VZCZCXRO5331
RR RUEHDH
DE RUEHJI #0261 1940524
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130524Z JUL 09
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1422
INFO RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 8419
RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN 0072
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC

UNCLAS JEDDAH 000261 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, DEPT OF THE INTERIOR FOR USGS/VDAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC PGOV SA
SUBJECT: USGS SCIENTISTS RESPOND TO SAG,S REQUEST FOR 
ASSISTANCE 
 
REF: JEDDAH 190 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On June 12 the USGS Volcano Assistance 
Program responded to the Saudi Geological Survey,s request 
for assistance (reftel) by deploying two scientists to the 
Kingdom on June 12. While in country VDAP worked with SGS in 
the lab and field to assess signals of an impending eruption 
and to develop a volcano and volcanic earthquake warning 
system. END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. (U) BACKGROUND: The Harra Lunayyir area known as Harra 
Shagah locally in north western Saudi Arabia has experienced 
increased seismic activity and ground deformation during the 
past two years. This increase in activity began with a swarm 
of tens of thousands of micro earthquakes in February 2007 
and continued with two additional waves with as many as 
20,000 additional earthquakes in April and May 2009. On April 
17, following an increase in earthquake magnitude to 
magnitude 4.8 and discovery of ground cracks in the 
northeastern region of Harra, SGS advised Civil Defense 
authorities of the possibility of larger damaging earthquakes 
and/or volcanic eruption. As a result of these SGS warnings, 
the Saudi Arabian Civil Defense authority evacuated the 
population within 20 Km of the earthquake epicentral area. 
 
 
¶3. (U) MAGMATIC INTRUSION MAY HAVE CAUSED QUAKES: John 
Pallister and Wendy McCausland of the USGS Volcano 
Assistance Program (VDAP) arrived in the Kingdom on June 12 
in order to help SGS scientists assess the volcanic risk and 
provide advanced techniques for volcanic monitoring, eruption 
forecasting as well as volcano and seismic hazard assessment. 
  After running several tests and collecting data, the two 
scientists report that they are convinced that magmatic 
intrusion is the source of the earthquakes due to several 
evident hallmarks of volcanic activity, including distinctive 
volcanic types of earthquakes and signs of uplift on remotely 
sensed data. The two also noted that gas emissions would also 
be expected with this type of intrusive magmatic activity, 
although none has been detected thus far. They believe this 
may be because the gas has diffused and is therefore 
difficult to detect. SAG,s principle concern remains that of 
additional earthquakes. Based on existing evidence, VDAP has 
reassured SGS that large earthquakes (greater than M5.5 or 
M6) are unlikely in this situation. 
 
¶4. (U) NEXT STEPS: USGS assisted SGS in writing a 60 page 
scientific and hazard report that will be published in the 
near future. USGS scientists also report that SGS has shown a 
strong interest in pursuing a long-term relationship with the 
organization, something that USGS is considering 
internally. 
 
¶5. (U) COMMENT: Post will continue to monitor the earthquake 
situation in the northwest part of the country and report on 
any substantive updates. 
TONEY