Open AccessSeismic Arrays to Study African Rift Initiation
Author(s) -
Gao Stephen S.,
Liu Kelly H.,
Reed Cory A.,
Yu Youqiang,
Massinque Belarmino,
Mdala Hassan,
Moidaki Moikwathai,
Mutamina Daniel,
Atekwana Estella A.,
Ingate Shane,
Reusch Angela M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1002/2013eo240002
Subject(s) - rift , geology , asthenosphere , lithosphere , east african rift , seismology , mantle (geology) , upwelling , tectonics , paleontology , oceanography
Rifting of stable continents is a key element of plate tectonic cycles. In spite of numerous studies, the mechanism responsible for the initiation and evolution of rift valleys such as the East African Rift System (EARS) is still poorly understood, partly because most previous investigations focused on rift segments that were in the mature stage. Geodynamic modeling [ Huismans et al ., 2001] suggests that upwelling of the asthenosphere ubiquitously observed beneath mature rifts can either originate from thermal or dynamic anomalies in the deep mantle (active rifting) or be induced by thinning of the lithosphere from far‐field stresses (passive rifting) [ Sengor and Burke , 1978].