HR: 0830h
AN: G21D-0293    [PDF]
TI: The Velocity Field in Europe and the Mediterranean from a Combination of Permanent GPS Network Results
AU: * Nocquet, J
EM: Jean-Mathieu.Nocquet@earth.ox.ac.uk
AF: University of Oxford, Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford, OX1 3PR United Kingdom
AU: Parsons, B
EM: Barry.Parsons@earth.ox.ac.uk
AF: University of Oxford, Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford, OX1 3PR United Kingdom
AU: England, P
EM: Philip.England@earth.ox.ac.uk
AF: University of Oxford, Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford, OX1 3PR United Kingdom
AU: Calais, E
EM: ecalais@purdue.edu
AF: Purdue University, EAS Department, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1397 United States
AU: Paradissis, D
EM: dempar@central.ntua.gr
AF: National Technical University, Higher Geodesy Laboratory, Athens, 15773 Greece
AB: The accuracy achieved by permanent GPS networks now allows the detection of strain rate as small as 1 mm/yr over hundreds of kilometres, providing new constraints on how continental domains deform. In this study, we derive a new geodetic velocity field for Europe and the Mediterranean by rigorously combining (1) a selection of ITRF2000 sites, (2) a solution from a subset of sites of the European Permanent GPS Network (EUREF-EPN), (3) regional densification. The resulting velocity field describes horizontal crustal motion at approximately 130 sites in Europe with an accuracy of the order 1 mm/yr. We analyze time series to derive noise characteristics and thoroughly assess the uncertainties associated with velocities. This new velocity field is then compared and combined with published results based on campaign-mode measurements. The resulting combined velocity field provides an accurate picture of the deformation at the scale of Europe and the plate boundary zone between Europe and Africa in the Mediterranean. We discuss its tectonic implications.
DE: 1206 Crustal movements--interplate (8155)
DE: 1208 Crustal movements--intraplate (8110)
DE: 1229 Reference systems
DE: 8107 Continental neotectonics
SC: Geodesy [G]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting