Scholarlink

<p>Continental rifting initiates the transition to breakup when the crust is necked and deformation localizes at the rift axis. However, the slow crustal-stretching rates and &gt;20-km deep mantle beneath many active rifts worldwide suggest that present-day breakup may not be imminent. High-resolution seismic data from the Turkana Rift Zone of the East African Rift System (EARS) reveal the rift’s subsurface structure. Here, we show that Turkana’s crystalline crust has thinned to ~13 km along the rift axis, revealing an active rift undergoing crustal necking. Onset of necking is constrained to ~4 Ma and facilitated the accumulation of Turkana’s world-famous fossil record of human evolution. Identification of necking in the EARS indicates that eastern Africa is primed for continental breakup.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Necking of the active Turkana Rift Zone and the priming of eastern Africa for continental breakup

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月23日

查看全文
  • Christian M. Rowan,
  • Folarin Kolawole,
  • Anne Bécel,
  • Paul Betka,
  • John Rowan

摘要

Continental rifting initiates the transition to breakup when the crust is necked and deformation localizes at the rift axis. However, the slow crustal-stretching rates and >20-km deep mantle beneath many active rifts worldwide suggest that present-day breakup may not be imminent. High-resolution seismic data from the Turkana Rift Zone of the East African Rift System (EARS) reveal the rift’s subsurface structure. Here, we show that Turkana’s crystalline crust has thinned to ~13 km along the rift axis, revealing an active rift undergoing crustal necking. Onset of necking is constrained to ~4 Ma and facilitated the accumulation of Turkana’s world-famous fossil record of human evolution. Identification of necking in the EARS indicates that eastern Africa is primed for continental breakup.