Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Plate Motions and Active Crustal Deformation in the North Andean Region Measured with the Global Positioning System

  • Conference paper
Recent Geodetic and Gravimetric Research in Latin America

Part of the book series: International Association of Geodesy Symposia ((IAG SYMPOSIA,volume 111))

  • 51 Accesses

Abstract

The CASA (Central And South America) Global Positioning System project was inaugurated in 1988 to study plate motions and crustal deformation in Central America and northern South America, a tectonically active area of complex interaction between the Nazca, Cocos, Caribbean and South American plates. Repeated geodetic measurements with the Global Positioning System (GPS) provide direct measurements of displacements due to active plate motions and intraplate deformation, which can provide important constraints on regional kinematic plate motions, and on the active tectonics of the deforming zones of the convergent margins. Dynamic problems such as the relation between the earthquake cycle and large-scale plate motions or intraplate deformation at the convergent margins can be addressed once a sufficiently long span of data has been collected. The CASA network currently consists of 30 primary sites in five countries (Figure 1), most of which have now been reoccupied at least once. This study concentrates on the results from the stations which provide measurements of the relative motions of the major plates over a three year period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aggarwal, Y. (1983). Seismic slip rates and earthquakes rupture zones in the southern Caribbean: implications for plate motions and earthquake hazard in this region (abstract) Abstracts of the Caribbean Geological Conference, 10th, 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argus, D. F., and R. G. Gordon (1990). Pacific-North American plate motion from Very Long Baseline Interferometry compared with motion inferred from magnetic anomalies, transform faults, and earthquake slip vectors, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 17,315–17,324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blewitt, G. (1989). Carrier Phase Ambiguity Resolution for the Global Positioning System Applied to Geodetic Baselines up to 2000 km, J. Geophys. Res.. 94, 10,187–10,203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blewitt, G. (1990). GPS techniques for monitoring geodynamics at regional scales, Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Precise Positioning with GPS, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, September 1990, 494–507.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burbach, G., C. Frolich, W. Pennington, and T. Matumoto (1984). Seismicity and tectonics of the subducted Cocos plate, J. Geophys. Res. 89, 7719–7735.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comité del Año Geofísico Internacional del Ecuador (1959)- Breve Historia de los Principales Terremotos en la República del Ecuador, Ministerio de Educacion Publica, Quito, Ecuador.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, J. L., W. H. Prescott, J. L. Svarc, and K. J. Wendt (1989). Assessment of Global Positioning System measurements for studies of crustal deformation, J. Geophys. Res. 94, 13,635–13,650.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeMets, C., R. G. Gordon, D. F. Argus and S. Stein (1990). Current plate motions, Geophys. J. Int.. 101, 425–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Obaldia, F., T. Marino, R. Van der Laat, F. Hernandez, E. Malavassi, and K. C. McNally (1991). Coseismic uplift associated with the Costa Rica earthquake (Ms 7.5) of the April 22,1991 (abstract), AGU Fall Meeting 1991, 301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, J.W. (1972). Seismicity and tectonics of Western Venezuela, Bull. Seis. Soc. Am. 62, 1711–1751.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, T. H., and S. Kornreich Wolf (1990). Some Tests of Wet Tropospheric Calibration for the CASA UNO Global Positioning System Experiment, Geophys. Res. Letts. 17, 203–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong, D.-N., and Y. Bock (1989). Global Positioning System network analysis with phase ambiguity resolution applied to crustal deformation studies in California, J. Geophys. Res. 94, 3949–3966.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freymueller, J. T. (1991). CASA — Central And South America GPS Geodesy: Crustal motions determined from 1988 and 1990 epoch measurements in Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador, Ph.D. Thesis, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 172pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freymueller, J. T. (1992). Comparison of baseline results for the TI-4100 and Trimble 4000SDT geodetic GPS receivers, Bull. Geod., in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freymueller, J. T., and J. N. Kellogg (1990). The Extended Tracking Network and Indications of Baseline Precision and Accuracy in the North Andes, Geophys. Res. Letts. 17, 207–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freymueller, J. T., and J. N. Kellogg (submitted). Crustal motions in the North Andes measured with the Global Positioning System, submitted to J. Geophys. Res.

    Google Scholar 

  • Güendel, F., C. Montera, V. Gonzalez, J. Segura, E. Malavassi, E. Fernandez, F. de Obaldia, D. Rojas, M. Rodriguez, A. Mata, R. van der Laat, V. Barboza, O. Barrentes, and K. C. McNally (1991). Mainshock-aftershock sequence associated with the Costa Rica earthquake of April 22,1991 (abstract), AGU Fall Meeting 1991,301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanamori, H., and K. McNally (1982). Variable rupture mode of the subduction zone along the Ecuador-Colombia coast, Bull. Seis. Soc. Am. 72, 1241–1253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelleher, J. A. (1972) Rupture zones of large South American earthquakes and some predictions, J. Geophys. Res. 77, 2087–2103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kellogg, J.N., and W.E. Bonini (1982). Subduction of the Caribbean plate and basement uplifts in the overriding South American plate, Tectonics 1, 251–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kellogg, J.N., I.J. Ogujiofor, and D.R. Kansakar (1985). Cenozoic tectonics of the Panama and North Andes blocks, Memorias, Sixth Latin American Geological Congress, Bogota, Colombia 1, 40–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellogg, J. N., J. T. Freymueller, T. H. Dixon, R. E. Neilan, C. Ropain U. S. Camargo M. B. Fernandez Ch., J. L. Stowell, A. Salazar, J. Mora V. L. Espin, V. Perdue and L. Leos (1990). First GPS Baseline Results from the North Andes, Geophys. Res. Letts. 17, 211–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ladd, J.W., M. Truchan, M. Talwani, P.L. Stoffa, P. Buhl, R. Houtz, A. Mauffret, and G. Westbrook (1984). Seismic reflection profiles across the southern margin of the Caribbean, in Caribbean-South American Plate Boundary and Regional Tectonics, edited by W.E. Bonini, R.B. Hargraves, and R. Shagam, Mem. Geol. Soc. Am. 162, 153–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, K. M. (1990). Evaluation of GPS estimates of relative positions from Central California, 1986–1988, Geophys. Res. Letts. 17, 2433–2436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, K. M., and D. C. Agnew (1991). Application of the Global Positioning System to crustal deformation measurement 1. Precision and accuracy, J. Geophys. Res.. 96, 16,547–16,565.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehner, P., H. Doust, G. Bakker, P. Allenbach, and J. Gueneau (1983). Active margins- Caribbean margin of South America, profiles C-1422, C-1412, and C-1413, in Seismic Expression of Structural Styles 3, edited by A. W. Bally, Stud. Geol. 15, 3.4.2–111–3.4.2–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichten, S. M., and J. S. Border (1987). Strategies for High Precision GPS Orbit Determination, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 12,751–12,762.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindqwister, U. J., S. M. Lichten, and G. Blewitt (1990). Precise regional baseline estimation using a priori orbital information, Geophys. Res. Letts. 17, 219–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale, P., and K. Klitgord (1978). Structure and tectonic history of the eastern Panama Basin, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 98, 981–999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, R. S., and K. J. McMillen (1982). Multichannel seismic survey of the Colombia Basin and adjacent margins, in Studies in Continental Margin Geology, edited by J. S. Watkins and C. L. Drake, AAPG Mem. 34, 395–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundgren, P., S. Kornreich Wolf, M. Protti, J. Richardson, T. Thatcher, E. Malavassi, L. Aguilar, F. Ovaldia, R. Van der Laat, W. Niemayer, T. Dixon, and D. Tralli (1991). GPS measurements of crustal deformation following the 22 April 1991 Costa Rica earthquake (abstract), AGU Fall Meeting 1991, 301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyon-Caen, H., R. Armijo, and I. Cifuentes, 1990, Recent deformation of the Ecuadorean sub-Andes (abstract), EOS Trans. Am. Geophys. Un. 71, 1560.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, C., J. M. Sauber, L. J. Bell, T. A. Clark, D. Gordon, W. E. Himwich, and J. W. Ryan (1990). Measurement of horizontal motions in Alaska using Very Long Baseline Interferometry, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 21,991–22,011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minster, J. B., and T. H. Jordan (1978). Present-day plate motions, J. Geophys. Res. 83, 5331–5354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, M. H. (1991). Global Positioning System measurement of crustal deformation in central California, Ph.D. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 310pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niemayer, W., L. Aguilar, W. Augath, A. Bagge, and W. Seifert (1992). The Project CorBas — Determination of recent crustal movements in Costa Rica, this volume.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishenko, S. (1989). Circum-Pacific Seismic Potential 1989–1999, USGS NEIC Open-File Report 89–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennington, W.D. (1981). Subduction of the eastern Panama basin and the seismotectonics of northwestern South America, J. Geophys. Res. 86, 10,753–10,770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plafker, G., S. N. Ward, E. Malavassi, R. van der Laat, and G. E. Weber (1991). Thrust faulting and tectonic uplift along the Caribbean Sea coast of Costa Rica during the April 22, 1991 earthquake (abstract), AGU Fall Meeting 1991, 301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schubert, C. (1980). Late-Cenozoic pull-apart basins, Bocono fault zone, Venezuelan Andes, Journal of Structural Geology 2, 463–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shagam, R. (1975). The northern termination of the Andes, in The Ocean Basins and Margins 3, edited by A.E.M. Nairn and E.G. Stehli, 325–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. E., R. Kolenkiewicz, P. J. Dunn, J. W. Robbins, M. H. Torrence, S. M. Klosko, R. G. Williamson, E. C. Pavlis, N. B. Douglas, and S. K. Fricke (1990). Tectonic motion and deformation from Satellite Laser Ranging to LAGEOS, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 22,013–22,041.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sovers, O. J., and J. S. Border (1990). Observation Model and Parameter Partials for the JPL Geodetic GPS Modeling Software “GPSOMC”, JPL Publication 87–21, Rev. 2, Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tralli, D., T. Dixon, and S. Stephens (1988). The Effect of Wet Tropospheric Path Delays on Estimation of Geodetic Baselines in the Gulf of California using the Global Positioning System, J. Geophys. Res. 93 6545–6558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Andel, Tj., G. Heath, B. Malfait, D. Heinrichs, and J. Ewing (1971). Tectonics of the Panama Basin, eastern equatorial Pacific, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 82, 1489–1508.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vega, V, J. N. Kellogg, and J. T. Freymueller (1991). Relative motions of South America, the Caribbean and Panama determined by CASA GPS geodetic measurements (abstract), AGU Fall Meeting 1991, 115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, S. N. (1990). Pacific-North America plate motions: New results from Very Long Baseline Interferometry, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 21,965–21,981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winter, T., and A. La Venu (1988). Evidencias morfologicas y microtectonicas de una falla de rumbo activa en la parte central del Ecuador, presented at Quinto Congreso Ecuatoriano de Geologia, Minas, Petroleos y Ciencias Afines, Loja, Ecuador, November 1988.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 94305, USA

    Jeffrey T. Freymueller

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, 29208, USA

    James N. Kellogg

Authors
  1. Jeffrey T. Freymueller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James N. Kellogg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Erdmessung, Universität Hannover, Nienburger Straße 6, W-3000, Hannover 1, Germany

    Wolfgang Torge

  2. Instituto Geografico, Carrera 30 No. 48-51, Bogotá d.e., Columbia, USA

    Alvaro González Fletcher

  3. Geophysics Commission PAIGM, University of Western Ontario, N6A 3K7, London, Ontario, Canada

    James G. Tanner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Freymueller, J.T., Kellogg, J.N. (1993). Plate Motions and Active Crustal Deformation in the North Andean Region Measured with the Global Positioning System. In: Torge, W., Fletcher, A.G., Tanner, J.G. (eds) Recent Geodetic and Gravimetric Research in Latin America. International Association of Geodesy Symposia, vol 111. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-88055-1_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-88055-1_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-56121-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-88055-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation