REVEL: A model for Recent plate velocities from space geodesy

TLDR

The authors introduce REVEL, a new global model describing relative velocities of 19 tectonic plates and continental blocks. REVEL is derived from publicly available GPS data (1993–2000) and incorporates rigorous uncertainty estimates to assess plate rigidity and propagate errors into velocity estimates. The model shows that most plate pairs agree with NUVEL‑1A within uncertainties, while significant discrepancies in Caribbean–North/South America and North America–Pacific suggest systematic errors in NUVEL‑1A, and several pairs exhibit long‑term deceleration or recent slowing consistent with glacial isostatic adjustment and Andean crustal shortening.

Abstract

We present a new global model for Recent plate velocities, REVEL, describing the relative velocities of 19 plates and continental blocks. The model is derived from publicly available space geodetic (primarily GPS) data for the period 1993–2000. We include an independent and rigorous estimate for GPS velocity uncertainties to assess plate rigidity and propagate these uncertainties to the velocity estimates. The velocity fields for North America, Eurasia, and Antarctica clearly show the effects of glacial isostatic adjustment, and Australia appears to depart from rigid plate behavior in a manner consistent with the mapped intraplate stress field. Two thirds of tested plate pairs agree with the NUVEL‐1A geologic (3 Myr average) velocities within uncertainties. Three plate pairs (Caribbean–North America, Caribbean–South America, and North America–Pacific) exhibit significant differences between the geodetic and geologic model that may reflect systematic errors in NUVEL‐1A due to the use of seafloor magnetic rate data that do not reflect the full plate rate because of tectonic complexities. Most other differences probably reflect real velocity changes over the last few million years. Several plate pairs (Arabia–Eurasia, Arabia–Nubia, Eurasia–India) move more slowly than the 3 Myr NUVEL‐1A average, perhaps reflecting long‐term deceleration associated with continental collision. Several other plate pairs, including Nazca–Pacific, Nazca–South America and Nubia–South America, are experiencing slowing that began ∼25 Ma, the beginning of the current phase of Andean crustal shortening.