Recent geodynamic characteristics in the Arabian–Eurasian and Indian–Eurasian collision region by active fault data

Abstract

A part of the Alpine–Himalayan orogenic belt is studied, limited by 30–104°E and by 26–46°N to the west of 64°E and 26–56°N to the east of 64°E. A technique is proposed to calculate the field of the recent (Late Pleistocene and Holocene) deformation rate tensors in the upper crust (15 to 20 km) by active fault data. A hydrodynamic model of the medium is used for the calculation. Monotonous fault segments as long as 10–15 km are taken as the elementary cells of the medium. The cell square (the length multiplied by the depth) multiplied by the displacement vector magnitude, gives the geometric moment. Similar components of the local tensors of the geometric moments are summarized within the windows into which the region is divided. Finally, parameters of the axes of principal rates of deformation are calculated, and their directions and magnitudes are mapped. This tectonic deformation is compared with the seismotectonic one calculated by focal mechanisms of earthquakes. The compiled maps show: a concentration of high deformation rates in the plate boundary zones (especially in front of the southern plate syntaxes) and a smaller concentration in some microplate boundary zones; a predominance of the N–S-trending shortening and of strike-slip type of deformation. The rates of shortening and lengthening are usually almost equal to each other and differ essentially (the shortening rate is higher than the lengthening) only in specific sites. These are areas of intense recent detachment or late Quaternary volcanism. It seems that the double-axis lengthening (extension) is suitable for these processes.