A GPS Estimate of Relative Motion between North and South America

Authors

Timothy H. Dixon, University of MiamiFollow
Ailin Mao, University of Miami

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1997

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1029/97GL00284

Abstract

GPS velocity data are used to estimate the Euler vector describing rigid body motion of North America relative to South America. Assuming the boundary between the North and South American plates is located near the Fifteen Twenty fracture zone in the equatorial Atlantic, the Euler vector predicts extension across the Royal Trough up to 1 mm/yr, and convergence across the Barracuda Ridge at about 2 mm/yr, in agreement with geological estimates averaged over tens of millions of years. Further west, convergence between North and South America at rates up to 8 mm/yr may contribute to deformation of the Caribbean plate along its southwest boundary with South America.

Rights Information

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

No

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Geophysical Research Letters, v. 24, issue 5, p. 535-538

Copyright 1997 by the American Geophysical Union.

Scholar Commons Citation

Dixon, Timothy H. and Mao, Ailin, "A GPS Estimate of Relative Motion between North and South America" (1997). School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications. 491.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/491