Active Tectonics of the Africa-Eurasia Zone of Plate Interaction in the Western Mediterranean

摩洛哥的构造格局主要受非洲板块和欧亚板块相互作用的影响。目前，努比亚板块相对于欧亚大陆向西北方向移动，导致从摩洛哥的阿特拉斯山脉和里夫山脉到西班牙南部的贝蒂奇山脉的复杂碰撞和走滑断层。全球定位系统量化了这一非洲-欧亚板块缓慢斜向会聚的西地中海区域的活跃地壳变形，为大洋俯冲最后阶段和大陆碰撞初始阶段的板块相互作用机制提供了新的制约。这项研究将提供新的GPS测量板块速度，降低不确定性，以测试这个神秘的缓慢移动板块边界的竞争性构造模型。该项目通过培养博士后研究员和摩洛哥学生，发展国际合作，以及通过扩大GPS网络加强研究基础设施，发展具有全球竞争力的STEM劳动力，从而促进预期的社会成果。该研究项目将提供限制西地中海板块相互作用区地球动力学过程所需的新观测。包括阿尔沃兰海和摩洛哥里夫的主动平移和旋转，高阿特拉斯的横向缩短和垂直运动，以及西班牙最南端的贝蒂斯的走滑运动。由此产生的大地测量约束将区分相互竞争的构造模型：1）与直布罗陀弧相关的向西回滚; 2）俯冲的努比亚板块向南回滚，和/或3）碰撞带内大陆岩石圈的分层。该研究小组将与来自摩洛哥（国家科学技术研究中心、穆罕默德五世大学、阿卜杜勒马利克·埃萨迪大学）、法国（蒙彼利埃大学）和西班牙（阿尔马达真实的研究所和观测站）的科学家合作，完善目前的大地形变估计，以更好地限制整个板块相互作用区的地球动力学。该团队将重新观察6个调查点，将速度不确定性降低30%至50%（水平方向约为0.3毫米/年，垂直方向约为0.7毫米/年）。此外，该团队将在Rif建立一个新的连续GPS站，那里的变形率最大，相对于稳定的努比亚，达到约4毫米/年。改进的速度测定是必要的，以约束垂直运动和估计的Rif的内部变形，以及对Rif边界结构的滑动率，信息是必不可少的，以更好地约束力学的活动变形和地震危险的活动断层。将重新观测横跨中、高和反阿特拉斯山脉的GPS测量点，这将使速度不确定性降低50%以上（水平方向小于0.3毫米/年，垂直方向小于0.7毫米/年），提供对垂直运动速率的第一个大地测量约束，并使高阿特拉斯山脉主动缩短的上限提高两倍。这些改进的速度是必要的，以更好地限制在保持高阿特拉斯山脉的高海拔的地壳缩短和地壳下的动态过程的作用，以及动态过程的关系沿着板块边界。分析、解释和建模将与国际合作者共同进行。

The tectonic framework of Morocco is dominated by the interaction between the African and Eurasian plates. Presently, the Nubian Plate moves in a northwest direction with respect to Eurasia resulting in complex collision and strike-slip faulting from the Atlas and Rif Mountains in Morocco to the Betic Mountains in southern Spain. GPS quantification of active crustal deformation in this western Mediterranean region of slow, oblique Africa-Eurasia plate convergence provides new constraints on the mechanics of plate interactions during the final stage of ocean subduction and the initial stages of continental collision. This study will provide new GPS measurements of plate velocities with reduced uncertainties to test competing tectonic models for this enigmatic slow-moving plate boundary. The project advances desired societal outcomes through development of a globally competitive STEM workforce by training of post-doctoral fellow and Moroccan students, development of international collaborations, and research infrastructure enhancement by expansion of a GPS network.This research project will provide new observations necessary to constrain geodynamic processes in the western Mediterranean zone of plate interaction, including active translation and rotation of the Alboran Sea and Moroccan Rif, shortening across and vertical motions in the High Atlas, and strike-slip motion in the Betics of southernmost Spain. Resultant geodetic constraints will distinguish between competing tectonic models: 1) westward rollback associated with the Gibraltar Arc; 2) southward rollback of the subducted Nubian plate, and/or 3) delamination of the continental lithosphere within the collision zone. In collaboration with scientists from Morocco (Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique, Universite Mohamad V, Abdelmalek Essaadi University), France (Universite Montpellier), and Spain (Real Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada), this research team will refine present geodetic deformation estimates to better constrain geodynamics across the entire zone of plate interaction. The team will reobserve 6 survey sites, reducing velocity uncertainties by 30 to 50% (to about 0.3 mm/year horizontal, 0.7 mm/year vertical). In addition, the team will establish a new continuous GPS station in the Rif where deformation rates are greatest, reaching about 4 mm/year with respect to stable Nubia. Improved velocity determinations are necessary to constrain vertical motions and estimate internal deformation of the Rif, as well as slip rates on Rif bounding structures, information that is essential to constrain better both the mechanics of active deformation and seismic hazards on active faults. GPS survey sites across the the Middle, High, and Anti-Atlas Mountains will be reobserved, which will result in greater than 50% decrease in velocity uncertainties (to less than 0.3 mm/year horizontal, 0.7 mm/year vertical), providing the first geodetic constraints on vertical motion rates and a two-fold improvement on upper bounds on active shortening across the High Atlas. These improved velocities are necessary to better constrain the role of crustal shortening and subcrustal dynamic processes in maintaining the high elevation of the High Atlas Mountains, and the relationship to dynamic processes along the plate boundary. Analysis, interpretation, and modeling will be undertaken jointly with the international collaborators.