Abstract
Focal mechanisms of about eighty intraplate earthquakes and other information on in situ stress indicate that the interiors of many lithospheric plates are characterised by large horizontal compressive stresses. These stresses seem to be related to the driving mechanism of plate tectonics.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Isacks, B. L., Oliver, J., and Sykes, L. R., J. geophys. Res., 73, 5855 (1968).
Isacks, B., and Molnar, P., Rev. geophys. Space Phys., 9, 103 (1971).
McKenzie, D., and Parker, R. L., Nature, 216, 1276 (1967).
Smith, W. E. T., Dom. Obs. Pamph., 26, 271 (1962).
Hast, N., Tectonophysics, 8, 169 (1969).
Hooker, V. E., and Johnson, C. F., in Proc. Fourth Rock Mech. Symp. (Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa, Canada, 1967).
Voight, B., Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem., 12, 955 (1969).
Sbar, M. L., and Sykes, L. R., Bull. geol. Soc. Am., 84, 1861 (1973).
Raleigh, C. B., Healey, J. H., and Bredehoeft, J. D., Geophys. Monog., 16, 275 (1972).
Haimson, B. C., in Proc. Fourteenth Symp. Rock Mech., 689 (American Society of Civil Engineers, 1973).
Kropotkin, P. N., Phys. Earth planet. Int., 6, 214 (1972).
Turchanivov, I. A., Markov, G. A., Gzovsky, M. V., Kazikayer, D. M., Frenze, U. K., Batugin, S. A., and Chabdarova, U. I., Phys. Earth planet. Int., 6, 229 (1972).
Ahorner, L., Geol. Rdsch., 61, 915 (1972).
Fitch, T., Worthington, M. H., and Everingham, I. B., Earth planet. Sci. Lett., 18, 345 (1973).
Mendiguren, J. A., J. geophys. Res., 76, 3861 (1971).
Forsyth, D., Nature, 243, 78 (1973).
Ichikawa, M., Pap. Meteor. Geophys., 16, 104 (1965).
Ichikawa, M., Pap. Meteor. Geophys., 16, 201 (1966).
Isacks, B., Abstr. Prog. Seismol. Soc. am. Annual Meeting (1969).
Karig, D. E., J. geophys. Res., 76, 2542 (1971).
Katsumata, M., and Sykes, L. R., J. geophys. Res., 74, 5923 (1969).
Scholz, C., Barazangi, M., and Sbar, M. L., Bull. geol. Soc. Am., 82, 2979 (1971).
Smith, R., and Sbar, M. L., Bull. geol. Soc. Am. (in the press).
Heezen, B. C., and Tharp, M., Indian Ocean Floor (map) (National Geographic Society, Washington DC, 1967).
Sykes, L. R., J. geophys. Res., 75, 6598 (1970).
Molnar, P., Fitch, T. J., and Wu, F. T., Earth planet. Sci. Lett. (in the press).
Maasha, N., and Molnar, P., J. geophys. Res., 77, 5731 (1972).
Stauder, W., J. geophys. Res., 73, 7693 (1968).
Johnson, T., and Molnar, P., J. geophys. Res., 77, 5000 (1972).
Molnar, P., and Sykes, L. R., Bull. geol. Soc. Am., 80, 1639 (1969).
Shimazaki, K., Phys. Earth planet. Int., 6, 397 (1972).
Hanks, T. C., Geophys. J., 23, 173 (1971).
Watts, A. B., and Talwani, M., Geophys. J. (in the press).
McKenzie, D. P., Geophys. J., 18, 1 (1969).
Morgan, W. J., Bull Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol., 56, 203 (1972).
Morgan, W. J., Geol. Soc. Am., Mem., 132, 7 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1038/248618a0
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SYKES, L., SBAR, M. Intraplate Earthquakes, Lithospheric Stresses and the Driving Mechanism of Plate Tectonics. Nature 245, 298–302 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/245298a0
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/245298a0
This article is cited by
-
Repetitive marsquakes in Martian upper mantle
Nature Communications (2022)
-
Intraplate earthquake occurrence and distribution in Peninsular Malaysia over the past 100 years
SN Applied Sciences (2021)
-
Seismicity and seismotectonics of Libya: as an example of intraplate environment
Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2013)
-
World Stress Map Database as a Resource for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (2012)
-
Some issues on the strength of the lithosphere
Journal of Earth Science (2011)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
