Trajectories of crustal deformation of western Greece from GPS observations 1989–1994

Abstract

The geodynamic processes in the Alpine‐Mediterranean area are reflected in the recent crustal movements determined by satellite geodesy. There is counterclockwise rotation of Africa relative to Eurasia, with complex deformation in between. We report repeated GPS measurements carried out between SE Italy and the island of Crete in the period 1989 to 1994. The data reveal distinct crustal motion of the central Ionian Islands and SW Greece: Over the time span of five years Western Greece has moved 200mm±10mm to the SW relative to SE Italy and Epiros. The trajectories constructed from the repeated observations show that the boundary zone against the sites of no significant motion relative to South Italy coincides with the Kephalonia fault zone (KFZ). This intense deformation accounts in part for the earthquakes that have frequently devastated the central Ionian Islands.