Present-time crustal deformation in China and its surrounding regions by GPS

Applying recent 10-year GPS measurement data from some nationwide GPS networks, several regional GPS monitoring networks and the Asia-Pacific Regional Geodetic Project (APRGP), this paper gives out a combined, consistent and unified velocity field solution in ITRF97 by rotation transformation of regional GPS network results. In order to study the characteristics of present-time intra-plate crustal deformation of China, we have constructed a new present-time plate motion model named ITRF97VEL. The model can better describe present-time features of global plate motion than the geological model NNR-NUVEL1A. Based on the present time plate motion model ITRF97VEL, deformation velocities of more than 260 GPS sites are determined. The results show the crustal motion in China is especially inhomogeneous. The crustal deformation in the west of China is far stronger and more complicated than that in the east of China taking the N-S seismic belt of China as a boundary. The deformation velocity gradually reduces from south to north in the west of China by energy release in several W-E direction arc suture zones. The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is shortening in north-south direction and extending in west-east direction due to the strong shove of Indian plate.The shortening of about 15mm/a and 9–13mm/a is accommodated across Hymalayan block and the west Tian Shan respectively. Within southern Tibet,between the longitudes of 80°E to 91°E,there is E-W extension of 20.2±1:2 mm/a. The slip rates of KJFZ in south Tibet and Altyn Tagh fault are 2–3mm/a and 4–6 mm/a respectively. Our GPS results indicate there is a less than 7mm/a shortening within the Longmen Shan. These results support the supposition of crustal thickening.

[1]  P. R. Cobbold,et al.  Propagating extrusion tectonics in Asia: New insights from simple experiments with plasticine , 1982 .

[2]  P. Molnar,et al.  FAULTING ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE EARTHQUAKES AND THE AVERAGE , 1984 .

[3]  Philip England,et al.  FINITE STRAIN CALCULATIONS OF CONTINENTAL DEFORMATION .2. COMPARISON WITH THE INDIA-ASIA COLLISION ZONE , 1986 .

[4]  G. Peltzer,et al.  Formation and evolution of strike‐slip faults, rifts, and basins during the India‐Asia Collision: An experimental approach , 1988 .

[5]  P. Molnar,et al.  Fault plane solutions of earthquakes and active tectonics of the Tibetan Plateau and its margins , 1989 .

[6]  P. Molnar,et al.  Right-lateral shear and rotation as the explanation for strike-slip faulting in eastern Tibet , 1990, Nature.

[7]  Paul Tapponnier,et al.  Kinematic model of active deformation in central Asia , 1993 .

[8]  T. Herring,et al.  Relatively recent construction of the Tien Shan inferred from GPS measurements of present-day crustal deformation rates , 1996, Nature.

[9]  G. Peltzer,et al.  Present‐day kinematics of Asia derived from geologic fault rates , 1996 .

[10]  R. King,et al.  Geodetic measurement of crustal motion in southwest China , 1997 .

[11]  J. Freymueller,et al.  GPS measurements of present-day convergence across the Nepal Himalaya , 1997, Nature.

[12]  Peter Molnar,et al.  The field of crustal velocity in Asia calculated from Quaternary rates of slip on faults , 1997 .

[13]  Jeffrey T. Freymueller,et al.  Global Plate Velocities from the Global Positioning System , 1997 .

[14]  Preliminary results of measuring the crustal deformation in Qinghai-Xizang area using GPS technique , 1998 .

[15]  Robert W. King,et al.  Estimating regional deformation from a combination of space and terrestrial geodetic data , 1998 .

[16]  Wen-yao Zhu,et al.  Global plate motion models incorporating the velocity field of ITRF96 , 1999 .

[17]  Robert W. King,et al.  Global Positioning System measurements from eastern Tibet and their implications for India/Eurasia intercontinental deformation , 2000 .

[18]  X. Pichon,et al.  Velocity field in Asia inferred from Quaternary fault slip rates and Global Positioning System observations , 2000 .

[19]  Jing-nan Liu,et al.  Crustal motion of Chinese mainland monitored by GPS , 2000 .

[20]  É. Calais,et al.  New constraints on current deformation in Asia from continuous GPS measurements at Ulan Baatar, Mongolia , 2000 .

[21]  Arthur L. Lerner-Lam,et al.  Geodetic constraints on the rigidity and relative motion of Eurasia and North America , 2000 .

[22]  D. Jackson,et al.  Contemporary crustal deformation in east Asia constrained by Global Positioning System measurements , 2000 .

[23]  Zuheir Altamimi,et al.  Intraplate deformation in western Europe deduced from an analysis of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame 1997 (ITRF97) velocity field , 2001 .