Strain partitioning and fault slip rates in the northeastern Caribbean from GPS measurements

Abstract

GPS data collected in the Dominican Republic from 1994 to 2001 show that oblique convergence between the North American and Caribbean plates is partitioned between 5.2 ± 2 mm.yr−1of dip‐slip reverse motion on the North Hispaniola thrust (approximately N‐S), and 12.8 ± 2.5 mm.yr−1and 9.0 ± 9.0 mm.yr−1of approximately E‐W left‐lateral strike‐slip motion on the Septentrional and Enriquillo faults (95% confidence). The agreement between GPS and paleoseimological slip rates on the Septentrional fault, together with the 770–960 years since the last major earthquake and the 800–1200 years maximum repeat time of major earthquakes, may indicate that the Septentrional fault is currently in the late phase of its rupture cycle.