Open AccessDetection of mantle earthquakes beneath the East African Rift
Author(s) -
Lindenfeld Michael,
Rümpker Georg
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
geophysical journal international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0956-540X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.2011.05048.x
Subject(s) - geology , rift , east african rift , seismology , rift zone , mantle (geology) , rift valley , tectonics , geophysics
SUMMARY Recordings from a temporary seismic network in the Rwenzori region of the East African Rift show seven earthquakes at a depth range between 53 and 60 km. Evidence from receiver functions indicates a crustal thickness of about 32 km in this region suggesting that the earthquakes are located well within the mantle beneath the rift. The occurrence of faulting at this depth is of relevance for models of continental‐rift initiation and related deep magmatic processes.