Crustal movement and crustal structure of the Gulf of Suez margins

Abstract

In this study, the crustal movement and structures beneath the Gulf margins are investigated by applying Global Positioning System (GPS) and receiver function techniques. Our results revealed the symmetrical crustal thickness beneath west and east Gulf margins with average crustal thickness of 26 km near the coast and 32–35 km inland. The crustal movements through the three parts of the Gulf of Suez (north, middle and south) are measured with an average rate of displacement 11 ± 2 mm/yr on the eastern side and 11.8 ± 2 mm/yr on the western side, while in the middle part a higher displacement rate is observed on the east bank than on the west. When considering the average measurement, a symmetric displacement rate is observed at the two Gulf of Suez margins. In fact, our study produced a new idea and contributed to proving the symmetrical rift system of the Gulf of Suez.

Keywords::

• Gulf of Suez
• crustal movement and structure

Acknowledgements

We would express our gratitude to the Seismology and Geodesy department, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, for their help and for providing advice that improved this research work.