The East African Rift System

Abstract

The East African Rift System (EARS) is the iconic continental rift and is now recognized as a profoundly interconnected system, extending from the core-mantle boundary to Earth's surface. Markedly broad, low seismic wavespeeds extend from the core-mantle boundary into the upper mantle and reveal thermochemically anomalous material of the African Superplume. This dominates the upper mantle and impacts melt generation and rifting processes. Associated flood basalt volcanism commenced during the Eocene and was accompanied by rifting. Rift maturity varies from embryonic fault-controlled rifting in the south with classic graben and half graben geomorphology. Further north the locus of extension has migrated to narrower zones of magma intrusion that may eventually mark a new mid-ocean ridge. The EARS shows us that magmatic extension commences well before the development of an ocean basin, with important implications for stretching factors and subsidence at rifted margins. With increasing urbanization, research of rifting in East Africa has implications for volcanic and seismic hazards and climate change through CO 2 release. Geothermal energy too is a growing field with important socio-economic implications for a fast-growing population. This contribution provides a succinct re of the EARS in the context of the multi-scale interconnections of the rift system.

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