Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Constraints from GPS measurements on the dynamics of the zone of convergence between Arabia and Eurasia

Walters, R.J.; England, P.C.; Houseman, G.A.

Constraints from GPS measurements on the dynamics of the zone of convergence between Arabia and Eurasia Thumbnail


Authors

R.J. Walters

P.C. England

G.A. Houseman



Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of deformation in the zone of convergence between the Arabian and Eurasian plates using a physical model that treats the lithosphere as a thin fluid sheet deforming in response to lateral variations in gravitational potential energy (GPE). This model has two free material parameters, the power-law exponent, n, of the vertically-averaged rheology of the lithosphere, and the Argand number, Ar, which expresses the relative importance of GPE and stresses required to deform the lithosphere. With boundary conditions described by three free parameters, the model fits the observed deformation, as measured by 367 GPS velocities, with a root-mean-square residual of <2.4 mm/yr. We find negligible improvement when variations in material properties are introduced that represent increases or decreases in the lithospheric strength of the Central Iranian and Turkish-Iranian Plateaux and the Zagros Mountains. Effective viscosity of the lithosphere ranges from 5 × 1022 Pa s at 10 nanostrain/yr to 1022 Pa s at 100 nanostrain/yr. As well as matching the decadal-timescale, predominantly interseismic, strain rates determined from GPS, the computed distribution of strain rates is also consistent with the distribution and types of earthquake focal mechanism. Significant historical earthquake activity is seen in regions with strain rates lower than 20 nanostrain/yr, implying that it is prudent to base assessments of seismic hazard on regional strain rates.

Citation

Walters, R., England, P., & Houseman, G. (2017). Constraints from GPS measurements on the dynamics of the zone of convergence between Arabia and Eurasia. Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, 122(2), 1470-1495. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jb013370

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 30, 2017
Online Publication Date Feb 24, 2017
Publication Date Feb 24, 2017
Deposit Date Feb 7, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth
Print ISSN 2169-9313
Electronic ISSN 2169-9356
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 122
Issue 2
Pages 1470-1495
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jb013370

Files

Accepted Journal Article (10.1 Mb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
©2017. The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original work is properly cited.






You might also like



Downloadable Citations