Ben-Avraham, Z.(1), Huebscher, C.(2), Schattner, U.(1), Lazar, M.(1), Hall, J. K.(3)
and the GEMME team

1. Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Tel Aviv University.
2. Institute of Geophysics, University of Hamburg.
3. Geological Survey of Israel, Jerusalem.

During the month of February 2002, the German Research Vessel Meteor conducted a geophysical study along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. Systems employed during Leg 2 of cruise 52 included multi-channel seismics, Parasound (a dual-beam sonar subbottom profiler), Hydrosweep for swath mapping, ocean bottom seismometers and hydrophones, gravimeter and gradient proton magnetometer.

One of the main targets of this cruise was the offshore structure of the Carmel lineament. Seawards extension of the Carmel fault has been long debated (for a summary see Ben-Gai, 1989). About three days of ship time (~ 700 km of track) were devoted to studying the continuation of the Carmel fault offshore. Diversity of data collected enables high resolution imaging of various aspects of subsurface structures at different scales (centimeters to kilometers) giving a fuller picture of the presiding tectonic regime.

These important new findings have many consequences for tectonic processes and seismic hazard risk assessment for the Haifa Bay area (population ~350,000). Recent deformations along the fault trend indicate present-day activity of one of the major tectonic elements of Israel. Initial results are presented.