Fault pattern and mechanism of crustal spreading along the axis of the Red Sea from side scan sonar ( GLORIA) data.

A side scan sonar (GLORIA) survey revealed the plan view of young faulting along the axial and most active part of the Red Sea, which is a slowly diverging plate boundary. Structural variations were found to be related to variations in bathymetry and geophysical characteristics. The GLORIA data support earlier conclusions that along the northern 2/3 of the Red Sea diffuse and complex crustal spreading occurs. In much of the area ocean-like crust formed, but in a disorganized manner, and diffuse crustal stretching occurs. These structural variations correlate with changes in the geometry of plate separation along the Red Sea: in general its rate decreases but obliquity increases northward. Combined, these hinder formation of a continuous spreading center and favor more complex and diffuse crustal growth and stretching.-from Authors