SEISMICITY of the KOPETDAG REGION in 2016–2017

Abstract

In 2016–2017, seismic monitoring in the Kopetdag region was carried out by a network of 34 seismic stations of the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan. This network included 20 stationary and 14 mobile stations. Within just 2 years, 651 earthquakes with KR≥8.6 have been registered, of which 41 were tangible. Focal mechanisms were determined for 83 seismic events. In Turkmenistan, the strongest and most felt earthquakes occurred in the Balkhan-Caspian region: on October 26, 2016 with KR=12.9 (Mw=5.5) and on February 5, 2017 with KR=12.4 (Mw=5.0). The first event was felt in Balkanabat city with intensity of 4–5, the second – in Kumdag settlement with intensity of 4. Among the earthquakes outside of Turkmenistan, the events of the Turkmen-Khorasan area stand out with the highest magnitude and shaking intensity: April 5, 2017 with KR=14.3, Mw=6.0 and May 13, 2017 with KR=13.4, Mw=5.7. The first event was felt with intensity of I=6 in the Iranian city of Torbet Jam and with I=5 in several settlements. Among the seismoactive areas of the Kopetdag region, the largest amount of seismic energy in 2016 was released on the territory of the Balkhan-Caspian area, in 2017 – in the Turkmen-Khorasan area.