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Strain rates in the Alpine Mediterranean region: insights from advanced techniques of data processing

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Abstract

Strain rates and Euler poles for various subregions of the Alpine Mediterranean region were calculated by using global navigation satellite system data from permanent stations. The main scope of the study is to compare and analyze strain rate maps that were calculated using different approaches. This area presents a complex tectonic setting due to the interaction of the Eurasian and Nubian plates. The horizontal velocity gradient tensor was computed starting from a new set of site velocities determined by using continuous long-series geodetic data, state-of-the-art antenna calibrations and recomputed precise orbits. Geodesy provides velocities for a sparsely distributed, discrete number of sites, while deformation has a spatially continuous distribution. For this reason, the interpolation method and the geometric approach to the problem play a fundamental role in the estimation of the strain rate field. In the present study, principal deformation axes and principal angle were estimated by applying two different approaches: the Delaunay triangulation and a grid solution. Both methods produce results with broad coherence, providing new information about the deformation throughout the entire study area. Moreover, an evaluation and analysis of Euler poles related to the different velocity patterns, give complementary information to reconstruct the active deformation in the Mediterranean area.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Istituto Geografico Militare (IGM) and Department of Earth Sciences, University of Firenze (Professor N. Casagli). We thank colleagues who run and maintain the various regional and global networks (EPN, ASI, INGV and others) and publicly share the continuous GNSS data used in this study. This study benefited from careful thorough comments by an anonymous reviewer. Geoprocessing and figures were prepared using the open source Quantum GIS, PostGIS, Saga GIS and using shaded-relief map ETOPO1 Global Relief Model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Firenze, Via La Pira 4, Florence, Italy

    Gregorio Farolfi & Chiara Del Ventisette

  2. Italian Military Geographic Institute, Via Battisti, 10/12, Florence, Italy

    Gregorio Farolfi

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  1. Gregorio Farolfi
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  2. Chiara Del Ventisette
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Correspondence to Gregorio Farolfi.

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Farolfi, G., Del Ventisette, C. Strain rates in the Alpine Mediterranean region: insights from advanced techniques of data processing. GPS Solut 21, 1027–1036 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-016-0588-z

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