Abstract
In order to study the ongoing tectonic deformation in the Rhine Graben area, we reconstruct the local crustal velocity and the strain rate field from GPS array solutions. Following the aim of this work, we compile the velocities of permanent GPS stations belonging to various networks (EUREF, AGNES, REGAL and RGP) in central western Europe. Moreover, the strain rate field is displayed in terms of principal axes and values, while the normal and the shear components of the strain tensor are calculated perpendicular and parallel to the strike of major faults. The results are compared with the fault plane solutions of earthquakes, which have occurred in this area.
A broad-scale kinematic deformation model across the Rhine Graben is provided on the basis of tectonics and velocity results of the GPS permanent stations. The area of study is divided into four rigid blocks, between which there might be relative motions. The velocity and the strain rate fields are reconstructed along their borders, by estimating a uniform rotation for each block. The tectonic behaviour is well represented by the four-block model in the Rhine Graben area, while a more detailed model will be needed for a better reconstruction of the strain field in the Alpine region.
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Notes
Swiss Federal Office of Topography
European reference frame (EUREF), automated GPS network for Switzerland (AGNES), Réseau GPS permanent dans les Alpes (REGAL), Réseau GPS Permanent (RGP).
1 nstrain/year corresponds to a change of distance of 1 mm per 1,000 km and year and is equivalent to 3.17×10−17 /s.
σ0 or sigma aposteriori, is a statistical parameter related to the residuals between real and estimated velocity values.
$$ \sigma _{0} = \frac{{{\sqrt {{\sum {P_{i} \operatorname{Re} sx_{i} ^{2} + P_{i} \operatorname{Re} sy_{i} ^{2} + P_{i} \operatorname{Re} sz_{i} ^{2} } }} }}} {{{\sqrt {n - u} }}} $$where P i is the weight of the I-velocity, calculated as
$$ P_{i} = {\left( {1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 {{\left( {\sigma ^{2}_{{V_{{{\text{north}}_{i} }} }} + \sigma ^{2}_{{V_{{{\text{east}}_{i} }} }} } \right)}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\left( {\sigma ^{2}_{{V_{{{\text{north}}_{i} }} }} + \sigma ^{2}_{{V_{{{\text{east}}_{i} }} }} } \right)}}} \right)} $$and \( \sigma _{{V_{{north_{i} }} }} \) and \( \sigma _{{V_{{east_{i} }} }} \) the standard deviation for the two components of the horizontal velocity, that we assumed equal to 1mm/√year, Re sx i , Re sy i , Re sz i are the difference (residuals) between the real and calculated geocentric velocities with the four block model at the GPS stations, n is the number of observations and u the number of unknowns.
The correlation function defines the interrelationship between different points observed. Normally, the influence of a distant point should be smaller and the value of the function usually decreases with a growing distance and converges to zero. Therefore, if a correlation length is chosen too short the values observed remain isolated, while if it is too long, the field derived becomes extremely smooth. However, a correlation length should not be smaller than the average distance between the stations (Straub 1996).
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Nicholas Deichmann of the Swiss Seismological Service for the helpful discussions and for providing the program to convert the azimuth and dip values of P and T axes to azimuth dip and rake values of the principal planes of focal mechanisms. We wish to thank the two reviewers Malte Westerhaus of Karlsruhe University and Stefan Schmid of Basel University, for helpful comments that improved the manuscript. Funds were kindly provided by EU grant HPRN-2000-00053 (Swiss Federal Office of Science and Education, BBW N0. 99-0567-2) within the framework of the project ENTEC.
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Magdala Tesauro: now at Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1085 1081 HV Amsterdam , e-mail magdala.tesauro@falw.vu.nl
Ramon Egli: now at Institute for Rock Magnetism University of Minnesota, 291 Shepherd Laboratories, 100 Union Street, S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455-0128
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Tesauro, M., Hollenstein, C., Egli, R. et al. Continuous GPS and broad-scale deformation across the Rhine Graben and the Alps. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 94, 525–537 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-004-0453-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-004-0453-0