GPS geodetic constraints on the kinematics of the Amurian Plate

Abstract

Today, one of the most topical questions in the recent geodynamics of eastern Asia is that concerning the existence of the Amurian Plate and its boundaries. An unambiguous answer is difficult to obtain because seismicity is relatively rare and weak and the plate boundaries are often geomorphologically unclear. One of the methods that can help is satellite geodesy. In the present study, the velocity field of recent horizontal crustal movements was obtained from five repeated GPS observations on the Amur–Zeya geodynamic test ground (Amur Region) in 2001–2007. On this basis, the parameters of the relative rotation of the Eurasian and Amurian plates were calculated. The coordinates of their rotation pole were found to be 122.285° E and 58.950° N, and the angular rotation velocity 0.095 deg/Myr. The resulting kinematic model describes the motion of the Eurasian and Amurian Plates as independent tectonic units. According to statistical analysis, this hypothesis is true at a confidence level of more than 99%. Also, calculations have shown that the eastern boundary of the Amurian Plate passes through a branch of the Tan-Lu fault system. The kinematic model for the Eurasian and Amurian Plates agrees well with data on the kinematics of active faults and the modern tectonic stress field at the plate boundary.

Accuracy of velocities from repeated GPS measurements

“…sometimes performed with only one session usually lasting 6 h through 12 h. In the literature, it is possible to come across many crustal deformation experiments performed in this way (Miranda et al, 2012;Elliot et al, 2010;Rontogianni et al, 2010;Ashurkov et al, 2011;Ozener et al, 2012;Tran et al, 2012;Catalão et al, 2011).…”

Tectonic Process of the Sedimentary Basin Formation and Evolution in the Late Cenozoic Arc-Arc Collision Zone, Central Japan

“…Especially in central Japan three arcs (Northeast Japan, Izu-Ogasawara, and southwest Japan arcs) are mutually colliding, where deformed structures and active faults associated with inland crustal earthquakes are concentrated along the fringing zone east and south of Japan Sea. The mobile belt along the Japan margin of Amur Plate runs from Sakhalin -Hokkaido on the Okhotsk plate side, through the volcanic inner zones of the Northeast Japan arc, to the Southwest Japan arc on the Amur plate side [1,2,70,71]. In detail, this belt includes the tectonic zone along eastern margin of Japan Sea, the Noto -San'in tectonic zone, and the Niigata -Kobe tectonic zone.…”

“…This hypothesis includes an eastward motion of the Amur plate with convergence along the east Japan margin and transpression along the west Japan margin as well as its collision in central Japan [1,2,71].…”

The Role of the Andesitic Volcanism in the Understanding of Late Mesozoic Tectonic Events of Bureya-Jziamysi Superterrain, Russian Far East

“…1a). Nowadays a kinematic model is obtained [3] that describe the dislocation of Euroasian and Amur plates as independent tectonic units (Fig. 1a).…”

“…1a). The GPS-calculations [4,3] showed that the eastern border of Amur plate goes along of the one of the branches of Than-Lu fracture system (Fig. 1a).…”