Present-day stress orientation and tectonic pulses registered in the caves of the SlovenskÝ kras Mts. (South-Eastern Slovakia)

Abstract

The fault displacement monitoring network EU-TecNet was established to define microdisplacements across faults in the territory of Central Europe (www.tecnet.cz) using three-dimensional optical-mechanical extensometers. The results of long-term neotectonic activity obtained from two caves localized in the eastern part of the Slovenský kras Mts. (SE Slovakia) show generally NE-SW oriented dilatation. This orientation is in a good accordance with the orogen-parallel extension monitored in the Western Carpathians. Differing short-lasting trends were distinguished in 2011–2012 and 2013–2015, which supports the significance of the tectonic pulse at the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. Moreover, simultaneous short-lasting faulting occurred at both sites under the transtensional tectonic regime, where the principal maximum compressional axis operated in a NW-SE direction (σ1). The observed results were compared to data from monitoring points in distant areas of the European plate.