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The Adriatic region: An independent microplate within the Africa-Eurasia collision zone
Author(s)
Language
English
Status
Published
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
09/31(2004)
Pages (printed)
(605)
Issued date
September 2004
Keywords
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.
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.
References
References
Anderson, H. A., and J. A. Jackson (1987), Active tectonics of the Adriatic
region, Geophys. J. R. Astron. Soc., 91, 937–983.
Benedetti, L. C., P. Tapponier, Y. Gaudemer, I. Manighetti, and J. Van der
Woerd (2003), Geomorphic evidence for an emergent active thrust along
the edge of the Po Plain: The Broni-Stradella fault, J. Geophys. Res.,
108(B5), 2238, doi:10.1029/2001JB001546.
Calais, E., J. M. Nocquet, F. Jouanne, and M. Tardy (2002), Current strain
regime in the western Alps from continuous global positioning system
measurements, 1996– 2001, Geology, 30, 651– 654.
Catalano, R., C. Doglioni, and S. Merlini (2001), On the Mesozoic Ionian
Basin, Geophys. J. Int., 144, 49–64.
Channell, J. E. T. (1996), Paleomagnetism and paleogeography of Adria, in
Paleomagnetism and Tectonics of the Mediterranean Region, edited by
A. Morris and D. H. Tarling, Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ., 105, 119–132.
Cocard, M., et al. (1999), New constraints on the rapid crustal motion of the
Aegean region: Recent results inferred from GPS measurements (1993–
1998) across the West Hellenic Arc, Greece, Earth Planet Sci. Lett., 172,
39– 47.
Console, R., R. Di Giovambattista, P. Favali, B. W. Presgrave, and
G. Smeriglio (1993), Seismicity of the Adriatic microplate, Tectonophys.,
218, 343–354.
D’Agostino, N., R. Giuliani, M. Mattoni, and L. Bonci (2001), Active
crustal extension in the central Apennines (Italy) inferred from GPS
measurements in the interval 1994 – 1999, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28,
2121–2124.
Fernandes, R. M. S., B. A. C. Ambrosius, R. Noomen, L. Bastos, M. J. R.
Wortel, W. Spakman, and R. Govers (2003), The relative motion between
Africa and Eurasia as derived from ITRF2000 and GPS data, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 30(16), 1828, doi:10.1029/2003GL017089.
Gordon, R. G., S. Stein, C. DeMets, and D. F. Argus (1987), Statistical
tests for closure of plate motion circuits, Geophys. Res. Lett., 14,
587– 590.
Hunstad, I., G. Selvaggi, N. D’Agostino, P. England, P. Clarke, and
M. Pierozzi (2003), Geodetic strain in peninsular Italy between 1875
and 2001, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(4), 1181, doi:10.1029/2002GL016447.
Jime´nez-Munt, I., R. Sabadini, A. Gardi, and G. Bianco (2003), Active
deformation in the Mediterranean from Gibraltar to Anatolia inferred
from numerical modeling and geodetic and seismological data, J. Geophys.
Res., 108(B1), 2006, doi:10.1029/2001JB001544.
Langbein, J., and H. Johnson (1997), Correlated errors in geodetic time
series: Implications for time dependent deformation, J. Geophys. Res,
102, 591– 604.
Larson, K. M., J. T. Freymueller, and S. Philipsen (1997), Global plate
velocities from the global positioning system, J. Geophys. Res., 102,
9961– 9981.
Mantovani, E., D. Babbucci, D. Arbarello, and M. Mucciarelli (1990),
Deformation pattern in the central Mediterranean and behavior of the
African/Adriatic promontory, Tectonophysics, 179, 63– 79.
McClusky, S., et al. (2000), Global positioning system constraints on plate
kinematics and dynamics in the eastern Mediterranean and Caucasus,
J. Geophys. Res., 105, 5695– 5719.
McClusky, S., et al. (2003), GPS constraints on Africa (Nubia) and Arabia
plate motions, Geophys. J. Int., 155, 126– 138.
Meade, B. J., et al. (2002), Estimates of seismic potential in the Marmara
Sea region from block models of secular deformation constrained by
global positioning system measurements, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 92,
208– 215.
Mele, G. (2001), The Adriatic lithosphere is a promontory of the Africa
Plate; Evidence of a continuous mantle lid in the Ionian Sea from efficient
Sn propagation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 431–434.
Montone, P., A. Amato, and S. Pondrelli (1999), Active stress map of Italy,
J. Geophys. Res., 104, 25,595– 25,610.
Murray, M. H., and P. Segall (2001), Modeling broad scale deformation in
northern California and Nevada from plate motions and elastic strain
accumulation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 4315–4318.
Nocquet, J. M., and E. Calais (2003), Crustal velocity field of western
Europe from permanent GPS array solutions, 1996 – 2001, Geophys.
J. Int., 154, 72–88.
Nocquet, J. M., E. Calais, Z. Altamini, P. Sillard, and C. Boucher (2001),
Intraplate deformation in western Europe deduced from an analysis of
the International Terrestrial Reference Frame 1997 (ITRF97) velocity
field, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 11,239– 11,257.
Oldow, J. S., et al. (2002), Active fragmentation of Adria, the north Africa
promontory, central Mediterranean orogen, Geology, 30, 779– 782.
Pondrelli, S., et al. (2002), European-Mediterranean regional centroid-moment
tensors: 1997– 2000, Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 130, 71–101.
Sella, G., T. H. Dixon, and A. Mao (2002), REVEL: A model for recent
plate velocities from space geodesy, J. Geophys. Res., 107(B4), 2081,
doi:10.1029/2000JB000033.
Serpelloni, E., et al. (2001), Geodetic deformations in the central-southern
Apennines (Italy) from repeated GPS surveys, Ann. Geofis., 44, 627–
647.
Serpelloni, E., et al. (2002), Combination of permanent and non-permanent
GPS networks for the evaluation of the strain-rate field in the central
Mediterranean area, Boll. Geof. Teor. Appl., 43, 195– 219.
Thatcher, W. (2003), GPS constraints on the kinematics of continental
deformation, Int. Geol. Rev., 45, 191–212.
Van Dijk, J. P., and P. J. J. Scheepers (1995), Neotectonic rotations in the
Calabrian Arc: Implications for a Pliocene-Recent geodynamic scenario
for the central Mediterranean, Earth Sci. Rev., 39, 207– 246.
Ward, S. N. (1994), Constraints on the seismo-tectonics of the central
Mediterranean from very long baseline interferometry, Geophys. J. Int.,
117, 441– 452.
Wortmann, U. G., H. Weissert, H. Funk, and J. Hauck (2001), Alpine plate
kinematics revisited: The Adria problem, Tectonics, 20, 134–147.
Anderson, H. A., and J. A. Jackson (1987), Active tectonics of the Adriatic
region, Geophys. J. R. Astron. Soc., 91, 937–983.
Benedetti, L. C., P. Tapponier, Y. Gaudemer, I. Manighetti, and J. Van der
Woerd (2003), Geomorphic evidence for an emergent active thrust along
the edge of the Po Plain: The Broni-Stradella fault, J. Geophys. Res.,
108(B5), 2238, doi:10.1029/2001JB001546.
Calais, E., J. M. Nocquet, F. Jouanne, and M. Tardy (2002), Current strain
regime in the western Alps from continuous global positioning system
measurements, 1996– 2001, Geology, 30, 651– 654.
Catalano, R., C. Doglioni, and S. Merlini (2001), On the Mesozoic Ionian
Basin, Geophys. J. Int., 144, 49–64.
Channell, J. E. T. (1996), Paleomagnetism and paleogeography of Adria, in
Paleomagnetism and Tectonics of the Mediterranean Region, edited by
A. Morris and D. H. Tarling, Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ., 105, 119–132.
Cocard, M., et al. (1999), New constraints on the rapid crustal motion of the
Aegean region: Recent results inferred from GPS measurements (1993–
1998) across the West Hellenic Arc, Greece, Earth Planet Sci. Lett., 172,
39– 47.
Console, R., R. Di Giovambattista, P. Favali, B. W. Presgrave, and
G. Smeriglio (1993), Seismicity of the Adriatic microplate, Tectonophys.,
218, 343–354.
D’Agostino, N., R. Giuliani, M. Mattoni, and L. Bonci (2001), Active
crustal extension in the central Apennines (Italy) inferred from GPS
measurements in the interval 1994 – 1999, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28,
2121–2124.
Fernandes, R. M. S., B. A. C. Ambrosius, R. Noomen, L. Bastos, M. J. R.
Wortel, W. Spakman, and R. Govers (2003), The relative motion between
Africa and Eurasia as derived from ITRF2000 and GPS data, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 30(16), 1828, doi:10.1029/2003GL017089.
Gordon, R. G., S. Stein, C. DeMets, and D. F. Argus (1987), Statistical
tests for closure of plate motion circuits, Geophys. Res. Lett., 14,
587– 590.
Hunstad, I., G. Selvaggi, N. D’Agostino, P. England, P. Clarke, and
M. Pierozzi (2003), Geodetic strain in peninsular Italy between 1875
and 2001, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(4), 1181, doi:10.1029/2002GL016447.
Jime´nez-Munt, I., R. Sabadini, A. Gardi, and G. Bianco (2003), Active
deformation in the Mediterranean from Gibraltar to Anatolia inferred
from numerical modeling and geodetic and seismological data, J. Geophys.
Res., 108(B1), 2006, doi:10.1029/2001JB001544.
Langbein, J., and H. Johnson (1997), Correlated errors in geodetic time
series: Implications for time dependent deformation, J. Geophys. Res,
102, 591– 604.
Larson, K. M., J. T. Freymueller, and S. Philipsen (1997), Global plate
velocities from the global positioning system, J. Geophys. Res., 102,
9961– 9981.
Mantovani, E., D. Babbucci, D. Arbarello, and M. Mucciarelli (1990),
Deformation pattern in the central Mediterranean and behavior of the
African/Adriatic promontory, Tectonophysics, 179, 63– 79.
McClusky, S., et al. (2000), Global positioning system constraints on plate
kinematics and dynamics in the eastern Mediterranean and Caucasus,
J. Geophys. Res., 105, 5695– 5719.
McClusky, S., et al. (2003), GPS constraints on Africa (Nubia) and Arabia
plate motions, Geophys. J. Int., 155, 126– 138.
Meade, B. J., et al. (2002), Estimates of seismic potential in the Marmara
Sea region from block models of secular deformation constrained by
global positioning system measurements, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 92,
208– 215.
Mele, G. (2001), The Adriatic lithosphere is a promontory of the Africa
Plate; Evidence of a continuous mantle lid in the Ionian Sea from efficient
Sn propagation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 431–434.
Montone, P., A. Amato, and S. Pondrelli (1999), Active stress map of Italy,
J. Geophys. Res., 104, 25,595– 25,610.
Murray, M. H., and P. Segall (2001), Modeling broad scale deformation in
northern California and Nevada from plate motions and elastic strain
accumulation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 4315–4318.
Nocquet, J. M., and E. Calais (2003), Crustal velocity field of western
Europe from permanent GPS array solutions, 1996 – 2001, Geophys.
J. Int., 154, 72–88.
Nocquet, J. M., E. Calais, Z. Altamini, P. Sillard, and C. Boucher (2001),
Intraplate deformation in western Europe deduced from an analysis of
the International Terrestrial Reference Frame 1997 (ITRF97) velocity
field, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 11,239– 11,257.
Oldow, J. S., et al. (2002), Active fragmentation of Adria, the north Africa
promontory, central Mediterranean orogen, Geology, 30, 779– 782.
Pondrelli, S., et al. (2002), European-Mediterranean regional centroid-moment
tensors: 1997– 2000, Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 130, 71–101.
Sella, G., T. H. Dixon, and A. Mao (2002), REVEL: A model for recent
plate velocities from space geodesy, J. Geophys. Res., 107(B4), 2081,
doi:10.1029/2000JB000033.
Serpelloni, E., et al. (2001), Geodetic deformations in the central-southern
Apennines (Italy) from repeated GPS surveys, Ann. Geofis., 44, 627–
647.
Serpelloni, E., et al. (2002), Combination of permanent and non-permanent
GPS networks for the evaluation of the strain-rate field in the central
Mediterranean area, Boll. Geof. Teor. Appl., 43, 195– 219.
Thatcher, W. (2003), GPS constraints on the kinematics of continental
deformation, Int. Geol. Rev., 45, 191–212.
Van Dijk, J. P., and P. J. J. Scheepers (1995), Neotectonic rotations in the
Calabrian Arc: Implications for a Pliocene-Recent geodynamic scenario
for the central Mediterranean, Earth Sci. Rev., 39, 207– 246.
Ward, S. N. (1994), Constraints on the seismo-tectonics of the central
Mediterranean from very long baseline interferometry, Geophys. J. Int.,
117, 441– 452.
Wortmann, U. G., H. Weissert, H. Funk, and J. Hauck (2001), Alpine plate
kinematics revisited: The Adria problem, Tectonics, 20, 134–147.
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