the paper. As mentioned in this paper, these faults are likely to be in high seismic regions with potential for large-magnitude events as they are long, deep and bound sectors of the margins characterized by different deformation and coupling rates on the plate interface.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to appreciate the editorial board of Natural Hazard Journal and three anonymous reviewers for their scientific suggestions which significantly raised the quality of the paper. Also, the authors thank Mr. Ivan Saltmarsh for reviewing the English proficiency of this paper and his comments which significantly raised the English quality of this article.

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  1. Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Jalali & Hamidreza Ramazi

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  1. Mohammad Jalali
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  2. Hamidreza Ramazi
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Correspondence to Hamidreza Ramazi.

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Jalali, M., Ramazi, H. On the problem of destructive Iranian earthquakes and their causative faults. Nat Hazards 85, 1529–1555 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2643-z

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