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Delineation of seismic zonation using fractal modeling in West Yazd province, Central Iran

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Abstract

This study is an attempt to identify seismic zones utilizing number-size (N-S) and concentration-area (C-A) fractal models in the West Yazd province, Central Iran. The analysis was based on the earthquakes’ magnitude and Quaternary faults’ density. Fault density map was generated and classified by fractal modeling. The result indicates that the main fault densities correlate with Dehshir and Eqlid faults. Furthermore, the areas with relatively large earthquake magnitudes are located in the SE and NE parts of the region. The Quaternary faults’ density and earthquake magnitudes were weighted based on the results of the fractal modeling. Finally, weighted maps were combined and classified to show that Dehshir fault has the main role for seismicity in this area. Comparison between results derived via the fractal modeling and conventional seismic zonation map is satisfactory. Furthermore, fractal modeling approach distinguishes different seismic zones with higher accuracy in smaller areas. For validation of results, earthquakes since 2012 were collected and associated with seismic zones. These earthquakes which are correlated with major seismic zones are mainly located near the Dehshir and main Zagros faults.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was extracted from a research project titled “Seismic Microzonation of the Yazd Provence base on the Fractal and Monte Carlo simulation” with the support of the Islamic Azad University, South Tehran branch. In addition, the authors would like to thank the editor and reviewers of this paper for their valuable comments and remarks.

Funding

This study is financially supported by the Research Deputy of Azad University, South Tehran branch.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Peyman Afzal

  2. Department of Petroleum Engineering, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Ahmad Adib

  3. Department of Geology, Islamshar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Naser Ebadati

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  1. Peyman Afzal
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  2. Ahmad Adib
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  3. Naser Ebadati
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Correspondence to Ahmad Adib.

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Afzal, P., Adib, A. & Ebadati, N. Delineation of seismic zonation using fractal modeling in West Yazd province, Central Iran. J Seismol 22, 1377–1393 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-018-9770-9

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