Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
Science Signaling - Call For Papers

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 19 October 2001:
Vol. 294. no. 5542, pp. 574 - 577
DOI: 10.1126/science.1063647
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Present-Day Crustal Deformation in China Constrained by Global Positioning System Measurements

Qi Wang,1 Pei-Zhen Zhang,2* Jeffrey T. Freymueller,3 Roger Bilham,4 Kristine M. Larson,5 Xi'an Lai,1 Xinzhao You,1 Zhijun Niu,2 Jianchun Wu,2 Yanxin Li,6 Jingnan Liu,7 Zhiqiang Yang,8 Qizhi Chen3

Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements in China indicate that crustal shortening accommodates most of India's penetration into Eurasia. Deformation within the Tibetan Plateau and its margins, the Himalaya, the Altyn Tagh, and the Qilian Shan, absorbs more than 90% of the relative motion between the Indian and Eurasian plates. Internal shortening of the Tibetan plateau itself accounts for more than one-third of the total convergence. However, the Tibetan plateau south of the Kunlun and Ganzi-Mani faults is moving eastward relative to both India and Eurasia. This movement is accommodated through rotation of material around the eastern Syntaxis. The North China and South China blocks, east of the Tibetan Plateau, move coherently east-southeastward at rates of 2 to 8 millimeters per year and 6 to 11 millimeters per year, respectively, with respect to the stable Eurasia.

1 Institute of Seismology, China Seismological Bureau, Wuhan 430071, China.
2 Center for Crustal Movement Studies and Institute of Geology, China Seismological Bureau, Beijing 100029, China.
3 Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA.
4 Department of Geological Sciences and CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
5 Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
6 First Crustal Deformation Monitoring Center, China Seismological Bureau, Tianjin 300180, China.
7 School of Geodesy and Geomatics, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
8 Department of Surveying Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: peizhen{at}public3.bta.net.cn.

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Evidence for mechanically coupled lithosphere in central Asia and resulting implications.
C.-Y. Wang, L. M. Flesch, P. G. Silver, L.-J. Chang, and W. W. Chan (2008)
Geology 36, 363-366
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Development of active low-angle normal fault systems during orogenic collapse: Insight from Tibet.
P. Kapp, M. Taylor, D. Stockli, and L. Ding (2008)
Geology 36, 7-10
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Present-day kinematics at the India-Asia collision zone.
B. J. Meade (2007)
Geology 35, 81-84
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Average Slip Rate and Recurrence Interval of Large-Magnitude Earthquakes on the Western Segment of the Strike-Slip Kunlun Fault, Northern Tibet.
A. Lin, J. Guo, K.-i. Kano, and Y. Awata (2006)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 96, 1597-1611
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Crustal flow in Tibet: geophysical evidence for the physical state of Tibetan lithosphere, and inferred patterns of active flow.
S. L. Klemperer (2006)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 268, 39-70
   Abstract »    PDF »
Crustal structure, restoration and evolution of the Greater Himalaya in Nepal-South Tibet: implications for channel flow and ductile extrusion of the middle crust.
M. P. Searle, R. D. Law, and M. J. Jessup (2006)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 268, 355-378
   Abstract »    PDF »
Slip-Rate Measurements on the Karakorum Fault May Imply Secular Variations in Fault Motion.
M.-L. Chevalier, F. J. Ryerson, P. Tapponnier, R. C. Finkel, J. Van Der Woerd, L. Haibing, and L. Qing (2005)
Science 307, 411-414
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The 2002 Denali Fault and 2001 Kunlun Fault Earthquakes: Complex Rupture Processes of Two Large Strike-Slip Events.
A. A. Ozacar and S. L. Beck (2004)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 94, S278-S292
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Indian punch rifts Tibet.
(2004)
Geology 32, 993-996
GPS measurements from the Ladakh Himalaya, India: Preliminary tests of plate-like or continuous deformation in Tibet.
S. Jade, B.C. Bhatt, Z. Yang, R. Bendick, V.K. Gaur, P. Molnar, M.B. Anand, and D. Kumar (2004)
GSA Bulletin 116, 1385-1391
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Continuous deformation of the Tibetan Plateau from global positioning system data.
(2004)
Geology 32, 809-812
InSAR Observations of Low Slip Rates on the Major Faults of Western Tibet.
T. J. Wright, B. Parsons, P. C. England, and E. J. Fielding (2004)
Science 305, 236-239
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Comparing the November 2002 Denali and November 2001 Kunlun Earthquakes.
(2004)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 94, 1159-1165
Rupture Segmentation and Process of the 2001 Mw 7.8 Central Kunlun, China, Earthquake.
(2003)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 93, 2477-2492
Seismicity of Central Tibet from Project INDEPTH III Seismic Recordings.
(2003)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 93, 2146-2159
Earthquakes and Associated Deformation in Northern Baluchistan 1892-2001.
(2003)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 93, 1573-1605
Structural framework of a major intracontinental orogenic termination zone: the easternmost Tien Shan, China.
D. Cunningham, D. Cunningham, LewisA. Owen, LarryW. Snee, and L. Jiliang (2003)
Journal of the Geological Society 160, 575-590
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Post-orogenic evolution of the Dabie Shan, eastern China, from (U-Th)/He and fission-track thermochronology.
P. W. Reiners, Z. Zhou, T. A. Ehlers, C. Xu, M. T. Brandon, R. A. Donelick, and S. Nicolescu (2003)
Am J Sci 303, 489-518
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Seismic Imaging of the Downwelling Indian Lithosphere Beneath Central Tibet.
F. Tilmann, J. Ni, and INDEPTH III Seismic Team (2003)
Science 300, 1424-1427
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)