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

合作研究：红海沿线的活跃裂谷、阿法尔三重交界处和埃塞俄比亚主要裂谷：对大陆流变学和岩石圈动力学的影响

• 批准号: 0635702
• 负责人: Robert Reilinger
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-02-01 至 2011-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0635702&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Active; Rifting; Along

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.

该项目是 NSF-MARGINS 先前努力的延续和延伸，该项目利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活跃的裂谷过程。该项目现已扩展至包括整个阿拉伯-努比亚-索马里板块相互作用区域（阿法尔裂谷-裂谷-裂谷三重交界处）。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），重复观测现有的 GPS 观测站，以及在埃塞俄比亚、厄立特里亚、沙特阿拉伯和也门建立新的连续 GPS 站。正在沿达纳基尔地块（厄立特里亚）、跨越达纳基尔凹陷（厄立特里亚和埃塞俄比亚）以及跨越埃塞俄比亚主裂谷设置和测量新的 GPS 测点。所有工作都是与我们的东道国合作伙伴合作进行的。这项研究旨在阐明与大陆岩石圈活跃裂谷相关的地壳变形特征，特别是作为裂谷阶段（从大陆岩石圈裂谷到海洋沿中央裂谷扩张）的函数。此外，阿法尔地区的观测将有助于限制三重交界处下方的岩浆过程。其他相关的地质和地球物理观测结果将与大地测量结果相结合，以约束活动地壳变形力学模型。总体而言，这项研究应加强对裂谷机制、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。