Jordan Rift Valley
{{Short description|Geographic region in the Levant}}
{{About|the geology of the valley|culture and geography of the valley|Jordan Valley}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
File:Satellite image of Israel in January 2003.jpg
The Jordan Rift Valley, also Jordan Valley {{citation needed span|({{langx|he|בִּקְעָת הַיַרְדֵּן}} Bīqʿāt haYardēn, {{langx|ar|الغور}} Al-Ghor or Al-Ghawr),|date=November 2022}} is an elongated endorheic basin located in modern-day Israel, Jordan and the West Bank, Palestine. This geographic region includes the entire length of the Jordan River – from its sources, through the Hula Valley, the Korazim block, the Sea of Galilee, the (Lower) Jordan Valley, all the way to the Dead Sea, the lowest land elevation on Earth – and then continues through the Arabah depression, the Gulf of Aqaba whose shorelines it incorporates, until finally reaching the Red Sea proper at the Straits of Tiran.
History and physical features
File:Greatrift.jpg is in center and the Dead Sea and Jordan River valley above.]]
The Jordan Rift Valley was formed many millions of years ago in the Miocene epoch (23.8 – 5.3 Myr ago) when the Arabian plate moved northward and then eastward away from Africa. One million years later, the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan Rift Valley rose so that the sea water stopped flooding the area. Alternatively, it was a fall in the sea level that caused the disconnection, or a mix between the two phenomena – researchers have not yet reached a consensus.
The geological and environmental evolution of the valley since its inception in the Oligocene can be seen in a variety of sedimentary and magmatic rock units, preserved as continuous sequences in the deeper basins. The outcropping formations around the basins represent alternating deposition and erosion phases.[http://www.tau.ac.il/~archpubs/projects/horjordanriftvalley.html The Jordan Rift Valley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125641/http://www.tau.ac.il/~archpubs/projects/horjordanriftvalley.html |date=24 September 2015 }}, Tel Aviv University
The lowest point in the Jordan Rift Valley is in the Dead Sea, the lowest spot of which is {{cvt|790|m|||}} below sea level.{{dubious|Gulf of Aqaba: 1,850 m, so over 1000 m deeper. |date= February 2024}} The shore of the Dead Sea is the lowest dry land spot on Earth, at {{cvt|400|m|||}} below sea level. With its flanks rising sharply to almost {{cvt|1000|m|||}} above sea level in the west, and similarly in the east, the rift is a significant topographic feature over which a few narrow paved roads and difficult mountain tracks lead.{{cite web |author= David Eshel |title= Increasing Importance of the Jordan Rift Buffer |publisher=Defense Update |date=3 May 2006 |url= http://www.defense-update.com/2006/05/increasing-importance-of-jordan-rift.html |access-date=5 July 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080705110711/http://www.defense-update.com/2006/05/increasing-importance-of-jordan-rift.html |archive-date=5 July 2008 |url-status= dead}} The valley north of the Dead Sea has long been a site of agriculture because of water available from the Jordan River and numerous springs located on the valley's flanks.
=Dead Sea Transform=
{{Main|Dead Sea Transform}}
The plate boundary that extends through the valley is variously called the Dead Sea Transform (DST) or Dead Sea Rift. The boundary separates the Arabian plate from the African plate, connecting the divergent plate boundary in the Red Sea (the Red Sea Rift) to the East Anatolian Fault in Turkey.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gii.co.il/html/ground/GravityNew/DeadSeaStudy.html#|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623003339/http://www.gii.co.il/html/ground/GravityNew/DeadSeaStudy.html|url-status=dead|title=The Geophysical Institute|archivedate=23 June 2008}}
The DST fault system is generally considered to be a transform fault that has accommodated a {{convert|105|km|adj=on||}} northwards displacement of the Arabian plate.{{cite journal | title=The Shear along the Dead Sea Rift (and Discussion) |author1=Freund R. |author2=Garfunkel Z. |author3=Zak I. |author4=Goldberg M. |author5=Weissbrod T. |author6=Derin B. |author7=Bender F. |author8=Wellings F.E. |author9=Girdler R.W. |journal= Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences |year= 1970 |volume= 267 |issue= 1181 |page=107 |doi= 10.1098/rsta.1970.0027|bibcode= 1970RSPTA.267..107F}}{{cite journal | title=Plate kinematics of the circum Red Sea—a re-evaluation |author1=Joffe S. |author2=Garfunkel Z. | journal=Tectonophysics | year=1987 | volume=141 | issue=1–3 | pages=5–22 | doi=10.1016/0040-1951(87)90171-5| bibcode=1987Tectp.141....5J }} This interpretation is based on observation of offset markers, such as river terraces, gullies and archaeological features, giving horizontal slip rates of several mm per year over the last few million years.{{cite journal | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249234276 | title=Temporal and spatial variations of microearthquake activity along the Dead Sea Fault, 1984–2004 |author1=Begin Z.B. |author2=Steinitz G. | journal=Israel Journal of Earth Sciences | year=2005 | volume=54 | pages=1–14 | doi=10.1560/QTVW-HY1E-7XNU-JCLJ| doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 }} GPS data give similar rates of present-day movement of the Arabian plate relative to the Africa plate.{{cite journal|title=Global Positioning System measurements of strain accumulation and slip transfer through the restraining bend along the Dead Sea fault system in Lebanon |author=Gomez, F., Karam, G., Khawlie, M., McClusky S., Vernant P., Reilinger R., Jaafar R., Tabet C., Khair K., and Barazangi M |journal=Geophysical Journal International |year=2007 |volume=168 |issue=3 |pages=1021–1028 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.03328.x |bibcode=2007GeoJI.168.1021G |doi-access=free |hdl=1885/36424 |hdl-access=free }} It has also been proposed that the fault zone is a rift system that is an incipient oceanic spreading center, the northern extension of the Red Sea Rift.{{cite journal | title=Review of the tectonics of the Levant Rift system: the structural significance of oblique continental breakup |author1=Mart Y. |author2=Ryan W.B.F. |author3=Lunina O.V. | journal=Tectonophysics | year=2005 | volume=395 | issue=3–4 | pages=209–232 | doi=10.1016/j.tecto.2004.09.007| bibcode=2005Tectp.395..209M }}
In 1033, the rift valley was struck by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake, believed to have been produced along the DST fault system.{{cite journal |last1=Grigoratos |first1=Iason |last2=Poggi |first2=Valerio |last3=Danciu |first3=Laurentiu |last4=Rojo |first4=Graciela |title=An updated parametric catalog of historical earthquakes around the Dead Sea Transform Fault Zone |journal=Journal of Seismology |date=14 February 2020 |volume=24 |issue=4 |pages=803–832 |doi=10.1007/s10950-020-09904-9 |bibcode=2020JSeis..24..803G |s2cid=211102430 }} It caused widespread destruction, a tsunami, and killed 70,000 people.{{cite web |last1=National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information |title=Significant Earthquake Information |year=1972 |publisher=NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information |url=https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/8156 |access-date=22 June 2022 |doi=10.7289/V5TD9V7K}}
=Seismic risk=
The 1033 AD event was the last large earthquake on the Jordan Valley Fault. Given the estimated slip rate is {{cvt|4.9 ± 0.2|mm}} per year, approximately {{cvt|5|m}} of potential slip has been accumulated. An estimated {{cvt|3.5–5|m}} of slip could be produced during a future earthquake along a {{cvt|110|km}} × {{cvt|20|km}} fault area. Such an event would suggest an earthquake of {{M|w}} 7.4, posing a great seismic threat to the region.{{cite journal |last1=Ferry |first1=Matthieu |last2=Meghraoui |first2=Mustapha |last3=Karaki |first3=Najib Abou |last4=Al-Taj |first4=Masdouq |last5=Amoush |first5=Hani |last6=Al-Dhaisat |first6=Salman |last7=Barjous |first7=Majdi |title=A 48-kyr-long slip rate history for the Jordan Valley segment of the Dead Sea Fault |journal=Earth and Planetary Science Letters |date=30 August 2007 |volume=260 |issue=3–4 |pages=394–406 |doi=10.1016/j.epsl.2007.05.049 |bibcode=2007E&PSL.260..394F |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X0700324X}}
In late 2020, researchers at Tel Aviv University said that an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 is expected to occur in the area, resulting in many fatalities. Researchers also stated that the frequency of large earthquakes in the region is significantly underestimated.{{cite news |last1=Winer |first1=Stuart |title=Major earthquake, killing hundreds, likely to hit Israel in coming years – study |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/major-earthquake-killing-hundreds-likely-to-hit-israel-in-coming-years-study/ |access-date=22 June 2022 |work=The Times of Israel |date=29 December 2020}} Previous studies suggested a recurrence interval of 10,000 years for magnitude 7.5 earthquakes, but the researchers said the figure was 1,300 to 1,400 years.{{cite journal |last1=Lu |first1=Yin |last2=Wetzler |first2=Nadav |last3=Waldmann |first3=Nicolas |last4=Agnon |first4=Amotz |last5=Biasi |first5=Glenn P. |last6=Marco |first6=Shmuel |title=A 220,000-year-long continuous large earthquake record on a slow-slipping plate boundary |journal=Science Advances |date=2020 |volume=6 |issue=48 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.aba4170 |pmid=33246948 |pmc=7695470 |bibcode=2020SciA....6.4170L }} Yosef Shapira, the then State Comptroller of Israel, said that a major earthquake in Israel could kill up to 7,000 people if safety recommendations are not enforced. Reports of the years 2001, 2004 and 2011 found that the Israeli government did not fund any retrofitting works to old construction. Although the government said in 2008 that it would retrofit hospitals and schools, no major changes were made.{{cite news |title=State comptroller: Israel unprepared for major quake, ignoring warnings |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/state-comptroller-israel-unprepared-for-major-quake-ignoring-warnings/ |access-date=22 June 2022 |work=The Times of Israel |date=18 July 2018}}
Climate
{{Weather box
|location=Dead Sea, Sedom (-390m)
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan humidity=41
|Feb humidity=38
|Mar humidity=33
|Apr humidity=27
|May humidity=24
|Jun humidity=23
|Jul humidity=24
|Aug humidity=27
|Sep humidity=31
|Oct humidity=33
|Nov humidity=36
|Dec humidity=41
|Jan record low C=5.4
|Feb record low C=6.0
|Mar record low C=8.0
|Apr record low C=11.5
|May record low C=19.0
|Jun record low C=23.0
|Jul record low C=26.0
|Aug record low C=26.8
|Sep record low C=24.2
|Oct record low C=17.0
|Nov record low C=9.8
|Dec record low C=6.0
|year record low C=5.4
|Jan record high C=26.4
|Feb record high C=30.4
|Mar record high C=33.8
|Apr record high C=42.5
|May record high C=45.0
|Jun record high C=46.4
|Jul record high C=47.0
|Aug record high C=44.5
|Sep record high C=43.6
|Oct record high C=40.0
|Nov record high C=35.0
|Dec record high C=28.5
|year record high C=47.0
|Jan high C=20.5
|Feb high C=21.7
|Mar high C=24.8
|Apr high C=29.9
|May high C=34.1
|Jun high C=37.6
|Jul high C=39.7
|Aug high C=39.0
|Sep high C=36.5
|Oct high C=32.4
|Nov high C=26.9
|Dec high C=21.7
|year high C=30.4
|Jan mean C= 16.6
|Feb mean C= 17.7
|Mar mean C= 20.8
|Apr mean C= 25.4
|May mean C= 29.4
|Jun mean C= 32.6
|Jul mean C= 34.7
|Aug mean C= 34.5
|Sep mean C= 32.4
|Oct mean C= 28.6
|Nov mean C= 23.1
|Dec mean C= 17.9
|year mean C= 26.1
|Jan low C=12.7
|Feb low C=13.7
|Mar low C=16.7
|Apr low C=20.9
|May low C=24.7
|Jun low C=27.6
|Jul low C=29.6
|Aug low C=29.9
|Sep low C=28.3
|Oct low C=24.7
|Nov low C=19.3
|Dec low C=14.1
|year low C=21.9
|Jan precipitation mm=7.8
|Feb precipitation mm=9.0
|Mar precipitation mm=7.6
|Apr precipitation mm=4.3
|May precipitation mm=0.2
|Jun precipitation mm=0.0
|Jul precipitation mm=0.0
|Aug precipitation mm=0.0
|Sep precipitation mm=0.0
|Oct precipitation mm=1.2
|Nov precipitation mm=3.5
|Dec precipitation mm=8.3
|year precipitation mm=41.9
|Jan precipitation days=3.3
|Feb precipitation days=3.5
|Mar precipitation days=2.5
|Apr precipitation days=1.3
|May precipitation days=0.2
|Jun precipitation days=0.0
|Jul precipitation days=0.0
|Aug precipitation days=0.0
|Sep precipitation days=0.0
|Oct precipitation days=0.4
|Nov precipitation days=1.6
|Dec precipitation days=2.8
|year precipitation days=15.6
|unit precipitation days=
|source 1=Israel Meteorological Service{{cite web|url=http://ims.gov.il/IMS/CLIMATE/LongTermInfo |title=Averages and Records for several places in Israel |publisher=Israel Meteorological Service |date=June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914010915/http://www.ims.gov.il/IMS/CLIMATE/LongTermInfo |archive-date=14 September 2010 }}
|date=March 2011}}
{{Weather box
|location = Gilgal (−255m)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 28.0
|Feb record high C = 33.5
|Mar record high C = 40.5
|Apr record high C = 44.7
|May record high C = 46.5
|Jun record high C = 47.5
|Jul record high C = 48.1
|Aug record high C = 49.0
|Sep record high C = 45.7
|Oct record high C = 44.2
|Nov record high C = 37.9
|Dec record high C = 32.5
|Jan high C = 20.1
|Feb high C = 21.6
|Mar high C = 25.6
|Apr high C = 30.3
|May high C = 35.6
|Jun high C = 38.7
|Jul high C = 40.4
|Aug high C = 40.0
|Sep high C = 37.7
|Oct high C = 33.8
|Nov high C = 27.7
|Dec high C = 22.1
|Jan mean C= 14.5
|Feb mean C= 15.5
|Mar mean C= 18.7
|Apr mean C= 22.8
|May mean C= 27.3
|Jun mean C= 30.5
|Jul mean C= 32.4
|Aug mean C= 32.5
|Sep mean C= 30.5
|Oct mean C= 26.9
|Nov mean C= 21.1
|Dec mean C= 16.4
|Jan low C = 8.9
|Feb low C = 9.4
|Mar low C = 11.8
|Apr low C = 15.3
|May low C = 19.1
|Jun low C = 22.3
|Jul low C = 24.5
|Aug low C = 25.0
|Sep low C = 23.2
|Oct low C = 19.9
|Nov low C = 14.4
|Dec low C = 10.6
|Jan record low C = 0.3
|Feb record low C = 0.0
|Mar record low C = 2.5
|Apr record low C = 3.0
|May record low C = 11.2
|Jun record low C = 15.2
|Jul record low C = 20.0
|Aug record low C = 19.5
|Sep record low C = 14.0
|Oct record low C = 12.1
|Nov record low C = 4.6
|Dec record low C = 0.2
| date= January 2016 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Coord|32|19|02|N|35|34|12|E|source:kolossus-frwiki|display=title}}
External links
{{Commons category|Jordan Rift Valley|position=left}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cenozoic geology of Asia
Category:Cenozoic rifts and grabens
Category:Geography of Palestine (region)
Category:Valleys of the West Bank