Satellite-determined stresses in the crust of Europe.

Abstract

A crustal stress field computed from satellite-derived gravity data is presented. The stresses are obtained in terms of a series involving spherical harmonics of the geopotential. The computed stress directions are in good agreement with fault-plane solutions from earthquakes and in situ stress measurements. With the articulation of the dynamical principles that govern crustal deformations of a much smaller scale, this study provides a geodynamical basis for intraplate deformations and seismotectonic block movements in Central Europe. -from Author