Two important problems of continental tectonics may be resolved by recognizing that most subduction zone backarcs have hot, thin, and weak lithospheres over considerable widths. These are (1) the origin long-lived active “mobile belts” contrasted to stability cratons platforms, (2) heat collision orogeny. At many margin plate boundaries, there broad belts with a long history distributed deformation. regions mobile because lithosphere is sufficiently

Motions of three hundred and sixty Global Positioning System (GPS) sites in Canada the United States yield a detailed image vertical horizontal velocity fields within nominally stable interior North American plate. By far strongest signal is effect glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) due to ice mass unloading during deglaciation. Vertical velocities show present‐day uplift (∼10 mm/yr) near Hudson Bay, site thickest at last maximum. The rates generally decrease with distance from Bay change...

CAS3D‐2, a new three‐dimensional (3‐D) dislocation model, is developed to model interseismic deformation rates at the Cascadia subduction zone. The considered snapshot description of field that changes with time. effect northward secular motion central and southern forearc sliver subtracted obtain effective convergence between subducting plate forearc. Horizontal data, including strain surface velocities from Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements, provide primary geodetic constraints,...

The western boundary of the Philippine Sea (PH) Plate in Philippines and eastern Indonesia corresponds to a wide deformation zone that includes stretched continental margin Sundaland, Mobile Belt (PMB), extending from Luzon Molucca Sea, mosaic blocks around PH/Australia/Sunda triple junction. GPS GEODYSSEA data are used decipher present kinematics this complex area. In Philippines, overall scheme is quite simple: two opposing rotations on either side left-lateral Fault, clockwise southwest...

We analyze permanent Global Positioning System (GPS) data obtained over Japan between 1995 and 1997 to estimate the instantaneous interseismic coupling ratio of seismogenic zones due subduction Pacific Philippine Sea plates below Japanese islands. first derive GPS strain rate fields that characterize crustal deformation southern northern invert them determine effective velocity along central Nankai trough on one side Japan‐west Kurile trench other. These “reference free” velocities are close...

Research Article| June 01, 2002 Yakutat collision and strain transfer across the northern Canadian Cordillera Stéphane Mazzotti; Mazzotti 1Pacific Geoscience Centre, Geological Survey of Canada, 9860 West Saanich Road, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 4B2, School Earth Ocean Sciences, University Victoria, V8W 3P6, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Roy D. Hyndman Author Article Information Publisher: Society America Received: 07 Dec 2001 Revision 12 Feb Accepted:...

Research Article| September 01, 2009 Impact of anthropogenic subsidence on relative sea-level rise in the Fraser River delta S. Mazzotti; Mazzotti 1Geological Survey Canada, Natural Resources Sidney, British Columbia V8L 4B2, Canada2School Earth and Ocean Sciences, University Victoria, V8W 3V6, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. Lambert; Lambert M. Van der Kooij; Kooij 3MacDonald, Dettwiler Associates Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E7, Mainville 4Geodetic...

Research Article| November 01, 2010 Rupture area and displacement of past Cascadia great earthquakes from coastal coseismic subsidence Lucinda J. Leonard; Leonard † 1Geological Survey Canada, Pacific Geoscience Centre, 9860 West Saanich Road, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 4B2, Canada †E-mail: lleonard@nrcan.gc.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Claire A. Currie; Currie 2Department Physics, University Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G7, Stéphane Mazzotti; Mazzotti...

Abstract. We use 2 decades of data from a dense geodetic network to extract regionally coherent velocities and deformation rates in France neighboring western European countries. This analysis is combined with statistical tests on synthetic quantify the detection thresholds significance levels. By combining two distinct methods – Gaussian smoothing k-means clustering we horizontal deformations 95 % confidence level ca. 0.1–0.2 mm yr−1 (ca. 0.5–1×10-9 yr−1) spatial scales 100–200 km or more....

Abstract Although the first‐order pattern of present‐day deformation is relatively well resolved across Himalayas, irregular data coverage limits detailed analyses spatial variations interseismic coupling. We provide first GPS velocity field for Bhutan Himalaya. Combined with published data, these observations show strong east‐west in coupling between central and eastern Bhutan. In contrast previous estimations uniform along Himalayan arc, we identify significant lateral variations: western...

We present Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements that constrain the amplitude, pattern, and origin of crustal deformation in Saint Lawrence valley, Québec, one most seismically active regions eastern North America. The GPS network shows coherent southeastward motion 0.6 ± 0.2 mm yr −1 , relative to America, uplift 2.6 0.4 . Network average horizontal strain rates are mostly ESE‐WNW shortening at (1.7 1.0) × 10 −9 rate across Charlevoix seismic zone is about twice as big regional...

We use a Bayesian analysis to determine the state of stress from focal mechanisms in ten seismic zones central and eastern North America compare it with regional inferred borehole measurements. Comparisons seismologically determined azimuth maximum horizontal compressive (SHS) that boreholes (SHB) exhibit bimodal pattern: In four zones, SHS SHB orientations are closely parallel, whereas Charlevoix, Lower St. Lawrence, Central Virginia shows statistically significant 30°–50° clockwise...

[1] Probabilistic seismic hazard analyses (PSHA) are commonly based on frequency - magnitude statistics from 50–100 yearlong earthquake catalogs, assuming that these representative of the longer-term large earthquakes. We test an alternative PSHA approach in continental western Canada, including adjacent areas northwestern U.S.A., using regional strain rates derived 179 Global Positioning System (GPS) horizontal velocities. GPS converted to statistics, moment rates, and ground shaking...

Most of metropolitan France and conterminous Western Europe is currently located within the Eurasia intraplate domain, far from major plate boundaries (the Atlantic ridge Nubia – convergence zone). As in other regions, present-day deformation seismicity rates are very slow, resulting limited data strong uncertainties on ongoing seismotectonics seismic hazards. In last two decades, new geological, seismological geodetic research have brought to light unexpected patterns France, such as...

Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements to study regional deformation were initiated in northern Cascadia the late 1980s and early 1990s. On basis of a decade GPS data, we derive crustal velocity field for NW Washington‐SW British Columbia. The permanent campaign velocities are defined with respect North America ITRF2000 reference frame. Velocity uncertainties estimated using model time series noise spectra. This new is interpretation tectonics subduction system. interpreted terms...

The threat of a great (M 9) earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone is evidenced by both paleoseismology data and current strain accumulation fault. On basis recent information on characteristics this system, we estimate conditional probabilities occurring within next 50 years their variabilities. most important vari- ation associated with existence episodic slow slip deep portion interface. We show that these events modulate probability dramatically over 14-month cycle. During 2-week...

Research Article| May 01, 2004 Coseismic subsidence in the 1700 great Cascadia earthquake: Coastal estimates versus elastic dislocation models Lucinda J. Leonard; Leonard 1School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University Victoria, Post Office Box 3055 STN CSC, British Columbia V8W 3P6, Canada Geological Survey Canada, Pacific Geoscience Centre, 9860 West Saanich Road, Sidney, V8L 4B2, Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Roy D. Hyndman; Hyndman 2Geological School...

The northern Canadian Cordillera is remarkably tectonically and seismically active, extending from a terrane collision zone on the continental margin to an active fold thrust belt at eastern mountain front. source distribution of deformation are constrained by (i) precision global positioning system (GPS) measurements; (ii) seismicity distribution, mechanisms, rates; (iii) thermal regime; (iv) estimates lithosphere thickness strength; (v) topography gravity. ongoing oblique Yakutat block in...

Empirical studies and climate models suggest large variations of absolute sea level (ASL) changes between oceanic basins. Such potential raise concern on the applicability global mean ASL predictions to specific regions estimates relative (RSL) hazards. We address this issue for western Canada northwestern United States coastline by estimating 20th century rate using a combination 34 colocated tide gauge Global Positioning System (GPS) stations. The data are quality controlled corrected...

Continuous and campaign‐style Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements provide new constraints on the first‐order current deformation pattern of northern Cordillera NW Canada eastern Alaska. The Yakutat block is currently colliding with North America in corner Gulf Our data infer that relative Yakutat–North motion accommodated across boundary by right‐lateral (∼40 mm/a), mainly Fairweather fault, minor shortening (∼6 mm/a). To north, collision taken up (∼31 mm/a) Chugach–St. Elias fault...