GPS constraints on continental deformation in the Africa-Arabia-Eurasia continental collision zone and implications for the dynamics of plate interactions

Reilinger, R; McClusky, S; Vernant, P; Lawrence, S; Ergintav, S; Cakmak, R; Ozener, H; Kadirov, F; Guliev, I; Stepanyan, R; Nadariya, M; Hahubia, G; Mahmoud, S; Sakr, K; ArRajehi, A; Paradissis, D; Al-Aydrus, A; Prilepin, M; Guseva, T; Evren, E; Dmitrotsa, A; Filikov, SV; Gomez, F; Al-Ghazzi, R; Karam, G

dc.contributor.author	Reilinger, R	en
dc.contributor.author	McClusky, S	en
dc.contributor.author	Vernant, P	en
dc.contributor.author	Lawrence, S	en
dc.contributor.author	Ergintav, S	en
dc.contributor.author	Cakmak, R	en
dc.contributor.author	Ozener, H	en
dc.contributor.author	Kadirov, F	en
dc.contributor.author	Guliev, I	en
dc.contributor.author	Stepanyan, R	en
dc.contributor.author	Nadariya, M	en
dc.contributor.author	Hahubia, G	en
dc.contributor.author	Mahmoud, S	en
dc.contributor.author	Sakr, K	en
dc.contributor.author	ArRajehi, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Paradissis, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Al-Aydrus, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Prilepin, M	en
dc.contributor.author	Guseva, T	en
dc.contributor.author	Evren, E	en
dc.contributor.author	Dmitrotsa, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Filikov, SV	en
dc.contributor.author	Gomez, F	en
dc.contributor.author	Al-Ghazzi, R	en
dc.contributor.author	Karam, G	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:24:28Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:24:28Z
dc.date.issued	2006	en
dc.identifier.issn	0148-0227	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/17274
dc.subject	Active Tectonics	en
dc.subject	Plate Motion	en
dc.subject	Subduction Zone	en
dc.subject	Velocity Field	en
dc.subject	Eastern Mediterranean	en
dc.subject	Present Day	en
dc.subject.classification	Geochemistry & Geophysics	en
dc.subject.other	Arabian plate	en
dc.subject.other	collision zone	en
dc.subject.other	continental lithosphere	en
dc.subject.other	deformation	en
dc.subject.other	GPS	en
dc.subject.other	peripheral region	en
dc.subject.other	plate boundary	en
dc.subject.other	plate motion	en
dc.subject.other	plate tectonics	en
dc.subject.other	remote sensing	en
dc.subject.other	subduction zone	en
dc.subject.other	Africa	en
dc.subject.other	Anatolia	en
dc.subject.other	Arabian Peninsula	en
dc.subject.other	Asia	en
dc.subject.other	East Africa	en
dc.subject.other	Eurasia	en
dc.subject.other	Middle East	en
dc.subject.other	Somalia	en
dc.subject.other	Sub-Saharan Africa	en
dc.subject.other	Turkey	en
dc.title	GPS constraints on continental deformation in the Africa-Arabia-Eurasia continental collision zone and implications for the dynamics of plate interactions	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1029/2005JB004051	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005JB004051	en
heal.identifier.secondary	B05411	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	2006	en
heal.abstract	The GPS-derived velocity field (1988-2005) for the zone of interaction of the Arabian, African (Nubian, Somalian), and Eurasian plates indicates counterclockwise rotation of a broad area of the Earth's surface including the Arabian plate, adjacent parts of the Zagros and central Iran, Turkey, and the Aegean/Peloponnesus relative to Eurasia at rates in the range of 20-30 mm/yr. This relatively rapid motion occurs within the framework of the slow-moving (∼5 mm/yr relative motions) Eurasian, Nubian, and Somalian plates. The circulatory pattern of motion increases in rate toward the Hellenic trench system. We develop an elastic block model to constrain present-day plate motions (relative Euler vectors), regional deformation within the interplate zone, and slip rates for major faults. Substantial areas of continental lithosphere within the region of plate interaction show coherent motion with internal deformations below ∼1-2 mm/yr, including central and eastern Anatolia (Turkey), the Southwestern Aegean/Peloponnesus, the Lesser Caucasus, and Central Iran. Geodetic slip rates for major block-bounding structures are mostly comparable to geologic rates estimated for the most recent geological period (∼3-5 Myr). We find that the convergence of Arabia with Eurasia is accommodated in large part by lateral transport within the interior part of the collision zone and lithospheric shortening along the Caucasus and Zagros mountain belts around the periphery of the collision zone. In addition, we find that the principal boundary between the westerly moving Anatolian plate and Arabia (East Anatolian fault) is presently characterized by pure left-lateral strike slip with no fault-normal convergence. This implies that ""extrusion"" is not presently inducing westward motion of Anatolia. On the basis of the observed kinematics, we hypothesize that deformation in the Africa-Arabia-Eurasia collision zone is driven in large part by rollback of the subducting African lithosphere beneath the Hellenic and Cyprus trenches aided by slab pull on the southeastern side of the subducting Arabian plate along the Makran subduction zone. We further suggest that the separation of Arabia from Africa is a response to plate motions induced by active subduction. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.	en
heal.publisher	AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION	en
heal.journalName	Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1029/2005JB004051	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000238073700007	en
dc.identifier.volume	111	en
dc.identifier.issue	5	en