Abstract:
The northern Red Sea (NRS) is considered an extended continental region that has resulted in a rift system. Gravity and bathymetry data were used to estimate the Moho depth and the elastic thickness Te of the lithosphere beneath the NRS region to characterize its flexural rigidity and understand its mechanical behavior. Focusing on the Mabahiss Deep in NRS, we analyzed the lithosphere\'s flexural rigidity. The observed long-wavelength positive Bouguer anomaly is attributed to crustal thinning and lithospheric mantle uplift. The crustal thickness varies from 28 km in coastal areas to 24 km beneath the axial rift, supporting a regional compensation model over the Airy model. Forward modeling suggests that the optimal model explaining the regional Bouguer anomaly is a flexural model with Te equal to 7 km, indicating a weak and irregular continental crust. The primary factor contributing to this weakness is heating activity. Given the weakened state of the crust and the ongoing extension in the region, the NRS rift could evolve into a rupture, potentially leading to the formation of oceanic crust.
摘要:
北部红海(NRS)被认为是导致裂谷系统的扩展大陆地区。重力和测深数据用于估算NRS区域下方岩石圈的Moho深度和弹性厚度Te,以表征其弯曲刚度并了解其力学行为。专注于NRS的MabahissDeep,我们分析了岩石圈的抗弯刚度。观测到的长波长正布格异常归因于地壳变薄和岩石圈地幔隆升。地壳厚度从沿海地区的28公里到轴向裂谷下方的24公里不等,支持区域补偿模型而不是艾里模型。正向建模表明,解释区域布格异常的最佳模型是Te等于7km的弯曲模型,表明大陆地壳脆弱且不规则。造成这种弱点的主要因素是加热活动。鉴于地壳的弱化状态和该地区的持续扩张,NRS裂痕可能会演变成破裂,有可能导致洋壳的形成.