Seismic Activity and Geophysical Processes in Continental Rifts

Continental rifts represent zones of lithospheric extension where tectonic plates diverge, creating a network of normal faults, fracture systems and sedimentary basins. Seismic activity in these settings is typically characterised by frequent low-magnitude earthquakes, episodic earthquake swarms and occasional moderate shocks linked to fault slip and fluid pressure changes. The interplay between tectonic stress, brittle faulting and the presence of crustal fluids governs both seismic hazard and rift evolution. Geophysical imaging techniques such as seismic tomography, magnetotellurics and ambient noise interferometry reveal complex crustal structures, including low-velocity zones and conductive pathways that often correlate with fluid-rich fractures. Geodetic measurements document slow surface deformation, fault creep and episodic ground uplift, providing insights into strain accumulation and release. In active rifts, mantle-derived volatiles migrate upward along fault-controlled conduits, triggering degassing phenomena observable at the surface as mofettes or mineral springs. A comprehensive understanding of these coupled processes is essential for assessing seismic risk, monitoring fluid–rock interactions and elucidating the early stages of continental breakup.

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Seismic Activity and Geophysical Processes in Continental Rifts publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in seismic activity and geophysical processes in continental rifts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Seismic swarm: A series of closely spaced earthquakes occurring in a limited region over a short period, often without a single outstanding mainshock.

Low-velocity zone: A volume in the crust or mantle where seismic wave speeds are reduced, typically due to elevated temperatures, partial melt or elevated fluid content.

Vp/Vs ratio: The ratio of compressional (P) wave velocity to shear (S) wave velocity, used to infer rock composition, porosity and fluid saturation.

Ambient noise tomography: A technique that utilises background seismic vibrations to reconstruct subsurface velocity structure without reliance on controlled sources.

Seismic interferometry: A method of retrieving seismic responses between different locations by cross-correlating wavefields recorded at seismic stations or generated by sources.

References

1. Crustal S-Wave Velocity Structure Beneath the Northwestern Bohemian Massif, Central Europe, Revealed by the Inversion of Multimodal Ambient Noise Dispersion Curves. Frontiers in Earth Science (2022).
2. Toward Source Region Tomography With Intersource Interferometry: Shear Wave Velocity From 2018 West Bohemia Swarm Earthquakes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (2020).
3. Monitoring crustal CO2 flow: methods and their applications to the mofettes in West Bohemia. Solid Earth (SE) (2020).