Decelerating Nazca-South America and Nazca-Pacific plate motions
Abstract
Space geodetic estimates of the rate of Nazca-South America convergence and Nazca-Pacific spreading averaging over several years show that present day rates are significantly slower than the 3 million year average NUVEL-1A model. The implied rates of deceleration are consistent with longer term trends extending back to at least 20 Ma, about the time of initiation of Andes growth, and may reflect consequences of ongoing subduction and construction of the Andes, e.g., increased friction and viscous drag on the subducted slab as the leading edge of South America thickens.
Description
Date
1999
Keywords
Space geodesy , Tectonic plate , Subduction , Geological faults , Geophysics , Earth sciences
Citation
Norabuena, E., Dixon, T., Stein, S., & Harrison, C. (1999). Decelerating Nazca-South America and Nazca-Pacific plate motions. Geophysical Research Letters, 26 (22), 3405-3408. https://doi.org/10.1029/1999GL005394
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union