Unraveling the Mystery of Earth's Largest Continental Rift Deformation.

Computer models confirm that the African Superplume is responsible for the unusual, rift-parallel deformation observed beneath the Earth's largest continental rift system, the East African Rift System. The deformation that comes with continental rifting usually follows predictable directional patterns in relation to the rift, but the East African Rift System has both rift-perpendicular and rift-parallel deformations. The study's findings could help clear up scientific debate on which plate-driving forces dominate the rift system, accounting for both its rift-perpendicular and rift-parallel deformation: lithospheric buoyancy forces, mantle traction forces, or both.