Active fault database for the northern Western Branch of the East African Rift System

Data Format The Active Fault Database for the northern Western (NW) Branch of the East African Rift System (EARS) is a geospatial database containing a collection of active fault traces in the Northwestern Branch of the EARS. Each fault is mapped as a single GIS trace feature with corresponding metadata that describes the fault geometry, kinematics and characteristics.  These attributes are based on the Global Earthquake Model Global Active Faults Database (GEM-GAFD; Styron and Pagani, 2020)  Data Table Active Fault Database for the northern Western Branch of the EARS Attributes Fault Attribute Data Type Description Key Information id integer Sequential fault number in database   NW_EARS_ID integer Unique Fault Identification number assigned to each fault trace   Fault Name string Name of Fault Assigned using local features such as rivers, hot springs, or towns Strike Dir string Compass quadrant of strike direction   Dip Dir string Compass quadrant of fault dip direction   Slip type string kinematic type of fault e.g. normal, reverse and strike-slip Length(km) decimal Straight-line distance between fault tips (measured in kilometers)   Notes string Fault geometry, geomorphic expression of active fault along trace e.g. dominant fault geometry, prominent scarp, stream deflection, truncation, linear vegetation, etc. Confidence integer Confidence of neotectonic activity Ranges from 1-5, 5 if high certainty, 1 if low certainty Exposure integer Fault exposure on the earth’s surface 3 if high, 1 if low, 0 – observed on seismic Quality integer Epistemic quality of whether a fault exists there 2 if high, 1 if low Location integer Reflects the prominence of the fault's geomorphic expression in terms of identity and existence 3 – Accurate, 2 – Approximate, 1 - Inferred References string Previous literature, geological maps, offshore seismic data where the fault is described     Fault Descriptions Active faults are defined as faults that are considered capable of generating moderate to large magnitude earthquakes under the present-day tectonic conditions (Styron & Pagani, 2020). Active faults are also classified as faults that have the potential to undergo future movement or slip (Zelenin et al., 2022). More precisely, a fault is considered active if there is evidence of slip during the contemporary, historical, or Holocene period typically within the last ~10,000 years (Machette, 2000). Rift-bounding or rift border faults are large, laterally continuous normal faults forming prominent escarpments that separate the rift depression and the surrounding elevated terrain, typically widely spaced with substantial vertical offsets and serving as the main structures accommodating rift extension (Corti, 2009). An intrabasin fault is a synthetic or antithetic normal fault that develops within the hanging-wall block of a rift-bounding fault, cutting through and displacing rift basin sediments (Taylor et al., 2011). File Formats This database is originally designed using ESRI shapefile and any changes will be made in this version, before they are converted to other digital file formats. Additional digital formats include KML and GeoJSON digital formats to enhance accessibility and intengration with various mapping applications such as Google Earth and Generic Mapping Tools (GMT).  Version Control This version of the database is v1.0 and is associated with data release for submission of the manuscript “Active fault database for the northern Western Branch of the East African Rift System”