Abstract
The Dead Sea Rift (DSR) is one of the deepest continental depressions
on the Earth's surface and is the best example of a continental rift
lying along a transform plate boundary (the Dead Sea Transform).
We systematically analyze the large-scale topography, structure,
and morphology across the central part of the DSR between Lake Kinneret
and the Gulf of Elat and show a distinct asymmetrical topographic
pattern across the rift axis. The topography analysis uses a Digital
Terrain Model (DTM) of Israel and adjacent areas to plot a series
of 64 profiles perpendicular to the rift axis. The profiles show
that the eastern side is topographically higher than the western
side and that its overall shape resembles an uplifted shoulder; the
lower western side resembles an arch. This analysis also reveals
along-strike variations in the topography that allow us to subdivide
the central DSR into five segments of similar topography. The large-scale
structure across the DSR is investigated by a series of 10 geological
cross sections drawn perpendicular to the rift axis along the five
segments. On the basis of the stratigraphic record and the geological
history of the region, we identify a regional marker (Top Eocene
Sequence) to trace the rift-related structure. This marker shows
that the structure parallels the topographic asymmetry across the
rift axis: the rift's eastern margin is uplifted toward the axis,
whereas the rift's western margin is downflexed toward the axis and
defines a wide asymmetrical monocline. Our analyses indicate that
(1) the large-scale asymmetry across the DSR reflects a wide half-graben
structure (30-60 km wide), (2) the rift's eastern margin reflects
broad regional uplift along the rift, and (3) the western side arching
is a subsidary structure that follows the main rift structure.
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