Collaborative: Geophysical Investigation of the Gulf of Aden: Determining How Hotspot Proximity Affects Tectonic, Magmatic and Stratigraphic Development of Conjugate Margin

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

OCE 99-11877 Driscoll Award is for a geophysical study of the western and central Gulf of Aden conjugate continental margins to define the tectonic, stratigraphic, and magmatic development of one of the world's key areas for understanding how the initiation of continental rifting proceeds. Deep-penetration, multi-channel reflection and Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) refraction data, swath bathymmetry, magnetic, and gravity data will be collected in support of the objectives, which are centered around determining how the Afar mantle plume has affected the development of continental breakup and rift-flank structural development in the Gulf of Aden area. Specifically, variation of strain partitioning, magmatism, and crustal structure with variation of distance from the Afar plume will be examined in the course of reconstructing conjugate margin evolution. This work will also serve as a site survey in support of the ODP pre-proposal 528-Pre, and addresses an important goal of the ODP Long Range Plan, that of understanding early conjugate-margin development and continent-ocean transitions.