The Arab School for Science and Technology (ASST) and the National Earthquake Center (NEC - Syria) are pleased to invite you to participate to the workshop on «Active Tectonic Studies and Earthquake Hazard Assessment in Syria and Neighboring Countries», to be held from 17 to 19 November 2009 at ASST, Damascus, Syria.

The Dead Sea Fault System (DSFS) ranks among the largest strike-slip fault systems in the world and represents a key element of the eastern Mediterranean seismotectonic framework. The fault system accommodates ~5 mm/year of left lateral motion between the Arabian and African (Sinai) plates along much of its length. Intracontinental deformation (Palmyrides, Abdel-Aziz and Sinjar structures), caused by plate boundary processes extending into the plate interior, dominates the past and present tectonics of Syria and surrounding areas.
Recent debates concerning the slip rate and kinematics of the DSFS attest to the limited understanding of it as an active and seismogenic system. In particular, there has been debate about whether the active plate boundary is mainly represented by the northern DSFS or whether active deformation is partially concentrated offshore to the west.
The workshop aims to bring together earth scientists working on aspects of seismology, active tectonics, space geodesy, remote sensing, paleoseismology and geodynamics, to address issues concerning the tectonic evolution of the eastern Mediterranean and northern Arabian plate, with results relevant to tectonic and seismotectonic modeling, lithospheric structure, earthquake hazard evaluation, and exchanging related ideas and techniques.
The Workshop is the second in the ASST>s Earth Science series and will include contributions from a core group of internationally recognized geoscientists working with the Syrian National Earthquake Center (NEC) and coming from prestigious Universities and research centers in USA, France, United Kingdom, Italy and Turkey.

- Active tectonics
- Seismotectonics
- Crust and upper mantle structure
- Earthquake Source parameters and seismic wave attenuation
- GPS and remote sensing observations
- Earthquake hazard evaluation
- Earthquake engineering
- Earthquake risk assessment

Prof. Muawia BARAZANGI
Professor & Associate Director
Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC)
Cornell University, Snee Hall
Ithaca, New York 14853
U.S.A
E-mail: mb44@cornell.edu

Dr David Bridgland, University of Durham (UK)
Dr Rob Westaway, University of Durham (UK)
Dr Robert Reilinger, MIT (USA)
Dr Niyazi Turkelli, Kandelli Observatory, Istanbul (Turkey)
Dr Eric Sandvol, Missouri University (USA)
Dr Francisco Gomez , Missouri University (USA)
Dr Claudio Chiarabba, (INGV - Italy)
Dr Hafidh Ghalib, Advanced Technology Division, Melbourne, (USA)
Dr Mustapha Meghraoui, Strasbourg University (France)
Dr Mahmoud Al-Qaryouti, Natural Resources Authority (Jordan)

Dr Mohamad DAOUD (Chairman) NEC, Syria
Mr Alexandre SURSOCK CNRS, Lebanon
Dr Abdullah AL-ENIZI KISR, Kuwait
Dr Hafez AL SADECK Damascus University, Syria
Dr Samer BAGH NEC, Syria
Mr Mohamed Reda SBEINATI AEC, Syria
Dr Mazhar BAYERLY Tishreen University, Syria

Scientists who are working on seismology, seismotectonics, active tectonics and related fields are invited to present short papers (oral or poster presentations) on their research work in Syria and neighboring countries.
Abstracts (1 or 2 pages maximum) are required for both oral and poster presentations. They should be sent accompanied with the attached application form to the e-mail addresses asst@arabschool.org.sy and asst@net.sy, or by fax at the ASST fax number before 15 August 2009. Abstracts will be reviewed by the scientific committee on the basis of their scientific content and compliance with the objectives and scope of the workshop. Authors will be notified of the decision of the committee no later than 15 September 2009.
The papers or the extended abstracts (310- pages including references, tables, figures and photos) should be submitted in an electronic format (Microsoft Word) to the e-mail addresses asst@arabschool.org.sy and asst@net.sy before 15 October 2009. Short abstracts, papers and posters should be written in English.
The name, complete mailing addresses, phone/fax number and e-mail of the author/authors must be submitted. In the case of several authors, a corresponding author should be designated.

15 August 2009: Submitting application forms
15 August 2009: Submitting short abstracts
15 September 2009: Notification of accepted abstracts and applicants.
15 October 2009: Submitting extended abstracts

The workshop will be held in the amphitheater of the Arab School for Science and Technology, Damascus, Syria. Transportation of participants from the city center to the workshop venue and back will be organized by the ASST.

The official language of the workshop is ENGLISH. It will be used in all presentations, discussions, and printed materials.

All scientists and practitioners who are working on seismology, seismotectonics, active tectonics and related fields may apply to this workshop for participation and/or for presenting a short paper by filling in the attached application form (No registration fees are required). All application forms should be submitted to the ASST before 15 August 2009. Applicants will be considered on the basis of their qualifications and experience in the field of the workshop. Accepted applicants will be notified before 15 September 2009.

If you are a non-Arab national you will need an entry visa to Syria. For visa information, please contact the Syrian Embassy in your country of residence.

Dr Maher AGI ASST Secretary General
Ms. Violet KALEMKERIAN Secretariat
Mrs Alia KOUATLY
Mrs Sahar SHALATI
Ms Nagham NASSIF
Ms Etihad EBRAHIM
Ms Ghada EASA
Mr Ramzi RIFAI
Mr Ismail Elkhen
Mr Nashaat SEMAAN
Mr Fadi RAHAL

Participants are expected to cover all their travel and accommodation expenses. ASST will help participants in finding a suitable hotel and making the hotel reservation (on the expenses of the participant) if requests are received before the 1st November 2009. After this date, reservation requests should be addressed directly to the hotel of your choice. In addition, airport reception and transportation to and from the hotels could be arranged for participants who submit in advance their travel details to ASST.

All queries about the conference should be sent to the following address:
Arab School for Science and Technology (ASST)
P.O. Box 7028
Damascus, Syria
Tel.: +963 11 511 8904Fax: +963 11 511 1083
E-mail:  asst@arabschool.org.sy
http://www.arabschool.org.sy
National Earthquake Center & Arab School for ScienceNEC - Syria) andTechnology )ASST(
Workshop on
Active Tectonic Studies and Earthquake Hazard Assessment in Syria and Neighboring Countries
17 – 19 November 2009, ASST – Damascus - Syria
http://www.arabschool.org.sy/earthquake/

Tuesday 17/11/2009
9.15 – 10.15 Opening Ceremony
10.15 - 10.45 Coffee Break
Session 1
Session Chairman: Muawia Barazangi
10.45 – 11.15 Robert Reilinger:
Geodynamic evolution of the Nubia-Arabia-Somalia plate boundary system
11.15 - 11.45 Mustapha Meghraoui:
Constraint of the Seismic Cycle and Earthquake Forecast from Archeoseismology and
Paleoseismology: The Dead Sea Fault Case Study
11.45 – 12.05 Anne Meltzer:
Geophysical infrastructure, active tectonics, and earthquake hazard assessment: Bridging
the gap
12.05 – 12.25 Mohammad Abou Romieh:
Active crustal shortening in NE Syria revealed by deformed terraces of the River Euphrates
12.25 - 12.45 Rayan Yassmineh:
Fault Plane Solutions of the Local Earthquakes Recorded by the Syrian National
Seismological Network
12.45 – 13.05 Abdulmutaleb Alchalbi:
Crustal deformation in northwestern Arabia from GPS measurements in Syria: Slow slip
rate along the northern Dead Sea Fault
13.05 – 14.00 Lunch.
Session 2
Session Chairman: Mustapha Meghraoui
14.00 - 14.30 Francisco Gomez:
Crustal deformation along the Dead Sea fault system, from the Gulf of Aqaba to
Iskanderun: Integrating near-field GPS and palaeoseismic observations
14.30 – 14.50 Masdouq Al-Taj:
Morphotectonics and Paleoseismicity of the Dead Sea Transform in Jordan Valley
14.50 – 15.10 Ali T. Al-Mishwat:
Upper Crustal Brittle Deformation Associated with the Dead Sea Fault System in Southwest
Jordan
15.10 - 15.30 Ayman Mohsen:
A Detailed Receiver Function Study of the Southern Dead Sea Transform (SDST)
15.30 – 16.00 Break.

Session 3
Session Chairman: Niyazi Turkelli
16.00 - 16.30 Sedat Inan:
Multi-Disciplinary Earthquake Researches in Turkey
16.30 – 16.50 Randa Mohamad:
Seismic Microznation of Damascus City
16.50 – 17.10 Mahmoud Al-Qaryouti:
Earthquake risk assessment of Greater Amman Municipality, Jordan
17.10 - 17.30 Dalia S. Youssef Abdel Massih:
Reliability analysis of slopes in seismic conditions Case Study: Mar Roukoz Lebanese
Slope
17.30 – 17.50 Hussam Eldein Zaineh:
Seismic Micro-Zoning study for Damascus City by using microtremors
17.50 – 18.10 Hafez Al Sadeq:
Dynamic Random Response of Structures Including Local Soil Conditions
18.10 – 18.30 Muhsin Elie Rahhal:
Undestanding Seismic Response of some Lebanese Soils
18.30 – 19.00 Posters Session ( The Posters will be available for three days during this workshop )

Wednesday 18/11/2009
Session 4
Session Chairman: Talal A. Mokhtar
9.00 – 9.30 Hafidh Ghalib:
An Approach for Understanding the Seismicity and Seismotectonics of the Arabian
Plate
9.30 – 9.50 Tina Niemi :
Paleoseismology of the northern Gulf of Aqaba and southern
Dead Sea Transform fault system, Jordan
9.50 – 10.10 Eid AL-Tarazi:
Investigation of the Effects of Earthquake Swarms in the Seismic Hazard in the Gulf of
Aqaba, Northern Red Sea
10.10 – 10.40 Rob Westaway:
Kinematics of the Dead Sea Fault Zone
10.40 – 11.00 Break
Session 5
Session Chairman: Hafidh Ghalib
11.00 - 11.30 Eric Sandvol:
The Seismic Structure of the Arabian Plate and the Surrounding Plate Boundaries
11.30 – 11.50 Talal A. Mokhtar:
Characterization of the May 2009 Northwestern Saudi Arabia Earthquake Sequence
11.50 – 12.10 Francisco Gomez:
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar ( InSAR)imaging of crustal deformation
associated with the May 2009 earthquake sequence in northwestern Saudi Arabia
12.10 - 12.30 Sigurjon Jonsson:
The 2009 Magmatic Intrusion and Faulting in Harrat Al-Shaqah (Lunayyir), western Saudi
Arabia, Observed by Satellite Radar Interferometry /In SAR/
12.30 – 13.00 Rainer Kind:
The Structure of the Seismic Lithosphere-Asthenosphere in the Eastern Mediterranean
Area
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch.
Session 6
Session Chairman: Anne Meltzer
14.00 - 14.30 Niyazi Turkelli :
Recent seismological studies in and around Turkey: Contributions of country-wide seismic
networks and temporary seismic arrays
14.30 – 15.00 Ata Elias:
Active tectonics of the Lebanese Restraining Bend: Geodynamics and seismic hazard of the
central DSFS
15.00 – 15.20 Bakir Ali:
Northern Iraq Seismographic Network (NISN) Deployment and Operation

15.20 – 15.40 Dawood Mahmood :
Seismicity and Seismic Hazard Assessment in Iraq
15.40 – 16.00 Ghassan Aleqabi:
Moment Tensor Analysis of the July 18, 2009 Sharqat, Iraq, Earthquake
16.00 - 16.30 Break
Session 7
Session Chairman: Guiliana Mele
16.30 – 17.00 Claudio Chiarabba:
The L’ Aquila 2009 Mw6.3: An expected earthquake on an unexpected fault
17.00 – 17.20 Fedora Quattrocchi:
Geochemical anomalies during the 2009 Aquila seismic sequence (Central Italy): transverse
lineaments inside the activated segments?
17.20 – 17.40 Nawal Alridha:
Seismicity and Seismotectonic study for Altunkopri Dam Site
17.40 – 18.00 Andrea Rovida:
Towards a homogeneous European Earthquake Catalogue
18.00 – 18.20 Samer Bagh:
Local and Duration Magnitude Scales for Syria
18.20 – 18.40 Vladimir G. Trifonov :
Seismotectonics of Syria and surrounding areas
18.40 – 19.00 Mohamed Reda Sbeinati :
Timing of Earthquake Ruptures at the Al Harif Roman Aqueduct (Dead Sea Fault, Syria)
from Archeoseismology, Paleoseismology and Tufa Cores

Thursday 19/11/2009
Session 8
Session Chairman: Eric Sandvol
9.00 – 9.20 Gholam Javan Doloei & M. Ghasemi :
Seismic Wave Velocity in the Crust and upper mantle of Iran-Iraq-Kuwait Common Region
9.20 – 9.40 Vladimir S. Imaev :
Seismic hazard assessment of Syria
9.40- 10.00 Kazuoh Seo:
Earthquake Disaster Mitigation Countermeasures after the 1995 Kobe Earthquake in Japan
10.00 – 10.30 Taoufik Mourabit:
Neo-Deterministic Seismic Hazard assessment in North Africa
10.30 – 11.00 Break.
Session 9
Session Chairman: Robert Reilinger
11.00 - 11.30 David Bridgland:
Quaternary vertical crustal motions evidenced by Syrian fluvial archives
11.30 – 11.50 Omar Shaswar:
The Rayleigh Wave Velocity Structure of the Crust and Uppermost Mantle of Northern Iraq
11.50 – 12.10 ZohreShadat Riazi Rad:
Joint inversion modeling in the central Iran
12.10 - 12.30 Gulten Polat:
Crustal Seismic Anisotropy: Implications for Understanding Crustal Dynamics of Marmara
region in Turkey
12.30 – 12.50 Cigdem Akin:
Use of Genetic Divergence in Water Frogs to Constrain Geodynamics and Landscape
Development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
12.50 – 14.00 Lunch.
Session 10
Session Chairman: Francisco Gomez
14.00 - 14.30 Mohammad Tatar :
Crustal Velocity Structure of the Zagros Mountain belt (Iran)
14:30 – 14:50 Yoshihiro Kinugasa:
Seismic Safety of Nuclear Power Plants in Japan
14:50 – 15:10 Naila Babiker:
Seismic hazard assessment of the Red Sea Region
15:10 – 15:30 Break
15:30 – 16:30 Posters Session
16:30 – 17:00 Muawia Barazangi & Scientific Committee :
General Discussion, summary and Recommendations

Posters Session
1- Ayca Yurdakul
Estimations of Effective Elastic Thickness of Western Anatolia and Eastern
Mediterranean Using Admittance Functions
2- Hussam Alrshdan
Radon mapping in Jordan
3- Hussain Aziz Saleh
Geo-information Technology & Dynamic Optimisation for Seismic Hazard and Risk Reduction in Syria
4- Maen Mreish
An Overview of the Syrian National Seismological Network
5- Rami Ibrahim
1-D Velocity Model for Syria from Local Earthquake Data
6- Fouad Bahssas
( áæ«ΠdG ) ájô£dG áHÎdG äÉ≤ÑW ‘ ÉgQÉ°ûàfG óæY á«dGõdõdG êGƒe’C G ÒKÉC J OÉjORG
7- Daya Shanker
Earthquake Occurrence Statistics in Hindukush – Pamirs-Himalayas and Adjoining Indian Region-A
Perpective on Hazard Assessment
8- Giuliana Mele
Estimates of crustal thickness in central Italy from telescismic receiver functions
9- Mohammed Hassouneh
3D Gravity Tectonic Model of the Dead Sea Pull-Apart Basin from Geophysical Gravity & magnetic
data Analysis
10- Waleed Olimat
Determination Site Effect of Zarqa City-Jordan Based on Microtremors Field Measurements: A
microzonation Study
11- Ahlam Khalil
Microzonation of Aleppo City Using Nakamura>s Technique

12- Oya Pamukcu
Interpretation of the Physical Parameters of Eastern Anatolia
13- Cenk Erkmen
Paleoseismology of the Golbasi-Turkoglu Segment of the East Anatolian Fault System, Turkey
14- Lauro Chiaraluce
The contribution of the INGV mobile network in monitoring the 2009 L>Aquila (Mw6.3) seismic
sequence (Central Italy)
15- Gholam Javan Doloei
On the Seismic Wave Anisotropy in the Upper Crust of the Bam Area in South-Central Iran