Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2007
Keywords
Nicaragua, forearc, GPS
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL027586
Abstract
Campaign GPS data from a network in the Nicaraguan forearc show a strong component of arc-parallel motion indicating northwest translation of a nearly rigid forearc sliver. Our measured mean velocity for forearc sites of 15.1 mm yr−1 agrees well with the arc-parallel sliver motion predicted previously by DeMets (2001) derived from closure constraints on oblique convergence between the Cocos and Caribbean plates. The lack of a northeasterly oriented arc-normal component of motion in forearc velocities indicates that there are complexities involved beyond a simple interpretation of sliver motion being driven by oblique convergence. The forearc is reasonably well-fit by rigid rotation about an Euler pole with a rms misfit of residual velocities of 4.9 ± 2.6 mm yr−1. Current motion of the forearc sliver relative to the stable Caribbean plate yields predominantly boundary parallel NW motion with boundary normal extension in the northwestern region averaging ∼5 mm yr−1.
Rights Information
Was this content written or created while at USF?
No
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Geophysical Research Letters, v. 34, issue 2, art. L02302
Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.
Scholar Commons Citation
Turner, Henry L.; LaFemina, Peter; Saballos, Armando; Mattioli, Glen S.; Jansma, Pamela E.; and Dixon, Timothy H., "Kinematics of the Nicaraguan Forearc from GPS Geodesy" (2007). School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications. 446.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/446
