Award Abstract # 0408728
Collaborative Research: Implications of Active Tectonics in Morocco for the Kinematics and Dynamics of Africa-Eurasia Plate Interactions in the Western Mediterranean

NSF Org: EAR
Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Initial Amendment Date: July 6, 2004
Latest Amendment Date: April 6, 2006
Award Number: 0408728
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: David Fountain
EAR
 Division Of Earth Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: July 1, 2004
End Date: June 30, 2008 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $178,820.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $178,820.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2004 = $68,509.00
FY 2005 = $40,309.00

FY 2006 = $70,002.00
History of Investigator:
  • Robert Reilinger (Principal Investigator)
    reilinge@erl.mit.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE
CAMBRIDGE
MA  US  02139-4301
(617)253-1000
Sponsor Congressional District: 07
Primary Place of Performance: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE
CAMBRIDGE
MA  US  02139-4301
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): E2NYLCDML6V1
Parent UEI: E2NYLCDML6V1
NSF Program(s): Tectonics,
Instrumentation & Facilities
Primary Program Source: app-0104 
app-0105 

app-0106 
Program Reference Code(s): 0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s): 157200, 158000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

This project is using Global Positioning System (GPS) repeat observations, and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to monitor active deformation in Morocco associated with ongoing "collision" of the African plate with Iberia (Eurasia). Additionally, neotectonic and paleoseismic studies are helping better determine the relation between ongoing deformation, earthquake generation, and the development of geologic structures. Toward these ends, the investigators are upgrading three continuous GPS (CGPS) stations (Rabat, Tetouan, Ifrane) and establishing a new CGPS station near Agadir. These stations provide highly precise estimates of Africa (Nubia) plate motion as well as strong constraints on intraplate deformation, including anticipated shortening across the Atlas Mountains in central Morocco. In addition, the Moroccan CGPS network provides a framework for integrating survey-mode GPS observations that provide dense coverage to isolate individual, active structures. The relationship between interseismic deformation (as recorded by GPS and InSAR) and the earthquake cycle are being investigate with paleoseismic techniques. A major focus of our work is the Rif Mountains in northwestern Morocco that exhibit rapid SW motions relative to the African plate as a whole. GPS and InSAR measurements are better defining the special and temporal character of these anomalous motions. Using the improved deformation results, quantitative models to test extrusion models (crust being squeezed out of the collision zone) as well as models of crustal deformation associated with dynamic processes in the mantle (active subduction, lithospheric delamination) are being developed.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Fadil Abdelali, Philippe Vernant, Simon McClusky, Robert Reilinger, Francisco Gomez, Driss Ben Sari, Taoufik Mourabit, Kurt Feigl, and Muawia Barazangi "Active tectonics of the western Mediterranean: Geodetic evidence for roll back of a delaminated subcontinental lithosheric slab beneath the Rif Mountains, Morocco" Geology , v.34 , 2006 , p.529
fadil, A., D. Ben Sari "Correlation between precipitable water and rainfall using Global Positioning System technique" NATO Security through Science Series "Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere for Environmental Security , 2006 , p.271
McClusky, S., R. Reilinger, S. Mahmoud, D. Ben Sari, and A. Tealeb "GPS constraints on Africa (Nubia) and Arabia plate motion" Geophys. J. Int. , v.155 , 2003 , p.126
Reilinger, R., S. McClusky, P. Vernant, and 20 others "GPS constraints on continental deformation in the Africa-Arabia-Eurasia continental collision zone and implications for the dynamics of plate interactions," J. Geophys. Res., BO5411, doi:10.1029/2005JB004051, 2006. , v.B05411 , 2006 , p.B05411
Tahayt, A., T. Mourabit, K. Feigl, et al., "Present-day movements of tectonic blocks in the western Mediterranean from GPS measurements 1999-2005" C. R. Geoscience (in French) , v.340 , 2008 , p.4

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