Induced earthquakes due to the loss of Urmia Lake water (with reference to b-value variations)

With regard to drying of Urmia Lake, and an extensive unloading from the earth’s crust, due to the loss of water from the lake surface, the evaluation of b-value, and the probable increase of earthquakes, has been investigated in this study. The evaluation of b-value variations due to the loss of water from the lake’s body, represents a decrease in b-value after water level dropping in the lake, subsequent unloading about 20 Milliard tones, and the increase of stress in the study area. Furthermore, the water level change-seismicity diagram, including 1990-2017 data, is clearly show an increase in seismicity and its relation with the lake water level. Research of the radius of the b-value variations have shown that Van M=7.5, 2011 earthquake and Ahar and Varzghan M=6.4, 2010, earthquakes, are the Induce earthquakes due to the loss of water of Urmia Lake.