CONTEMPORARY GEODYNAMICS OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Abstract

The article provides an analysis of the tectonic structure, seismicity and modern geodynamics of the Eastern Mediterranean, including the regions of the Eastern Anatolian microplate, the Caucasus and the Bitlis-Zagros thrust fault. Analysis of the velocity field of GPS stations showed the heterogeneity of deformation processes in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus. The considered results show the movement of the Arabian plate relative to the Eurasian one. Considering the speeds of movement of the Anatolian and Eurasian plates, and the Arabian and Anatolian plates, it was found that the shear rate along the North Anatolian fault was 20 mm/year, along the East Anatolian - 14 mm/year. This indicates the convergence of the Anatolian and Eurasian plates through the system of right strike-slip faults in eastern Turkey and the Thrust system in the Caucasus. The total reduction in the distance between the Lesser and Greater Caucasus is 10 mm per year.