Strain in southern California: Measured uniaxial north-south regional contraction
The plate tectonics model of the Pacific moving northwest relative to North America implies that the regional strain in California should be simple shear across a vertical plane striking N45??W or equivalently equal parts of north-south contraction and east-west extension. Measurements of the strain accumulation at seven separate sites in southern California in the interval 1972 through 1978 indicate a remarkably consistent uniaxial north-south contraction of about 0.3 part per million per year; the expected east-west extension is absent. It is not clear whether the period from 1972 through 1978 is anomalous or whether the secular strain in southern California is indeed a uniaxial north-south contraction.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1978 |
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Title | Strain in southern California: Measured uniaxial north-south regional contraction |
Authors | J. C. Savage, W. H. Prescott, M. Lisowski, N. King |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Science |
Index ID | 70012564 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |