Geodetic measurements of convergence at the New Hebrides island arc indicate arc fragmentation caused by an impinging aseismic ridge

Research Article| November 01, 1995 Geodetic measurements of convergence at the New Hebrides island arc indicate arc fragmentation caused by an impinging aseismic ridge F. W. Taylor; F. W. Taylor 1Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas, 8701 North MoPac Expressway, Austin, Texas 78759-8397 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. G. Bevis; M. G. Bevis 2Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar B. E. Schutz; B. E. Schutz 3Center for Space Research, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78713 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. Kuang; D. Kuang 3Center for Space Research, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78713 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Recy; J. Recy 4Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), Laboratoire de Géodynamique sous-marine, B.P. 48, 06230 Villefranche sur mer, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Calmant; S. Calmant 5Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), B.P. A5, Noumea, New Caledonia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. Charley; D. Charley 6Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), B.P. 76, Port Vila, Vanuatu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Regnier; M. Regnier 6Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), B.P. 76, Port Vila, Vanuatu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar B. Perin; B. Perin 7Universities NAVSTAR Consortium, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, Colorado 80307 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Jackson; M. Jackson 8Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C. Reichenfeld C. Reichenfeld 9Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), Paris, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information F. W. Taylor 1Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas, 8701 North MoPac Expressway, Austin, Texas 78759-8397 M. G. Bevis 2Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 B. E. Schutz 3Center for Space Research, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78713 D. Kuang 3Center for Space Research, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78713 J. Recy 4Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), Laboratoire de Géodynamique sous-marine, B.P. 48, 06230 Villefranche sur mer, France S. Calmant 5Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), B.P. A5, Noumea, New Caledonia D. Charley 6Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), B.P. 76, Port Vila, Vanuatu M. Regnier 6Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), B.P. 76, Port Vila, Vanuatu B. Perin 7Universities NAVSTAR Consortium, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, Colorado 80307 M. Jackson 8Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309 C. Reichenfeld 9Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), Paris, France Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1995) 23 (11): 1011–1014. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<1011:GMOCAT>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation F. W. Taylor, M. G. Bevis, B. E. Schutz, D. Kuang, J. Recy, S. Calmant, D. Charley, M. Regnier, B. Perin, M. Jackson, C. Reichenfeld; Geodetic measurements of convergence at the New Hebrides island arc indicate arc fragmentation caused by an impinging aseismic ridge. Geology 1995;; 23 (11): 1011–1014. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<1011:GMOCAT>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Global positioning system (GPS) measurements in 1990 and 1992 from two sites on the southern New Hebrides island arc give convergence rates with the Australian plate of 103 ± 5 mm/yr and 118 ± 10 mm/yr. In contrast, GPS measurements in the central New Hebrides indicate anomalously low convergence rates of ≈42 mm/yr. On geologic time scales, the mean central New Hebrides convergence rate has been 85–132 mm/yr. Elastic fault models with a locked interplate thrust zone indicate that maximum possible rates of horizontal elastic strain are insufficient to account for the anomalously slow convergence. Therefore, we propose that the central New Hebrides segment is moving eastward relative to adjacent arc segments at a rate of ≈36–83 mm/yr. This displacement is accommodated by crustal shortening at the eastern margin of the arc and strike-slip faults crosscutting the arc. Resistance to subduction of the aseismic D'Entrecasteaux Ridge system is the likely cause for horizontal forces sufficient to shove a large segment eastward and fragment the arc. This process demonstrates that subducting bathymetric features can impose fundamental structural modifications on an arc that may represent the initial stages of arc polarity reversal. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.