The Malawi Active Fault Database: An Onshore‐Offshore Database for Regional Assessment of Seismic Hazard and Tectonic Evolution

Abstract We present the Malawi Active Fault Database (MAFD), an open‐access ( https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5507190 ) geospatial database of 113 fault traces in and neighboring Tanzania Mozambique. is located within East African Rift's (EAR) Western Branch where active identification challenging because chronostratigraphic data are rare, and/or faults buried so do not have a surface expression. The MAFD therefore includes any that has evidence for displacement during Cenozoic rifting or beneath rift valley favorably oriented to regional stresses. To identify such faults, we consider multidisciplinary set: high‐resolution digital elevation models, previous geological mapping, field observations, seismic reflection surveys from offshore Lake Malawi, aeromagnetic gravity data. throughout risk increasing population growth its seismically vulnerable building stock. also investigate as sample normal incipient continental rift. cannot reject null hypothesis distribution lengths described by power law, which consistent with Malawi's relatively thick seismogenic layer (30–40 km), low (<8%) extensional strain, deformation localization (50%–75%) across long hard‐linked border faults. Cumulatively, highlight importance integrating onshore geophysical develop databases along EAR similar settings both understand hazard tectonic evolution.