A unified Mw-based earthquake catalogue and seismic source zones for the Red Sea region

•A unified Mw based earthquake catalogue of independent event is obtained for the Red Sea region.•Different magnitude were homogenized to Mw magnitude.•Seismotectonic models were obtained and the b-value and the seismicity parameters are calculated for each zone.•There is clear association of seismicity with active tectonic structures.•The catalogue stands as the bases for further calculation of seismic hazard of the region.

An earthquake catalogue for the Red Sea region with unified moment magnitude (Mw) is presented herein. The catalogue was compiled from various sources between 2150 B.C. and 2006 A.D. The data processing includes removing duplet events and converting different magnitude types and intensity to Mw magnitude. Where more than one solution was available for a given earthquake, a priority algorithm was used for the selection of one entry. For the conversions, new relations were partly obtained. The dependent events were removed and the catalogue completeness was carefully studied. Detailed seismic source zones were obtained for the area based on geological, seismological and recent tectonic data. The b-value was calculated from all data and a-values successively obtained for each source zone. The catalogue can be used for probabilistic seismic hazard assessment of the Red Sea region.