207-1 The African Continent in Motion: Surface Observations and Geodynamic Insights into Rifting

Session: Honoring the Late Professor Mohamed Abdelsalam: Outstanding Researcher, Generous Colleague, Legendary Mentor, and Ambassador for the Geosciences In Africa

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Abstract:

The African continent is slowly fragmenting along the East African Rift System (EARS) at different rates from the Afar triple junction in the north down to Mozambique, South Africa, and to the southwest Indian Ridge in the south. What drives this fragmentation process and how exactly the Earth's plates and microplates are moving along the EARS is not well constrained. In this work, we present a recent kinematic model based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) observations that shows how the tectonic plates and microplates of the EARS are slowly moving and deforming, which causes hazardous seismic and volcanic activity. Using advanced numerical methods, this work also investigates the physics driving surface motions to understand the driving forces causing the break-up of Africa. Geodynamic modeling results indicate that the surface deformation characterized by approximately east-west extension is driven by forces from topography gradients and lithospheric buoyancy rather than viscous coupling to diverging mantle flow.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-5767

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