Seismic Activity of Western Rift in Africa
1978 Volume 87 Issue 2 Pages 55-67
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1978 Volume 87 Issue 2 Pages 55-67
Since 1953 the Institut de Recherche Scientifique du Zaire (I. R. S.), formerly Institut pour la Recherche Scientifique en Afrique Centrale (I. R. S. A. C.), operates a seismological network in the Kivu region of the Zaire Republic within the western branch of the East African Rift System. Between 1960 and 1970 a few data related to the Lake Moero and Upemba Rifts were obtained by the intermittent operation of three stations in the Shaba region.
Based mainly on the data collected by the above mentioned network, the authors analyze the seismicity of the Western Rift Valley of Africa and related problems. The distribution of earthquakes within the considered region is examined and evidence is given for the existence of high seismic zones. Furthermore, the vertical distribution of earthquakes reveals some regional characteristics within the Western Rift Valley.
The Investigation of the focal mechanism of the earthquakes which have occurred in the Western Rift Valley of Africa shows the existence of an uniform system of tectonic stresses pulling apart the rift margins. The distribution of the direction of tension and pressure axes within the Western Rift Valley and its vicinity is presented.
