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Mantle upwelling at Afar triple junction shaped by overriding plate dynamics

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Mantle upwelling at Afar triple junction shaped by overriding plate dynamics. / Watts, Emma J.; Rees, Rhiannon; Jonathan, Philip et al.
In: Nature Geoscience, Vol. 18, No. 7, 30.07.2025, p. 661-669.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Watts, EJ, Rees, R, Jonathan, P, Keir, D, Taylor, RN, Siegburg, M, Chambers, EL, Pagli, C, Cooper, MJ, Michalik, A, Milton, JA, Hincks, TK, Gebru, EF, Ayele, A, Abebe, B & Gernon, TM 2025, 'Mantle upwelling at Afar triple junction shaped by overriding plate dynamics', Nature Geoscience, vol. 18, no. 7, pp. 661-669. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01717-0

APA

Watts, E. J., Rees, R., Jonathan, P., Keir, D., Taylor, R. N., Siegburg, M., Chambers, E. L., Pagli, C., Cooper, M. J., Michalik, A., Milton, J. A., Hincks, T. K., Gebru, E. F., Ayele, A., Abebe, B., & Gernon, T. M. (2025). Mantle upwelling at Afar triple junction shaped by overriding plate dynamics. Nature Geoscience, 18(7), 661-669. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01717-0

Vancouver

Watts EJ, Rees R, Jonathan P, Keir D, Taylor RN, Siegburg M et al. Mantle upwelling at Afar triple junction shaped by overriding plate dynamics. Nature Geoscience. 2025 Jul 30;18(7):661-669. Epub 2025 Jun 25. doi: 10.1038/s41561-025-01717-0

Author

Watts, Emma J. ; Rees, Rhiannon ; Jonathan, Philip et al. / Mantle upwelling at Afar triple junction shaped by overriding plate dynamics. In: Nature Geoscience. 2025 ; Vol. 18, No. 7. pp. 661-669.

Bibtex

@article{2c623615d6194fc6bf524f578e628557,
title = "Mantle upwelling at Afar triple junction shaped by overriding plate dynamics",
abstract = "Mantle upwellings drive large-scale surface volcanism and facilitate continental breakup and ocean basin formation. However, the spatial characteristics and internal composition of these upwellings alongside how they are modified by plate tectonics are poorly resolved. Afar, East Africa, is a classic triple junction comprising three rifts at various stages of evolution thought to be underlain by a mantle upwelling or plume, allowing examination of the controls on the mantle upwelling. Here we present geochemical data from >130 samples of {\textquoteleft}young{\textquoteright} volcanoes spanning the rifts defining the triple junction to show that the underlying mantle comprises a single, asymmetric upwelling. Using statistical modelling to integrate our data with existing geochemical and geophysical constraints, we suggest that Afar is fed by a spatially and chemically heterogeneous upwelling, which controls the composition and relative abundance of melt in all three rift arms. We identify repetitive signatures in mantle compositions in rift regions, whose variability is a longer wavelength in faster-extending rift arms. This suggests more rapid channelized mantle flow occurs where rifting rates are higher and the plate is thinner, aiding flow of the upwelling towards the faster-spreading Red Sea Rift. Our findings demonstrate how the evolution of mantle upwellings is influenced by the dynamics of overriding plates.",
author = "Watts, {Emma J.} and Rhiannon Rees and Philip Jonathan and Derek Keir and Taylor, {Rex N.} and Melanie Siegburg and Chambers, {Emma L.} and Carolina Pagli and Cooper, {Matthew J.} and Agnes Michalik and Milton, {J. Andrew} and Hincks, {Thea K.} and Gebru, {Ermias F.} and Atalay Ayele and Bekele Abebe and Gernon, {Thomas M.}",
year = "2025",
month = jul,
day = "30",
doi = "10.1038/s41561-025-01717-0",
language = "English",
volume = "18",
pages = "661--669",
journal = "Nature Geoscience",
issn = "1752-0894",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "7",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mantle upwelling at Afar triple junction shaped by overriding plate dynamics

AU - Watts, Emma J.

AU - Rees, Rhiannon

AU - Jonathan, Philip

AU - Keir, Derek

AU - Taylor, Rex N.

AU - Siegburg, Melanie

AU - Chambers, Emma L.

AU - Pagli, Carolina

AU - Cooper, Matthew J.

AU - Michalik, Agnes

AU - Milton, J. Andrew

AU - Hincks, Thea K.

AU - Gebru, Ermias F.

AU - Ayele, Atalay

AU - Abebe, Bekele

AU - Gernon, Thomas M.

PY - 2025/7/30

Y1 - 2025/7/30

N2 - Mantle upwellings drive large-scale surface volcanism and facilitate continental breakup and ocean basin formation. However, the spatial characteristics and internal composition of these upwellings alongside how they are modified by plate tectonics are poorly resolved. Afar, East Africa, is a classic triple junction comprising three rifts at various stages of evolution thought to be underlain by a mantle upwelling or plume, allowing examination of the controls on the mantle upwelling. Here we present geochemical data from >130 samples of ‘young’ volcanoes spanning the rifts defining the triple junction to show that the underlying mantle comprises a single, asymmetric upwelling. Using statistical modelling to integrate our data with existing geochemical and geophysical constraints, we suggest that Afar is fed by a spatially and chemically heterogeneous upwelling, which controls the composition and relative abundance of melt in all three rift arms. We identify repetitive signatures in mantle compositions in rift regions, whose variability is a longer wavelength in faster-extending rift arms. This suggests more rapid channelized mantle flow occurs where rifting rates are higher and the plate is thinner, aiding flow of the upwelling towards the faster-spreading Red Sea Rift. Our findings demonstrate how the evolution of mantle upwellings is influenced by the dynamics of overriding plates.

AB - Mantle upwellings drive large-scale surface volcanism and facilitate continental breakup and ocean basin formation. However, the spatial characteristics and internal composition of these upwellings alongside how they are modified by plate tectonics are poorly resolved. Afar, East Africa, is a classic triple junction comprising three rifts at various stages of evolution thought to be underlain by a mantle upwelling or plume, allowing examination of the controls on the mantle upwelling. Here we present geochemical data from >130 samples of ‘young’ volcanoes spanning the rifts defining the triple junction to show that the underlying mantle comprises a single, asymmetric upwelling. Using statistical modelling to integrate our data with existing geochemical and geophysical constraints, we suggest that Afar is fed by a spatially and chemically heterogeneous upwelling, which controls the composition and relative abundance of melt in all three rift arms. We identify repetitive signatures in mantle compositions in rift regions, whose variability is a longer wavelength in faster-extending rift arms. This suggests more rapid channelized mantle flow occurs where rifting rates are higher and the plate is thinner, aiding flow of the upwelling towards the faster-spreading Red Sea Rift. Our findings demonstrate how the evolution of mantle upwellings is influenced by the dynamics of overriding plates.

U2 - 10.1038/s41561-025-01717-0

DO - 10.1038/s41561-025-01717-0

M3 - Journal article

VL - 18

SP - 661

EP - 669

JO - Nature Geoscience

JF - Nature Geoscience

SN - 1752-0894

IS - 7

ER -