Meghraoui, M.,  Delvaux, M. & IGCP-601 Working Group Team (2015). 2015. ‘The Seismotectonic Map of Africa’. EGU General Assembly 2015, Vienna. Book of abstracts, geophysical research abstracts, 17. EGU2015-5133.

Conference abstract

We present the Seismotectonic Map of Africa based on a geological, geophysical and geodetic database including the re-appraisal of historical and instrumental seismicity catalogue with harmonization and homogenization of earthquake parameters. Although the seismotectonic framework and mapping of the African continent is a difficult task, several previous and ongoing projects provide a wealth of data and outstanding results. The database of large and moderate earthquakes in different geological domains includes the coseismic and Quaternary faulting that reveals the complex nature of the active tectonics in Africa. The map also benefits from previous works on local and regional seismotectonic maps that needed to be integrated with the lithospheric and upper mantle structures from tomographic anisotropy and gravity anomaly into a continental framework. The synthesis of earthquake and volcanic studies with the analysis of long-term (late Quaternary) and short-term (last decades and centuries) active deformation observed with geodetic and other tools presented along with the seismotectonic map serves as a basis for hazard calculations and the reduction of seismic risks. The map may also be very useful in the assessment of the seismic hazard and risk evaluation in significant infrastructures and their implications in the socio-economic impact in Africa.. The database and related map are prepared in the framework of the IGC Project-601 “Seismotectonics and seismic hazards in Africa” of UNESCO-IUGS, funded by the Swedish International Development Agency and UNESCO-Nairobi for a period of 4 years (2011 – 2014), extended to 2016.