Recent studies of the crustal structure in the Gulf of Aden

Laughton, A. S.; Tramontini, C.

doi:10.1016/0040-1951(69)90043-2

Cited by 65 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The eastern Gulf of Aden function fits the theoretical function quite well for crustal thicknesses of about 40-50 km. This, however, contrasts with crustal thicknesses determined by seismic refraction lines in the Gulf of Aden of less than 10 km (Laughton & Tramontini 1969). This discrepancy suggests that local isostatic compensation by the Airy mechanism is not appropriate for topography in the eastern Gulf of Aden.…”

contrasting

confidence: 66%

“…Neglecting the first two coefficients, the Airy mechanism of isostasy fits the western Gulf of Aden transfer function quite well for a crustal thickness o f about 15-20 km. Seismic refraction lines in the western Gulf of Aden i$dicate that the crust is thinner than this even quite close t o the coasts (Laughton & Tramontini 1969). It seems likely, therefore, that local isostatic compensation by the Airy mechanism is not an appropriate model o f compensation o f topography in the western Gulf of Aden.…”

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confidence: 97%

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An application of the response function technique to profiles of bathymetry and gravity in the Gulf of Aden

Tamsett

1984

Geophysical Journal International

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Summary. The relationship between bathymetry and gravity in the eastern, and the western Gulf of Aden, is analysed by computing response functions. The form of the response functions indicates that the short‐wavelength topography is isostatically compensated. The most appropriate mechanism of compensation is one in which the topography is not locally compensated, but regionally compensated by flexure of the lithosphere. Though the sets of profiles from the eastern and the western Gulf of Aden are separated by only 500–750 km, the observed response functions are very different. The lithosphere in the eastern Gulf of Aden can be modelled by an elastic plate 15 ± 3 km thick, whereas an elastic plate 3 ± 2km thick is probably an appropriate model for the lithosphere in the western Gulf of Aden. A different mechanism of isostasy (the Pratt) operates in the compensation of the long‐wavelength topography of the mid‐ocean ridge in the Gulf of Aden. A larger negative broad Bouguer gravity anomaly across the western Gulf of Aden than across the east, indicates that upper mantle temperatures increase from east to west. The long‐wavelength shallowing of the Gulf of Aden and increasing elevation of the adjacent continents from east to west are therefore probably mainly the result of thermal uplift. The subdued nature of the median valley and (consequently) other short‐wave‐length topography in the west, can be explained by hot, low viscosity, asthenosphere, and the inferred thin lithosphere in the west also suggests high temperature mantle. Finally, a magnetic anomaly superimposed on the axial anomaly, which is probably related to the depth of the Curie temperature, is more common in the western Gulf of Aden than in the east, and this is also consistent with upper mantle temperatures increasing to the west. There are a number of similarities between the mid‐ocean ridge in the western Gulf of Aden and the Reykjanes ridge. It is suggested that the western Gulf of Aden is anomalous because of its proximity to the Afar ‘hot spot’ in the same way that the Reykjanes ridge is often considered to be anomalous because of its proximity to the Iceland ‘hot spot'.

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confidence: 66%

mentioning

confidence: 97%

An application of the response function technique to profiles of bathymetry and gravity in the Gulf of Aden

Tamsett

1984

Geophysical Journal International

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“…Integration of limited seismic refraction surveys (Laughton and Tramontini, 1969) and gravity data suggest that from the Gulf of Tadjoura east to 44°10 0 E the lithosphere is of continental type but locally thinned beneath the axial trough (Hébert et al, 2001). From 44°10 0 E east to 44°45 0 E (approximate location of the Shukra al Sheik discontinuity) it is of transitional character.…”

Section: Propagation Of Seafloor Spreading To the Gulf Of Tadjouramentioning

confidence: 94%

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Basins

Bosworth

Huchon

McClay

2005

Journal of African Earth Sciences

807

346

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“…The nomenclature is based on that of Prodehl and Mechie [1991]. Crustal sections are taken from Laughton and Tramontini [1969] (15), Mechie et al [1986] (12,13), Makris and Ginzburg [1987] (2,5,8,9,11), Gaulier et al [1988] (14), Mackenzie et al [2005] (3,4), Maguire et al [2006] (1) and this study (6,7,10).…”

Section: Previous Studies Of Crustal Structure In Ethiopiamentioning

confidence: 99%

The nature of the crust beneath the Afar triple junction: Evidence from receiver functions

Hammond

Kendall

Stuart

et al. 2011

Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst.

171

286

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[1] The Afar depression is an ideal locale to study the role of extension and magmatism as rifting progresses to seafloor spreading. Here we present receiver function results from new and legacy experiments. Crustal thickness ranges from ∼45 km beneath the highlands to ∼16 km beneath an incipient oceanic spreading center in northern Afar. The crust beneath Afar has a thickness of 20-26 km outside the currently active rift segments and thins northward. It is bounded by thick crust beneath the highlands of the western plateau (∼40 km) and southeastern plateau (∼35 km). The western plateau shows V P /V S ranging between 1.7-1.9, suggesting a mafic altered crust, likely associated with Cenozoic flood basalts, or current magmatism. The southeastern plateau shows V P /V S more typical of silicic continental crust (∼1.78). For crustal thicknesses <26 km, high V P /V S (>2.0) can only be explained by significant amounts of magmatic intrusions in the lower crust. This suggests that melt emplacement plays an important role in late stage rifting, and melt in the lower crust likely feeds magmatic activity. The crust between the location of the Miocene Red Sea rift axis and the current rift axis is thinner (<22 km) with higher V P /V S (>2.0) than beneath the eastern part of Afar (>26 km, V P /V S < 1.9). This suggests that the eastern region contains less partial melt, has undergone less stretching/extension and has preserved a more continental crustal signature than west of the current rift axis. The Red Sea rift axis appears to have migrated eastward through time to accommodate the migration of the Afar triple junction.

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Recent studies of the crustal structure in the Gulf of Aden

Cited by 65 publications

References 7 publications

An application of the response function technique to profiles of bathymetry and gravity in the Gulf of Aden

An application of the response function technique to profiles of bathymetry and gravity in the Gulf of Aden

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Basins

The nature of the crust beneath the Afar triple junction: Evidence from receiver functions

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