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Detailed Reference Information |
Dixon, T., Farina, F., DeMets, C., Suarez-Vidal, F., Fletcher, J., Marquez-Azua, B., Miller, M., Sanchez, O. and Umhoefer, P. (2000). New kinematic models for Pacific-North America Motion from 3 Ma to Present, II: Evidence for a “Baja California Shear Zone”. Geophysical Research Letters 27: doi: 10.1029/2000GL008529. issn: 0094-8276. |
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We use new models for present-day Pacific-North America motion to evaluate the tectonics of offshore regions west of the Californias. Vandenburg in coastal Alta California moves at the Pacific plate velocity within uncertainties (~1 mm/yr) after correcting for strain accumulation on the San Andreas and San Gregorio-Hosgri faults with a model that includes a viscoelastic lower crust. Modeled and measured velocities at coastal sites in Baja California south of the Agua Blanca fault, a region that most previous models consider Pacific plate, differ by 3--8 mm/yr, with coastal sites moving slower that the Pacific plate. We interpret these discrepancies in terms of strain accumulation on known on-shore faults, combined with right lateral slip at a rate of 3--4 mm/yr on additional faults offshore peninsular Baja California in the Pacific. Offshore seismicity, offset Quaternary features along the west coast of Baja California, and a discrepancy between the magnetically determined spreading rate in the Gulf Rise and the total plate rate from a geological model provide independent evidence for a Baja California shear zone. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Geodesy and Gravity, Space geodetic surveys, Tectonophysics, Continental neotectonics |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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