Liquefaction Susceptibility Maps for the Aqaba-Elat Region with Projections of Future Hazards with Sea Level Rise

The cities of Aqaba, Jordan and Elat, Israel are vulnerable to seismic damage because they are built over the active faults of the Dead Sea Transform that are the source of historically destructive earthquakes. A liquefaction susceptibility map was generated for the Aqaba-Elat region. Borehole data from 149 locations and the water table depth were used to calculate effective overburden stress in the Seed-Idriss simplified method. The liquefaction analysis was based on applying a cyclic loading scenario with horizontal peak ground acceleration of 0.3 g in a major earthquake. The liquefaction map, compiled using a GIS platform, shows high and moderate liquefaction susceptibility zones along the northern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba that extends 800 m inland from the shoreline. In Aqaba, several hotels, luxury apartment complexes, archaeological sites, ports, and commercial districts are located within high and moderate liquefaction zones. In Elat, the seaport and the coastal hotel district are located within a high susceptibility zone. Most residence areas, schools, and hospitals in both cities are located within zones not susceptible to liquefaction based on the methods of this study. The total area with the potential to liquefied along the Gulf of Aqaba is approximately 10 km2. Given predictions for global sea level, we ran three liquefaction models utilizing projected water table rise of 0.5 m, 1 m, and 2 m. These models yielded an increase of the area of high liquefaction ranging from 26 to 49 percent. Given the high potential of future earthquakes, our liquefaction susceptibility maps should help inform city officials for hazard mitigation planning.