The Erta Ale volcanic range (Danakil depression, northern afar, ethiopia)

Barberi, F.; Varet, Jacques

doi:10.1007/bf02596805

Cited by 141 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In northern Afar, the second branch of recent volcanic ranges corresponds to ∼NS-trending rift segments, including the Erta Ale and the Manda-Hararo segments (Barberi & Varet 1970, 1977Manighetti et al 1998). …”

Section: The Triple-rift Junction In Afarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current deformation in Central Afar and triple junction kinematics deduced from GPS and InSAR measurements

Doubre¹,

Déprez²,

Masson³

et al. 2016

Geophys. J. Int.

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S U M M A R YKinematics of divergent boundaries and Rift-Rift-Rift junctions are classically studied using long-term geodetic observations. Since significant magma-related displacements are expected, short-term deformation provides important constraints on the crustal mechanisms involved both in active rifting and in transfer of extensional deformation between spreading axes. Using InSAR and GPS data, we analyse the surface deformation in the whole Central Afar region in detail, focusing on both the extensional deformation across the Quaternary magmato-tectonic rift segments, and on the zones of deformation transfer between active segments and spreading axes. The largest deformation occurs across the two recently activated Asal-Ghoubbet (AG) and Manda Hararo-Dabbahu (MH-D) magmato-tectonic segments with very high strain rates, whereas the other Quaternary active segments do not concentrate any large strain, suggesting that these rifts are either sealed during interdyking periods or not mature enough to remain a plate boundary. Outside of these segments, the GPS horizontal velocity field shows a regular gradient following a clockwise rotation of the displacements from the Southeast to the East of Afar, with respect to Nubia. Very few shallow creeping structures can be identified as well in the InSAR data. However, using these data together with the strain rate tensor and the rotations rates deduced from GPS baselines, the present-day strain field over Central Afar is consistent with the main tectonic structures, and therefore with the long-term deformation. We investigate the current kinematics of the triple junction included in our GPS data set by building simple block models. The deformation in Central Afar can be described by adding a central microblock evolving separately from the three surrounding plates. In this model, the northern block boundary corresponds to a deep EW-trending trans-tensional dislocation, locked from the surface to 10-13 km and joining at depth the active spreading axes of the Red Sea and the Aden Ridge, from AG to MH-D rift segments. Over the long-term, this plate configuration could explain the presence of the en-échelon magmatic basins and subrifts. However, the transient behaviour of the spreading axes implies that the deformation in Central Afar evolves depending on the availability of magma supply within the well-established segments.

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Section: The Triple-rift Junction In Afarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current deformation in Central Afar and triple junction kinematics deduced from GPS and InSAR measurements

Doubre¹,

Déprez²,

Masson³

et al. 2016

Geophys. J. Int.

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“…To the east it is bound by a less prominent series of faults forming a 500-1000 m elevation flank of the Danakil microplate. Despite being on-land, the basin floor is generally 50-100 m below sea-level with near surface geology dominated by the full suite of Pliocene-Recent marine evaporite deposits (e.g., calcite, gypsum, halite, and sylvite), formed from complete evaporation of seawater during repeated marine incursions as recently as~30 ka (e.g., Barberi and Varet, 1970;Bonatti et al, 1971;Hutchinson and Engels, 1972;Talbot, 2008). The basin also contains non-marine evaporites from on-going evaporation of seasonal terminal saline lakes and the geothermal pools (Talbot, 2008).…”

Section: Danakil Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Danakil depression is bisected by a linear,~NNW-striking, 10-20 km wide axial volcanic range (Erta Ale range) which is the locus of on-going volcanism and magmatism (Barberi and Varet, 1970;Pagli et al, 2012) (Figs. 3 and 8).…”

Section: Danakil Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The development of extension and magmatism in the Red Sea rift of Afar

et al. 2013

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Despite the importance of continental breakup in plate tectonics, precisely how extensional processes such as brittle faulting, ductile plate stretching, and magma intrusion evolve in space and time during the development of new ocean basins remains poorly understood. The rifting of Arabia from Africa in the Afar depression is an ideal natural laboratory to address this problem since the region exposes subaerially the tectonically active transition from continental rifting to incipient seafloor spreading. We review recent constraints on along-axis variations in rift morphology, crustal and mantle structure, the distribution and style of ongoing faulting, subsurface magmatism and surface volcanism in the Red Sea rift of Afar to understand processes ultimately responsible for the formation of magmatic rifted continental margins. Our synthesis shows that there is a fundamental change in rift morphology from central Afar northward into the Danakil depression, spatially coincident with marked thinning of the crust, an increase in the volume of young basalt flows, and subsidence of the land towards and below sea-level. The variations can be attributed to a northward increase in proportion of extension by ductile plate stretching at the expense of magma intrusion. This is likely in response to a longer history of localised heating and weakening in a narrower rift. Thus, although magma intrusion accommodates strain for a protracted period during rift development, the final stages of breakup are dominated by a phase of plate stretching with a shift from intrusive to extrusive magmatism. This late-stage pulse of decompression melting due to plate thinning may be responsible for the formation of seaward dipping reflector sequences of basalts and sediments, which are ubiquitous at magmatic rifted margins worldwide.

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“…The volcanic chambers occur very shallowly beneath the surface of the Earth (< 2 km). In the very crater of Erta Ale, there is an exposed lava lake [2]. Eruptions, closely related to the seismic shocks, can cause considerable dislocations, both in the vertical and in the horizontal plane [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction of atmospheric disturbances in PSInSAR measure technique based on ENVISAT ASAR data for Erta Ale Ridge

Kopeć

2018

E3S Web Conf.

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Abstract. The interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is becoming more and more popular to investigate surface deformation, associated with volcanism, earthquakes, landslides, and post-mining surface subsidence. The measuring accuracy depends on many factors: surface, time and geometric decorrelation, orbit errors, however the largest challenges are the tropospheric delays. The spatial and temporal variations in temperature, pressure, and relative humidity are responsible for tropospheric delays. So far, many methods have been developed, but researchers are still searching for the one, that will allow to correct interferograms consistently in different regions and times. The article focuses on examining the methods based on empirical phase-based methods, spectrometer measurements and weather model. These methods were applied to the ENVISAT ASAR data for the Erta Ale Ridge in the Afar Depression, East Africa

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The Erta Ale volcanic range (Danakil depression, northern afar, ethiopia)

Cited by 141 publications

References 14 publications

Current deformation in Central Afar and triple junction kinematics deduced from GPS and InSAR measurements

Current deformation in Central Afar and triple junction kinematics deduced from GPS and InSAR measurements

The development of extension and magmatism in the Red Sea rift of Afar

Reduction of atmospheric disturbances in PSInSAR measure technique based on ENVISAT ASAR data for Erta Ale Ridge

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