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

该项目是先前nsf - margin项目的延续和扩展，该项目使用空间大地测量技术，最重要的是GPS观测，直接测量红海北部和中部的活跃裂谷过程。该项目现已扩展到包括整个阿拉伯-努比亚-索马里板块相互作用带（阿法尔裂谷-裂谷-裂谷三联结）。该项目包括维护现有的连续GPS站（沙特阿拉伯、厄立特里亚、埃及），对现有的GPS调查站点进行重复观测，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GPS站。新的GPS测点正在沿着达纳基尔区块（厄立特里亚）、达纳基尔凹陷（厄立特里亚和埃塞俄比亚）以及埃塞俄比亚主要裂谷进行设置和测量。所有工作都是与我们的东道国伙伴合作进行的。本研究旨在阐明与大陆岩石圈活动裂陷有关的地壳变形特征，特别是作为裂陷阶段（从大陆岩石圈裂陷到沿中央裂谷的海洋扩张）的函数。此外，在阿法尔的观测将有助于限制三重交界处下的岩浆过程。其他相关的地质和地球物理观测将与大地测量结果相结合，以约束活动地壳变形力学模型。总的来说，这项研究将加强对裂谷机制、大陆岩石圈流变学、岩浆侵入在驱动或局部驱动裂谷过程中的作用以及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.