We use gravity anomalies derived from GGMplus2013 gravity accelerations to generate a Moho undulation map of the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) and surrounding plateau. The regional Bouguer anomaly is estimated by applying a low pass filters to different cutoff wavelengths and the resulting anomaly map is inverted using Parker Oldenburg method to generate a gravity Moho map. The isostatic Moho is computed using Airy model. Our results show that gravity Moho is in agreement with previous receiver function studies in the region. Based on the results on gravity and isostatic Moho, we estimate the magnitude and orientation of the vertical stress in the rift and surrounding region. In general, the vertical stress agrees very well with the regional tectonic and geomorphic features, where present day rifts are characterized by negative vertical stress except the central MER, which is characterized by positive stress. We argue that the crust in the central MER is in a state of isostatic adjustment. Our study provides an alternative explanation for why the central MER is less developed compared to the northern MER.

我们使用重力异常源自 GGMplus2013 重力加速度以生成埃塞俄比亚主裂谷 (MER) 和周围高原的莫霍面起伏图。通过对不同截止波长应用低通滤波器来估计区域布格异常，并使用 Parker Oldenburg 方法反转所得异常图以生成重力莫霍面图。使用 Airy 模型计算等静压莫霍面。我们的结果表明重力莫霍面与该地区先前的接收器函数研究一致。根据重力和等静压莫霍面的结果，我们估计了裂谷及周边地区垂直应力的大小和方向。总体上，垂向应力与区域构造地貌特征非常吻合，现今裂谷除 MER 中部外，以负垂向应力为特征，其特点是正应力。我们认为 MER 中部的地壳处于均衡调整状态。我们的研究为 MER 中部与北部 MER 相比不发达的原因提供了另一种解释。