Collaborative Research: Active Rifting Along the Red Sea, Afar Triple Junction and Main Ethiopian Rift: Implications for Continental Rheolology and Lithosphere Dynamics

该项目是国家科学基金会-全球大地测量信息系统先前利用空间大地测量技术，最重要的是利用全球定位系统观测，直接测量红海北方和中部的活动断裂过程的努力的延续和扩展。该项目现已扩大到包括整个阿拉伯-努比亚-索马里板块相互作用区（阿法尔裂谷-裂谷-裂谷三联点）。该项目涉及维护现有的连续全球定位系统台站（沙特阿拉伯、厄立特里亚、埃及），重复观测现有的全球定位系统测量台站，并在埃塞俄比亚、厄立特里亚、沙特阿拉伯和也门建立新的连续全球定位系统台站。正在沿达纳基尔区块（厄立特里亚）、穿越达纳基尔凹陷（厄立特里亚和埃塞俄比亚）和穿越埃塞俄比亚大裂谷沿着设置和勘测新的全球定位系统勘测点。所有工作都是与我们的东道国伙伴合作进行的，这项研究的目的是澄清与大陆岩石圈活跃裂谷作用有关的地壳变形的特征，特别是作为裂谷作用阶段（从大陆岩石圈裂谷作用到海洋沿中央裂谷沿着扩张）的函数。此外，在阿法尔的观测将有助于限制三联点下的岩浆过程。将把其他有关的地质和地球物理观测结果与大地测量结果结合起来，以限制活动地壳变形机制的模型。总的来说，这项研究应加强对裂谷力学，大陆岩石圈流变学，岩浆侵入在驱动或定位裂谷过程中的作用，以及负责驱动板块构造的基本力学过程的理解。

This project is a continuation and extension of a prior NSF-MARGINS effort to use space geodetic techniques, and most importantly GPS observations, to measure directly active rifting processes within the northern and central Red Sea. The project is now extended to include the full Arabia-Nubia-Somalia zone of plate interaction (the Afar Rift-Rift-Rift Triple Junction). The project involves maintaining existing continuous GPS stations (Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Egypt), repeat observations of existing survey GPS sites, and establishing new continuous GPS stations in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. New survey GPS sites are being set and surveyed along the Danakil Block (Eritrea), across the Danakil Depression (Eritrea and Ethiopia), and across the Main Ethiopian Rift. All work is in cooperation with our host-country partners.This research is aimed at clarifying the character of crustal deformation associated with active rifting of the continental lithosphere, particularly as a function of the stage of rifting (from rifting of the continental lithosphere to ocean spreading along the central rift valley). In addition, the observations in the Afar will help constrain magmatic processes beneath the Triple Junction. Other relevant geologic and geophysical observations will be integrated with the geodetic results to constrain models for the mechanics of active crustal deformation. Overall, this research should enhance understanding of the mechanics of rifting, the rheology of the continental lithosphere, the role of magmatic intrusion in driving or localizing rifting processes, and the fundamental mechanical processes responsible for driving plate tectonics.