Multisensoral approach for studying the geology and tectonics of the Dead Sea Rift/Israel

The ERS-1/2 tandem mission opened a new dimension in the detection of recent displacements of active tectonic structures like the Dead Sea Rift in Israel. The investigations are mainly concentrated on the northern coastal plains of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Wadi Araba. The test site is part of the Aqaba-Levant-Structure situated in the Israel/Jordan/Egypt triangle. It is an active fracture zone with continuous seismic activity. Existing faults developed parallelly and vertically to the major stress component are reactivated and vertical and horizontal movements can be observed. Displacements can be expected twice or even more times a year. ERS-1/2 data were studied to detect reactivated fracture zones and corresponding displacement caused by the earthquake of November 1995. For studying of the recent displacements ERS-1/2 data sets before and after the earthquake of November 1995 were analysed using the differential interferometry approach. First results will be demonstrated and displacements of several cm will be discussed. Additionally, optical and microwave data like TM and SIR-C/X-SAR were analysed intensively for studying the complete geologic and tectonic framework of the Dead Sea Rift. For an overall understanding of the process and the interpretation of these remote sensing data, especially the interferometrically processed SAR data, small scale geological, tectonic, soil and land-use maps and DTMs have to be set up. The relevant parameters are extracted from the remote sensing data and completed by ground-truth data. The scientific goal of the project focuses on the evaluation of remote sensing data for a better understanding of the movements along the Dead Sea Rift. In general it can be stated that radar data are an excellent tool for the detection of structural elements especially in areas were faults are covered by loose sediments. Recent small scale displacements caused by earthquakes can be detected using the phase information of the radar signal whereas the geological setting caused by the tectonic displacements can be detected by optical data.