A geodynamic framework for eastern Mediterranean kinematics

Abstract

We use a finite element model incorporating plate motion boundary conditions, fault constraints, and space geodetic velocities to calculate eastern Mediterranean plate kinematics and to estimate the motion of the region's major faults. We then use subsets of these constraints to generate models testing different scenarios of driving forces (slab roll-back at the Hellenic arc, Arabian plate push, gravitational collapse of W. Anatolia) to match the expected pattern of deformation. We find that models combining only trench rollback and Arabian push are unable to provide a good match to the observed deformation across western Anatolia and the Aegean and that we need to introduce the effects of mantle corner flow and gravitational collapse to fit observations.