The Study of Historical Earthquakes, Damage and Environmental Effects
The project integrates historical seismology, paleoseismology, archaeoseismology and GIScience approaches to addresses gaps in knowledge about seismic activity of the Dead Sea Transform (DST) and its effects across millennia. It brings together interdisciplinary approaches to advance our understanding of seismic processes, their effects on human societies, and strategies for risk mitigation while fostering data accessibility and collaboration for future research.
The study includes several key objectives:
Refining existing records of past seismic events associated with the DST, focusing on improving the accuracy of timelines, spatial patterns, and magnitudes. The records will be part of an interactive website of maps and queries
Examining patterns of seismic activity, including periods of clustering and quiescence, are investigated. By linking seismic activity to specific fault structures and stress cycles, the project illuminates the dynamic behavior of the DST across time and space.
Using GIS tools, the project inspects damage reports from hundreds of localities affected by historical earthquakes. This analysis identifies areas of heightened vulnerability, influenced by factors such as proximity to faults and local geological conditions.
Combining historical accounts with archaeological and paleoseismic findings, the project constructs a detailed record of seismic cycles, including evidence from lake sediments, rockfalls, and ancient fault ruptures.
The project examines the impact of earthquakes on ancient societies in the Levant. By studying responses such as shifts in settlement patterns, architectural adaptations, and cultural narratives, the research explore how communities endured and adapted to earthquake hazards.
- Estimating earthquake recurrence intervals and analyzing historical damage patterns. The project provides actionable insights for urban planning and disaster preparedness in Israel and surrounding regions.
Resulted Papers (for pdf files go to publications page):
- Zohar, M., & Williams, J. (2025). Present to Past Reflection? Notes on the 1114/5 C.E. Earthquake Sequence After the February 2023 Türkiye Doublet. Seismological Research Letters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1785/0220250252 | pdf
Links & data:
- First database schema of a relational database encompassing data on the earthquakes, tsunamis, damage and environmental effects (under conversion into version 2):
