Active tectonics in Northern Victoria Land (Antarctica) inferred from theintegration of GPS data and geologic setting

A semi-permanent global positioning system (GPS) network of 30 vertices known as theVictoria Land Network for Deformation Control (VLNDEF) was set-up in the Austral summer of1998 in Northern Victoria Land (NVL), including Terra Nova Bay (TNB), Antarctica. Thelocations were selected according to the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research
Main Authors: M. Dubbini, P. Cianfarra, G. Casula, CAPRA, Alessandro, F. Salvini
Other Authors: M., Dubbini, P., Cianfarra, G., Casula, Capra, Alessandro, F., Salvini
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2010
Subjects:
ANTARCTICA
GEODESY
MONITORING NETWORKS
CRUSTAL DEFORMATION
CONTINENTAL NEOTECTONICS
Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctica
Victoria Land
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11380/692047
https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JB007123
Description
Summary:A semi-permanent global positioning system (GPS) network of 30 vertices known as theVictoria Land Network for Deformation Control (VLNDEF) was set-up in the Austral summer of1998 in Northern Victoria Land (NVL), including Terra Nova Bay (TNB), Antarctica. Thelocations were selected according to the known Cenozoic fault framework that is characterizedby a system of NW-SE regional faults with right-lateral, strike-slip kinematics. The TNB1permanent GPS station is within the VLNDEF, and following its installation on a bedrockmonument in October 1998 it has been recording almost continuously. The GPS network hasbeen surveyed routinely every two summers, using high-quality, dual-frequency GPS receivers.In this study, we present the results of a distributed session approach applied to the processing ofthe GPS data of the VLNDEF. An improved reference frame definition was implemented,including a new Euler pole, to compute the Antarctic intra-plate residual velocities. Theprojection of the residual velocities on the main faults in NVL show present-day activities forsome faults, including the Tucker, Leap Year, Lanterman, Aviator, and David faults, with rightlateralstrike-slip kinematics and local extensional/ compressional components. This active faultpattern divides NVL into eight rigid blocks, each characterized by their relative movements andrigid rotations. These show velocities of up to several mm/yr, which are comparable to thosepredicted by plate tectonic theory at active plate margins.

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