How is Saudi-Dubai safe from earthquake?

Recently, scenes of devastation were seen in Afghanistan and Turkey. From time to time, terrible earthquakes occur in both the countries. Which shakes the entire country. An earthquake of 4.4 magnitude occurred in Afghanistan on Saturday itself. At the same time, earlier on Monday (November 3), an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude occurred in which about 20 people lost their lives. According to Tolo News, in the last three decades, earthquakes have occurred in Afghanistan more than 300 times. Afghanistan is ranked as the 12th most earthquake-sensitive region in the world.

On the other hand, on 28 October, an earthquake hit Turkey in which many buildings collapsed. We have talked about the recent earthquakes that occurred in these two countries. However, in both the countries, people’s eyes are often awakened by strong earthquakes. From time to time, terrible shocks hit and shake the country. In the meantime, let us understand why earthquakes keep causing devastation in Afghanistan and Turkey. At the same time, why tremors are not felt in the Gulf countries.

How do earthquakes occur?

Before understanding how earthquakes occur in Gulf countries, it is important to understand how earthquakes occur? Earthquakes occur when stress accumulates in the earth’s layers due to the movement of tectonic plates inside the earth’s surface and is suddenly released.

1. Speed ​​of tectonic plates: The Earth’s outer layer (lithosphere) is divided into many big and small plates. These plates keep moving slowly continuously. Sometimes they collide, sometimes they separate or one slips under the other.
2. Build up of stress: When these plates collide or slide, stress builds up in the rocks.
3. Sudden release of stress: When the stress stored in rocks exceeds their capacity, they suddenly break and release energy. This energy spreads to the earth’s surface and causes earthquakes.
4. Earthquake waves: This energy spreads in the form of seismic waves. These waves create tremors in land, water and air, which we feel as earthquakes.

Why do deadly earthquakes not occur in Gulf countries?

It is not that earthquakes do not occur at all in Gulf countries. Earthquake tremors are felt in these areas also. But here earthquakes do not hit as many earthquakes as those that shake Turkey and Afghanistan. Earthquakes in the Arab region are generally mild compared to other earthquake-active areas.

Geologists explain this for several reasons. The Arabian Peninsula is located on the Arabian Plate, which is considered a stable craton. It is a large, ancient and hard part of the Earth’s outer layer (lithosphere). This plate covers large parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including parts of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, and Jordan.

Earthquakes of low intensity occur in the area

Researchers Sherif M. Ali (National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Cairo) and Kamal Abdelrahman (King Saud University, Riyadh), who published their work in Frontiers of Earth Sciences, said that the stability of this plate means that the plate itself experiences “low internal stress and strain”. He said that this is the reason why powerful earthquakes occur less in this region and even when they occur, their intensity is less.

Although seismic activity has been recorded in the region, most of them occur along plate boundaries. Like the Zagros Belt (Fold and Thrust) in the north-east and the Red Sea Rift in the west, where tectonic plates are colliding or separating. At the same time, earthquake tremors are felt.

Research on earthquakes from 1941-2019

Researchers said that although seismic risk exists in this area, it is moderate but not very dangerous. To study earthquakes in this region, scientists analyzed nearly 3,000 seismic events recorded from 1941 to 2019.

The intensity of these earthquakes ranged from 1.0 to 6.2 and they mostly occurred at a depth of 50 km. This data included time, location and other information from the International Seismological Center (ISC). Using this data, experts observed how often earthquakes occur and their intensity. He found that the level of stress is different in every terrane, due to which earthquakes occur. But, since much of the Arabian Peninsula is away from these active fault lines, earthquakes in the interior region are rare and generally low-intensity.

stable tectonic plate

Additionally, the researchers reported that heat flow in the Arabian Shield and surrounding areas is low and the underlying rocks are thick and stable. It also plays an important role in reducing seismicity and making earthquakes mild.

The Arabian Peninsula’s location on a stable tectonic plate, distance from the most active fault zones, and geological characteristics make earthquakes rare in the region.

Why are there more earthquakes in Afghanistan?

According to Reuters, Afghanistan is surrounded by mountainous and difficult terrain and many natural disasters keep happening here. But, earthquakes cause maximum loss of life and property. On average, about 560 people die annually and the annual loss is estimated at about $80 million. According to studies, since 1990, there have been at least 355 earthquakes in Afghanistan whose magnitude was more than 5.0.

Afghanistan is located at the edge of the Eurasian tectonic plate, which shares a transition zone with the Indian plate — this means that the two plates may collide or pass past each other at times. Additionally, there is also the influence of the Arabian Plate to the south, making it one of the most tectonically active regions of the world.

Many earthquakes in Afghanistan are usually attributed to the northward movement of the Indian Plate and its collision with the Eurasian Plate.

Why are there more earthquakes in Türkiye?

Earthquakes occur more frequently in Türkiye because it is located at the meeting point of three different tectonic plates. Most of Türkiye lies on the Anatolian Plate, which lies between the major Eurasian and African plates and a smaller Arabian Plate. When plates press over or under each other, friction sometimes occurs.

These plates, which are part of the Earth’s outer layer, are constantly moving and colliding with each other. Earthquakes usually occur on the fault lines of these plates, which are large cracks in the Earth’s surface.