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Seismic microzonation for Muscat region, Sultanate of Oman

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Abstract

Site characterization was carried out for Muscat region using the ambient noise measurements applying the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique and using active seismic survey utilizing the multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) of survey data. Microtremors measurements were carried out at 459 sites using short-period sensors. This extensive survey allowed the fundamental resonance frequency of the soft soil to be mapped and areas prone to site amplification to be identified. The results indicate a progressive decrease in the fundamental resonance frequencies from the southern and eastern parts, where the bedrock outcrops, toward the northern coast where a thickness of sedimentary cover is present. Shear wave velocity (Vs) was evaluated using the 2-D MASW at carefully selected 99 representative sites in Muscat. These 99 sites were investigated with survey lines of 52 m length. 1-D and interpolated 2-D profiles were generated up to a depth range 20–40 m. The vertical Vs soundings were used in the SHAKE91 software in combination with suitable seismic input strong motion records to obtain the soil effect. Most of the study area has amplification values less than 2.0 for all the considered spectral periods. The estimated fundamental frequencies obtained using the H/V spectral ratio method and using SHAKE91 are found to be in a relatively good agreement. Maps of spectral amplification, earthquake characteristics on the ground surface for peak ground and spectral accelerations at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 1.0, and 2.0 s, for 475 years return period are produced. The surface ground motion maps show that the hazard level is moderate with expected PGA in the range 0.059–0.145 g for 475 years return period.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their sincere appreciation to Oman Ministerial Cabinet for funding this project under project # 22409017. Thanks go also to Sultan Qaboos University for the strong support and encouragement and to the Seismic hazard committee members for their interest and assistance to complete this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earthquake Monitoring Center, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    I. El-Hussain, A. Deif, S. Al-Hashmi, K. Al-Toubi, M. Al-Saifi & Z. Al-Habsi

  2. Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    K. Al-Jabri & G. Al-Rawas

  3. Earth Science Department, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    N. Sundararajan

  4. National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

    A. Deif, A. M. E. Mohamed & S. El-Hady

  5. Faculty of Earth Science, Geophysics Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    S. El-Hady

  6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

    M. N. Toksöz

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  1. I. El-Hussain
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  2. A. Deif
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  3. K. Al-Jabri
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  4. A. M. E. Mohamed
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  5. G. Al-Rawas
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  6. M. N. Toksöz
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  9. S. Al-Hashmi
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  12. Z. Al-Habsi
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Correspondence to I. El-Hussain.

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El-Hussain, I., Deif, A., Al-Jabri, K. et al. Seismic microzonation for Muscat region, Sultanate of Oman. Nat Hazards 69, 1919–1950 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0785-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0785-9

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