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Shells on a Sphere: Tectonic Plate Motion and Plate Boundary Deformation

Abstract

Plate motion models have matured from being based only on geology and seismicity to incorporating space-based geodetic methods like GPS. I use a block modeling approach to incorporate both rigid block rotation and near-boundary elastic strain accumulation effects in a formal inversion of GPS velocities.

Independent Okhotsk and Amurian microplate motions are tested using GPS velocities that constrain the plate kinematics of northeast Asia. Modeling favors scenarios with independent OKH and AMU motion, based on the application of F-test statistics. The plate-motion parameters of the independent plates are consistent with the kinematics inferred from earthquake focal mechanism solutions along their boundaries.

GPS-measured velocities (15 from continuously recording stations within the stable India plate interior) geodetically constrain India plate motion, intraplate strain, and plate boundary deformation around the India plate. Dense station coverage from previously published studies allows rigorous testing of boundary parameterizations. I develop robust India plate motion parameters and see good agreement between predicted plate directions from the preferred model and the seismological data.

Available GPS data in and around the Aegean region is combined and used to evaluate plate motion models, elastic plate boundary deformation and its relationship to seismogenic coupling along the Hellenic subduction zone. The A.D. 365 M ∼8.4, the A.D. 1303 M∼8 Crete suggest that portions of the plate interface must be locked. The primary focus of this study is to examine potential upper plate deformation resulting from a locked subduction interface, active hanging-wall extension, or both. I consider multiple model scenarios in an attempt to interpret the both the horizontal and vertical geodetic signals in the region and its implications for earthquake hazard assessment.

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