Physics
Scientific paper
Jan 1990
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1990e%26psl..96..393w&link_type=abstract
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 96, Issue 3-4, p. 393-406.
Physics
38
Scientific paper
Anticlockwise rotation of Africa relative to Europe around an Euler pole in the eastern Atlantic causes plate convergence in the central Mediterranean towards ~ N20°W at rate considered a priori to be ~ 5-10 mm yr-1. However, previous summaries of the present-day deformation sense in the central Mediterranean are inconsistent with observations in southern Italy. Recent investigations of Italy and adjacent parts of North Africa enable local deformation sense observed to be reconciled with sense predicted from relative plate motions. Suggested angular velocity of the African plate relative to Europe is ~ 0.07° Myr-1, around a pole near 21°N, 21°W. This predicts ~ 2.6 mm yr-1 maximum extension rate towards N64°E near the Azores, consistent with the minimum local accretion of new oceanic crust in the past few millions of years, and ~ 4.3 mm yr-1 plate convergence towards N20°W in the central Mediterranean at 13°E. Further east, the northern margin of the African plate can be regarded as the Gargano seismic zone in the central Adriatic Sea. The northern Adriatic Sea is a microplate rotating anticlockwise relative to Europe at ~ 0.3° Myr-1 around a pole in northwestern Italy, causing northeastward shortening in Yugoslavia and up to ~ 4 mm yr-1 extension in central and northern Italy. The African plate is deforming internally in Tunisia and northern Libya, extending obliquely in direction ~ E10°S at rate up to ~ 5.5 mm yr-1. The resultant velocity relative to Europe in the Ionian and southern Adriatic Seas, ~ 5 mm yr-1 towards ~ N50°E, explains the observed relative velocity across southern Italy. Kinematic consistency requires present-day shortening rate east of Calabria associated with subduction on the Tyrrhenian Sea Benioff zone and Tyrrhenian Sea extension rate to be both zero or equal to within ~ 1 mm yr-1.
No associations
LandOfFree
Present-day kinematics of the plate boundary zone between Africa and Europe, from the Azores to the Aegean does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Present-day kinematics of the plate boundary zone between Africa and Europe, from the Azores to the Aegean, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Present-day kinematics of the plate boundary zone between Africa and Europe, from the Azores to the Aegean will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1562628