Kinematics of the Iberia–Maghreb plate contact from seismic moment tensors and GPS observations

Recent and active deformation pattern off the easternmost Algerian margin, Western Mediterranean Sea: New evidence for contractional tectonic reactivation

“…Delouis et al, 2004), we obtain a slip rate of 1.3 ± 0.4 mm/yr. Although this value must be taken with caution, considering the assumptions made on the sedimentation rates and the large uncertainties on geometry of the fold system at depth and on its links to faulting, it is interesting to remark that the mean horizontal rate of ~ 0.9 mm/yr on the fault-related folds found here represents a significant part of the ~ 1.5 mm/yr shortening rate predicted offshore by Stich et al (2006) from completely independent data (GPS modelling). This fault-related folding could therefore accommodate much of the present-day submarine shortening rate between the European and African plates.…”

“…Roussel, 1973; e.g. Stich et al, 2006). Onshore, active faults are concentrated in a relatively wide strip in the northern part of the country.…”

“…Recently, GPS measurements and modelling have shown that part of the convergence between Africa and Europe is accommodated offshore (e.g. [Stich et al, 2006] and [Serpelloni et al, 2007]): a transect from Algeria to Spain (through the Balearic islands) at the longitude of Algiers argues for ~ 3 mm/yr of shortening on land in North Algeria and ~ 1.5 mm/yr of shortening offshore in a N350°E azimuth (Stich et al, 2006). However, little is known on the geometry, style, timing and spatial distribution of this deformation.…”

Crustal velocity and strain rate fields in the Balearic Islands based on continuous GPS time series from the XGAIB network (2010–2013)

“…Several models constructed from geophysical and geologic data have been proposed for the present-day geodynamic setting of the region (Argus et al, 1989;Dewey et al, 1989;DeMets et al, 1994;Calais et al, 2003). More recently, new geodetic data have been used to improve these models (McClusky et al, 2003;Nocquet and Calais, 2003;Stich et al, 2006;Fadil et al, 2006;Serpelloni et al, 2007;Fernandes et al, 2007;Tahayt et al, 2008;Perez-Peña et al, 2010;Vernant et al, 2010;Palano et al, 2011;Koulali et al, 2011). The Balearic Islands are located in a Page 3 of 33 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 3 broad plate boundary zone of slow oblique NW-SE convergence on the order of 4 to 6 mm/yr between the Nubian and Eurasian plates.…”

Scenarios for earthquake-generated tsunamis on a complex tectonic area of diffuse deformation and low velocity: The Alboran Sea, Western Mediterranean

“…This convergence between the two main plates deforms the Alboran thinned crust, forming a set of conjugate shear zones and transpres sive structures, including reverse faults, active since the Late Tortonian (Larouziere et al, 1988;Bourgois et al, 1992;Comas et al, 1992;Vegas, 1992;Woodside and Maldonado, 1992;Watts et al, 1993;Martfnez-Dlaz, 2002;Masana et al, 2004;Gdcia et al, 2006). Although the rate of deformation is low, approximately 4.7 mm/year (McClusky et al, 2003;Stich et al, 2006;Serpelloni et al, 2007), the geomorphological and geophysical data show evidences of recent ruptures and faults large enough to generate great earthquakes (Gd.cia et al, 2006;Mauffret et al, 2007;Ballesteros et al, 2008;Maestro-Gonzalez et al, 2008).…”