Seismic and Geodetic Response to the 2007 Natron-Lengai Seismo-Magmatic Crisis, East African Rift, Tanzania

University Of Rochester, Rochester NY

Investigators

Abstract

The African continent is slowly breaking up along the East African Rift. While the landforms that define this rift are clear, the actual mechanisms of rifting and the role of magmatism in this have been unclear. Recently, a series of low frequency earthquakes (tremor), active volcanism, and ground deformation, show that magma is intruding into one portion of the East African Rift. This allows for an unusual opportunity to study the processes that lead to continental breakup. This proposal is a Small Grant for Exploratory Research, to augment existing seismic and GPS arrays to collect data that will give insight into the nature of rifting and the role of magmatism in the process. Broader impacts include international collaboration and training of local students in Tanzania, training of graduate students, and hazard mitigation in a developing country.