Search

In magma‐rich rifts, normal faulting is commonly thought to be induced by dike intrusions. However, whether fault slip occurs purely tectonically is unclear. An earthquake sequence starting with a Mw 5.5 earthquake occurred in December 2022 in northern Afar, a continental rift near breakup. InSAR measurements show that seismicity was caused by normal faulting alone, without involvement of magma movements. Our best‐fit InSAR models show that conjugate faults ruptured during the seismic sequence with mainly normal dip‐slip and total deformation corresponding to a Mw 5.7 event, in agreement with local seismic recordings. Our models show that tectonic faulting accommodates 26 cm of extension corresponding to ∼30 years of plate spreading without any link to magma. Our observations point toward significant along‐rift variation in the proportion of extension from faulting, potentially caused by along‐rift variations in rate of extension and/or from a spatially and temporally segmented supply of magma. Plain Language Summary: The Earth's continents move away from each other forming a rift valley between the two separating tectonic plates. In mature stages of the continental rupture process, it is commonly accepted that plate separation occurs from the migration of molten rock (magma) toward the Earth's surface in narrow zones beneath the rift valley. Brittle faulting of the plate was thought to be less important. In this study we analyze the recent earthquake sequence of 26–28 December 2022 in the volcanically active northern Afar rift of Ethiopia. We show that, while the sequence occurred within the rift valley, it was caused by pure faulting without any involvement of magma migrations. These observations are unexpected and show that faults alone can assist plate separation even in mature and magma‐rich rift valleys. Key Points: A seismic sequence with a Mw 5.5 mainshock occurred in the Bada region of northern Afar rift between 26 and 28 December 2022InSAR models and seismicity revealed co‐seismic deformation along conjugate faults with no involvement of magma motionsOur observations show that extension can be achieved through purely tectonic processes in magma‐rich continental rifts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the mechanisms of interaction between rift segments is key to understanding the kinematics of plate boundaries in continental rifts. However, the spatial and temporal evolution of deformation at rift linkage zones is rarely observed directly. Here, we combine InSAR data spanning 2005–2010 and 2014–2019 from ENVISAT and Sentinel‐1 satellites, respectively, with local seismicity from the Afar rift to investigate the plate‐boundary kinematics of the Afrera linkage zone, the junction between the Erta Ale and Tat Ali magmatic segments in Northern Afar (Ethiopia). We obtain time‐series of cumulative InSAR Line‐Of‐Sight (LOS) displacements that show deformation is accommodated by a series of active en‐echelon faults striking ∼NS and characterized by normal slip associated with a left‐lateral strike‐slip component. Additionally, we observe spatial variation in fault behavior with stick‐slip and creep. The faults in the center of the linkage zone behave primarily in a stick‐slip mode (with abrupt fault displacements up to ∼40 mm) and fault motions are associated with earthquakes of ML > 5. Conversely, faults at the edge of the linkage zone, near the magmatic segments, show creep and some stick‐slip behavior (with cumulative LOS displacement up to ∼30–40 mm over a ∼5‐year period) accompanied by low‐level seismicity. Some of the creeping faults are also spatially associated with hydrothermal springs. We interpret that the temporal behavior of the faults in the linkage zone is controlled by the interplay between tectonic extension, high heat flows, and fluid circulation near the magmatic segments where creeping of some faults is favored. Plain Language Summary: The exterior of the Earth is torn apart along mid‐ocean ridges where magma rises and new oceanic crust is created. Mid‐ocean ridges have an unmissable zig‐zag pattern because while some portions called ridge segments are being torn apart others called offsets, slide past each other. However, how the Earth deforms in these offsets is today poorly understood. The Afar region is the perfect place to address this open question as it is one of the few pales where a mid‐ocean ridge is emerged and the segments and offsets can be observed on‐land. In this study, we combine satellite and earthquakes measurements to film how the surface of the Earth moves in an offset. We show that the network of fractures at the surface of an offset can either move with sudden motions generating major earthquakes or slip continuously over years and produce many smaller earthquakes. Our results provide one of the few direct observations of the different type of motion of the Earth in an offset of the mid‐ocean ridge system. Key Points: InSAR time‐series and seismicity analyses of deformation at the Afrera Plain linkage zone in Northern Afar, EthiopiaTime‐series show fault slip accommodated through stick‐slip and creep along en‐echelon NS‐striking faultsVarying fault behavior could be influenced by elevated heat flows and hydrothermal circulation near the magmatic segments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the evolution of continental rift systems, extension is thought to progressively focus in‐rift to the future breakup boundary while faults along the rift margins progressively deactivate. However, observational constraints on how strain is partitioned between rift axis and rift margins are still lacking. The Afar rift records the latest stages of rifting and incipient continental breakup. Here, we analyzed the recent MW 5.2 earthquake on the Western Afar Margin on March 24, 2018 and the associated seismic sequence of >500 earthquakes using 24 temporary seismic stations deployed during 2017–2018. We show seismicity occurring at lower crustal depths, from ∼15 to ∼30 km, with focal mechanisms and relocated earthquakes highlighting both west‐dipping and east‐dipping normal faults. We tested earthquake depth using InSAR by processing six independent interferograms using Sentinel‐1 data acquired from both ascending and descending tracks. None of them shows evidence of surface deformation. We tested possible ranges of depth by producing forward models for a fault located at progressively increasing depths. Models show that surface deformation is not significant for fault slip at depths greater than 15 km, in agreement with the hypocentral depth of 19 km derived from seismic data for the largest earthquake. Due to the localized nature of deep earthquakes near hot springs coupled with subsurface evidence for magmatism, we favor an interpretation of seismicity induced by migrating fluids such as magma or CO2. We suggest that deep fluid migration can occur at the rifted‐margin influencing seismicity during incipient continental rupture. Plain Language Summary: The Earth's continents are thinned and broken by extensional forces along rift valleys. Rift valleys are bounded by big fractures (called border faults) that form at the inception of extension and that slip causing earthquakes. As thinning proceeds, molten rock (magma) can rise making its way through the crust. It is not well understood where and how the molten rocks migrate through the crust, and whether, e.g., the large border faults are exploited as pathways. The migration of magma, and the gasses and fluids it releases, can fracture rock causing earthquakes. In this study, we analyzed earthquakes occurring along border faults of the Afar rift of Ethiopia. We found that they occur deep in the crust where previous studies indicate the presence of magma. Our results could suggest that border faults could keep slipping and causing earthquakes as a result of the migration of magma into the deep parts of the crust. Key Points: We studied fault activity and kinematics at the Western Afar Margin using seismicity and InSARWe observed a seismic sequence occurring in the lower crust along both west‐dipping and east‐dipping faultsDeep seismicity could be caused by fluid migration in the lower crust [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower‐crustal seismicity is commonly observed in continental rift zones despite the crust at such depths being ductile enough to prohibit brittle failure. The source of such deep seismicity across the East African Rift remains an outstanding question. Here we present analysis of an isolated cluster of lower‐crustal earthquakes located on the eastern border faults of the Main Ethiopian Rift, near the Corbetti caldera. Lower‐crustal earthquakes have not previously been observed in this area. Phase arrival times were determined using an automated picking approach based on continuous wavelet transform and statistical changepoint detection methods. We overcome misinterpretations from large hypocenter depth errors by considering mixture distributions for all events and their associated uncertainties. These mixture distributions represent probability density functions of any event occurring at a given depth. The mixture distribution mode for a variety of different velocity models and error parameters remained stable at a depth of 28–32 km, with the vast majority of maximum likelihood estimates for individual hypocenters located at depths of 25–35 km. Most events occur over a 2 month period, with 90% of cumulative seismic moment occurring during March and April 2012. The ephemeral and localized nature of this seismicity, combined with low event magnitudes and regional hydrothermal/magmatic activity, suggests that these lower‐crustal events are likely related to fluid or magmatic processes. Plausible mechanisms include the movement of magma and/or exsolution of volatiles at depth causing transient high strain rates and pore fluid pressures that induce seismicity. Key Points: A sequence of lower‐crustal seismicity is identified 30 km east of Corbetti caldera on the eastern border faults of the Main Ethiopian RiftMixture distributions are used to overcome misinterpretations from large uncertainty in individual event locationsSpatial and temporal characteristics indicate that the source of this seismicity relates to fluid or magmatic processes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Moho depths beneath four stations of the Ethiopian Seismic Station Network (ESSN) are estimated from P-wave receiver functions (RF). We used high quality seismic data recorded at ANKE (Ankober), DILA (Dilla), HARA (Harar) and SEME (Semera) stations for earthquakes located at epicentral distances ranging from 30 to 100° with magnitude mb ≥ 5.5. We applied a frequency domain deconvolution technique to remove source and propagation path effects from the earthquakes waveforms to make the RFs dependent only on the structure beneath the seismic stations. The minimum number of teleseismic earthquakes used is 14 for HARA while the maximum is 39 for SEME station. A linearized-iterative inversion is applied on the generated radial component of the receiver functions to obtain P-wave velocity models beneath the stations. We achieved a reasonably good fit between the observed and synthetic RFs, which demonstrated the high quality of the inversion process. From the obtained models we estimated Moho depths of 26 ± 2 km for SEME, 36 ± 2 km for DILA, 38 ± 2 km for HARA and 42 ± 1.7 km for ANKE. The lowest Moho depth is observed at Semera station which implies a thinned crust while the highest crustal thickness is observed at Ankober, which lies along the North western plateau margin. Our results agree with previous observations which strengthen the hypothesis that Moho depths estimated for stations that lie within the rift and rift margins are lower than those located in the plateaus. Our RFs inversions show a low velocity gradient at about 16 km depth at Semera station, interpreted as evidence for lower crustal storage of partial melt. Highlights • Moho depths for SEME, DILA, HARA and ANKE are 26 ± 2 km, 36 ± 2 km, 38 ± 2 km and 42 ± 1.7 km respectively. • Partial melt beneath SEME is sandwiched among cooled magmatic intrusion and anomalous Moho. • Moho, has Very low Vp beneath Station SEME, is not in global range and might be named as anomalous Moho. • Vp beneath HARA is less heterogeneous. • Vp beneath ANKE (7–10 km) is high due to mafic dike intrusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bora‐Tullu Moye (TM) volcanic field is a geothermal energy prospect in the central Main Ethiopian Rift, but little is known about the seismicity of the region. Here we document seismic activity between February 2016 and October 2017, locating more than a 1,000 seismic events of local magnitude 0 to 2.7. This provides new insights into fluid movement and deformation beneath what we only now realize is a complicated volcanic system. A discrete cluster of events lies beneath TM, but, surprisingly, most of the seismicity lies in two clusters that are beneath neither the Bora or TM edifices. In these regions, we use earthquake cluster orientations, fault plane solutions, and fast seismic shear‐wave orientations to show that seismicity is triggered by hydrothermal circulation of fluids along preexisting fractures. The fractures trend in multiple directions and are, in general, not parallel to rifting related structures. Instead, the fractures are parallel to structures created during previous caldera forming eruptions at both Bora and TM. Highly fractured regions such as this could be attractive targets for geothermal power generation. We estimate a minimum depth for a magmatic body beneath TM to be 6.5 km using the mapped brittle‐ductile transition. Frequency analysis of the earthquake waveforms reveal the bulk of the events to be volcano tectonic, but some low‐frequency seismicity is present at a depth of 5 km beneath the TM edifice triggered by high pore fluid pressures. Key Points: More than 1,000 earthquakes are detected and located around Tullu Moye, a volcano in the Main Ethiopian RiftEarthquakes locate to depths less than 6.5 km and cluster onto multiple orientations of faults where hydrothermal fluids are channeledShear‐wave‐splitting observations and fault plane solutions indicate a rift parallel stress field locally affected by volcanic structures [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Areas of active volcanism contain elaborate velocity structures that complicate interpretations of earthquake source mechanisms. We examine the spectral characteristics of 805 earthquakes that immediately followed a large volume basaltic dike intrusion and associated silicic flank eruption of Dabbahu volcano in the Afar Depression as recorded on near-source seismometers. We use these results to quantify the contribution of scattering and attenuation to the observed spectra of low-frequency hybrid and volcano-tectonic earthquake clusters from beneath Dabbahu volcano and around the dike zone. We find strong variations in the signal amplitude and frequency content of earthquakes recorded at stations separated by as little as 2 km, caused by preferential attenuation of high frequencies depending on the vantage point. These observations imply that there are large impedance contrasts near the cooling, solidifying, and recently intruded dike. We estimate the intrinsic absorption attenuation coefficient, Q1, and inverse scattering length, 90, averaged over a 300-sq-km area beneath Dabbahu. Our results are consistent with the highest attenuation coefficients from studies of volcanic provinces in Italy (Q-1I ≈~ 0.02, g0 ≈ 0.1 km-1 for a signal at 2 Hz). The magnitude of these two parameters indicates there are large impedance contrasts present in the area due to the recent intrusion of magma and associated fracturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In August 2002, there was high seismic activity in Afar concentrated at the plateau margin of the northern Ethiopian rift east of Mekele, near the western part of the Danakil microplate. The spatial and temporal distributions of this seismic activity over four weeks indicate the NNW propagation of the Gulf of Aden rift across the Afar Depression towards the western Ethiopian plateau. Fault plane solutions for six larger earthquakes from the August 2002 sequence are estimated from moment tensor inversion of local broadband waveform data. The results show only normal faulting on NNW trending and NE dipping faults, which agree with tectonics of the area and distribution of aftershocks. No strike-slip component is observed in any of our fault plane solutions or those of other workers including Harvard CMT solutions in the region. Such motion would be indicative of oblique-slip deformation between the Nubian plate and the Danakil microplate consistent with counter-clockwise rotation of the microplate. Hypocentral depths of well-constrained events are 5–7km, which is the approximate elastic plate thickness in the Main Ethiopian rift, possibly indicating the depth to the brittle–ductile transition zone in this part of the Afar Depression. The shallowness of the depth estimates agree with the macroseismic reports available from a wide area in northern Ethiopia. Potential future shallow crustal deformation may cause significant loss of human life and damage to property in the densely populated highland region around Mekele unless measures are taken in improving building standards. The b-value for this sequence is estimated to be 0.66 using a least squares fit, while it is 0.67±0.16 from a maximum-likelihood approach. This estimated b-value is low or the frequency of occurrence of relatively larger magnitude events is high indicating that it is a highly stressed region as evidenced by the recent increase of the seismicity in the area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We describe the seismo–volcanic crisis that occurred in northern Afar in late 2005, which involved 15 earthquakes greater than M5 and a small explosive silicic eruption from a vent called Da''Ure (at 12.651°N., 40.519°N) close to Dabbahu volcano. The purpose is to pull together the different sources of information into a coherent preliminary interpretation of what happened. The main geophysical data are the locations of the largest earthquakes, and a radar interferogram of unusually high quality that reveals injection of a 60 km long dyke with surface deformation expressed as normal faulting. Subsidence occurred around the Dabbahu volcanic edifice. Most of the dyke is likely to have been basaltic rather than silicic although the eruption was silicic. The volume of the subsidence represents at most 25% of the magma injected into the dyke. The silicic eruption was possibly triggered by interaction of basaltic magma with a shallow silicic reservoir. At about the same time as the eruption and dyking episode, some activity appears also to have taken place at the lava lake at Erta Ale volcano, some 150 km to the north of the eruption site. We evaluate the possibility that there may be some link by calculating stresses associated with opening of the fissure and looking at the activity of the lava lake as revealed by the thermal anomaly seen by weather satellites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two earthquakes occurred in the Congo Basin in March and April 1998. These two events are reported to have comparable size (5.5 mb) and nearly the same epicentral locations, far from the western branch of the East African Rift System (EARS). The P-wave groups of these two earthquakes as recorded at FURI station have nearly identical waveforms, which is indicative of similar rupture process. The epicentral distribution in the area has no apparent trend and the reported seismicity is relatively sporadic. The results of the fault mechanism study show that the two earthquakes have a similar rupture process with slight variation. The duration of the main shock (event 980426) is 3.3 s and its scalar seismic moment, Mo, is 2.6×1017 Nm. The style of the dominant deformation for both events is thrust type, which is not commonly observed in the African Plate. A compressive stress environment may be created by plate-boundary forces of the mid Atlantic Ridge and the EARS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Space-time distribution of earthquakes in the East African Rift System (EARS) has been investigated for the years 2013–2016. The spatial earthquakes distribution in the time window considered in this study has revealed that the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) is structurally linked to the eastern branch of the EARS. A relatively high level of seismicity has been obtained in this study compared to the ISC (International Seismological Centre) catalog for the same time period which implies the region is seismically more active than we thought. In addition to the rift floor, the rift margins and the surrounding plateaus are found to be seismically active. The western and eastern branches of the EARS are found to be more active than the other rift segments for the time period considered. The frequency-magnitude distribution (FMD) of events during this study period provided an average b- and a -values of ~1.01 and ~6.5, respectively. The b-value result is implying relatively high stress with tectonic origin earthquakes occurrence dominating the region. On the other hand, threshold magnitude completeness of Mc 3.0 is obtained which is the minimum value that has never been observed previously for such large area. The seismic energy map of the region has been systematically investigated and peaks energy-release is observed at Afar depression, eastern and western branches. The energy mapping shows that the MER is structurally connected to the eastern branch of the EARS which is consistent with seismicity distribution. The overall depth of occurrence of events in the eastern and the western branches of the EARS are relatively deeper than the one found for Afar and MER. This implies that the seismogenic thickness increases in EARS when we go from north to south which is in agreement with rift age, magmatism and influence of the African Super plume on the crust and upper mantle deformation in EARS. • The MER is structurally connected to the eastern branch. • The overall depth of occurrence of earthquakes in the southern part is relatively deeper than the northern part of the EARS. • The western and eastern branches are more active than the others rift segments. • The EARS is seismically more active than we thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliable source parameters, the current deformation associated to the earthquakes and the current deformation in relationship with dynamic change of Victoria plate rotation are generally poorly understood owing to the lack of the proper techniques used in the Circum-Tanzania Craton. Therefore, the reliable estimated source parameters and the detail interpretation are very crucial. Here, moment tensor inversion is made from broadband seismic data for five earthquakes that occurred in the region in the years 2014 and 2016 with magnitude ranging from Mw 4.1 to 5.7. The 2014 sequence comprises four earthquakes where two of them occurred north of Kondoa with purely normal faulting mechanisms following the N–S oriented rift structure. The other two earthquakes from the 2014 group occurred north of Dodoma and are found to be normal faulting with significant strike-slip component with dextral sense of motion trending in the NW-SE direction which seems to agree with fault structure and aftershock distribution. On the other hand, focal mechanism of the 2016 earthquake in Kagera region with magnitude Mw 5.7 shows dominantly normal faulting trending WNW-ESE with strike-slip component and dextral sense of motion. The interpreted fault orientation for the Kagera earthquake seems to agree with macroseismic information and aftershock distribution which were recorded by seismic stations deployed immediately after the main shock (Mulibo, 2019). We therefore find that the observed normal, strike-slip and oblique slip deformation seems to be influenced by the extensional stress regime of the East African Rift System and the anti-clockwise rotation of the Victorian plate. On the other hand, it is not uncommon to observe deactivation of the NW-SE oriented weak zones in the East African Rift System which seems to agree with our fault mechanism results. In addition, the waveform inverted depths of the studied earthquakes vary from 12 to 26 km in the Circum-Tanzania Craton is implying relatively larger effective elastic thickness compared to the northern part of the East African Rift System in the Afar region. • Focal mechanisms show normal and normal faulting with significant strike-slip components. • The deformation seems to be influenced by the extensional of the East African Rift System and the anti-clockwise rotation of the Victorian plate. • The observed NW-SE oriented weak zone seems to agree with focal mechanisms. • The earthquakes depths are implying relatively larger effective elastic thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corbetti is currently one of the fastest uplifting volcanoes globally, with strong evidence from geodetic and gravity data for a subsurface inflating magma body. A dense network of 18 stations has been deployed around Corbetti and Hawassa calderas between February 2016 and October 2017, to place seismic constraints on the magmatic, hydrothermal and tectonic processes in the region. We locate 122 events of magnitudes between 0.4 and 4.2 using a new local velocity model. The seismicity is focused in two areas: directly beneath Corbetti caldera and beneath the city of Hawassa. The shallower 0–5 km depth below sea level (b.s.l.) earthquakes beneath Corbetti are mainly focused in EW- to NS-elongated clusters at Urji and Chabbi volcanic centres. This distribution is interpreted to be mainly controlled by a northward propagation of hydrothermal fluids away from a cross-rift pre-existing fault. Source mechanisms are predominantly strike-slip and different to the normal faulting away from the volcano, suggesting a local rotation of the stress-field. These observations, along with a low Vp/Vs ratio, are consistent with the inflation of a gas-rich sill, likely of silicic composition, beneath Corbetti. In contrast, the seismicity beneath Hawassa extends to greater depth (16 km b.s.l.). These earthquakes are focused on 8–10 km long segmented faults, which are active in seismic swarms. One of these swarms, in August 2016, is focused between 5 and 16 km depth b.s.l. along a steep normal fault beneath the city of Hawassa, highlighting the earthquake hazard for the local population. • Spatial distribution of seismicity is analyzed near the deforming Corbetti volcano. • Earthquakes are localized to intra-rift, 5–15 km-deep, 10 km-long, normal faults. • Faults beneath Hawassa are active in swarms throughout the period of observations. • Corbetti events mostly locate above a ~5 km depth actively inflating magma chamber. • Events at Corbetti caldera suggest a northward propagation of hydrothermal fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Low-frequency earthquakes detected beneath Tullu Moye, Ethiopia. • Low-rupture velocities caused by high pore-fluid pressures cause the low-frequencies. • Earthquake swarms last less than 30 mins indicate fluids are released episodically. • Fluids are sourced from a shallow (4–5 km) magma storage region beneath Tullu Moye. The active magmatic processes beneath volcanoes in continental rifts is poorly understood. For example, until recently in the East African rift (EAR), the majority of the young volcanoes were thought to be inactive. More recent studies have shown that numerous volcanoes in the EAR are seismically active and deforming rapidly. However, an unambiguous sign of actively degassing magma hosted in shallow magma bodies has eluded most investigators. Here we present detailed analysis of the first low-frequency (LF) earthquake swarms to be observed in the Main Ethiopian Rift. The earthquakes locate to beneath Tullu Moye volcano and are directly related to the presence of a shallow magma body with a high fluid content. Using spectral modelling we show that the LF earthquakes appear to have low stress-drops (1–50 kPa) which we interpret in terms of low rupture velocities and high pore-fluid pressure. Careful relocation of the LF earthquakes place them approximately 4 km below the surface within one of two possible clusters. However, analysis of the correlation between earthquake waveforms show that each swarm contains a range of earthquake families and as such a diversity of earthquake source mechanisms. To explain these observations, we propose the seismicity is induced by H 2 O/CO 2 fluid pulses from the shallow magma body into a highly fractured region. Fluid pulses cause high pore fluid pressures, which also cause the low rupture velocities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]