Ray tracing through models of the East African Rift

In this paper seismic rays are traced through proposed models of the East African Rift and the predicted travel-time residuals are compared to those observed at a number of African seismic stations. The velocity models are based on published gravity models of the East African Rift and empirical velocity-density relationships. Searle's (1970) revision of the models first proposed by Girdler et al. (1969), comprising a low-density, low-velocity asthenolith that partly replaces and thins the continental lithosphere beneath East Africa, is found to be compatible with most of the observed travel-time residuals. Results from the ray tracing suggest that the model may be improved by increasing the volume of normal mantle material between the two branches of the rift. Some of the interesting travel-time residuals associated with anomalous material away from the rift are also discussed.