The Adriatic region: An independent microplate within the Africa-Eurasia collision zone

Abstract

[1] We use GPS measurements and block modeling to investigate the present-day deformation of the Adriatic region, whose kinematics within the Nubia-Eurasia plate boundary zone is not well constrained and remains controversial. Block modeling allows us to compute rigidplate angular velocities while accounting for elastic strain accumulation along block-bounding faults. Results suggest that the Adriatic is a microplate (Adria) and that the southern boundary with the Nubia plate and the Aegean domain may be located along the Apulia Escarpment and the Kefallinia fault. Geodetic data alone cannot discriminate between a single block (AP) or a two blocks (GDAP) description of Adria, but the GDAP model predicts boundary slip rates that are in better agreement with observations from previous studies. INDEX TERMS: 1208 Geodesy and Gravity: Crustal movements—intraplate (8110); 1243 Geodesy and Gravity: Space geodetic surveys; 3210 Mathematical Geophysics: Modeling; 8107 Tectonophysics: Continental neotectonics; 9335 Information Related to Geographic Region: Europe. Citation: Battaglia, M., M. H. Murray, E. Serpelloni, and R. Bu¨rgmann (2004), The Adriatic region: An independent microplate within the Africa-Eurasia collision zone, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L09605, doi:10.1029/ 2004GL019723.