Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault

Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault

The Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault, also called the Azores-Gibraltar fault zone (AGFZ), is a major geologic fault which runs eastward from the eastern end of the Terceira Rift in the Azores, extending through the Strait of Gibraltar, past Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean Sea. It forms part of the tectonic boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate. The extension east of the Strait of Gibraltar is poorly understood and is currently regarded as a "diffuse" boundary. Somewhere in the vicinity of the Italian Peninsula, many geologists believe the fault connects with a subduction zone where the African Plate is slowly subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate.

The fault is a right lateral moving type of transform fault, moving about 4 mm per year, but eastern segments of the fault show evidence of compression as well.

References

* [http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/studies/tsunami/tsurp06a.pdf Tectonics of the Azores-Gibraltar fault zone]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gibraltar Anthem — Territorial anthem of Gibraltar Lyrics Peter Emberley, 1994 Music Peter Emberley, 1994 Adopted 18 October 1994 The Gibraltar Anthem is the national song of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. In common with the United K …   Wikipedia

  • Azores — This article is about the archipelago. For the area of high pressure, see Azores High. Coordinates: 37°44′28″N 25°40′32″W / 37.74111°N 25.67556°W …   Wikipedia

  • Gibraltar Tunnel — Infobox tunnel name = Gibraltar Tunnel caption = line = location = Strait of Gibraltar system = Railway tunnel start = 2008 end = 2025 stations = status = Project at planning phase open = close = owner = Spanish and governments operator =… …   Wikipedia

  • Gibraltar — This article is about the British overseas territory. For other uses, see Gibraltar (disambiguation). Gibraltar …   Wikipedia

  • Disputed status of Gibraltar — Gibraltar This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Gibraltar Monarch Elizabeth I …   Wikipedia

  • Demographics of Gibraltar — Gibraltar This article is part of the series: Culture of Gibraltar Demographics of Gibraltar Gibraltarian people History of the Genoese in Gibraltar History of the Jews in Gibraltar History of t …   Wikipedia

  • Culture of Gibraltar — Gibraltar This article is part of the series: Culture of Gibraltar Demographics of Gibraltar Gibraltarian people History of the Genoese in Gibraltar History of the Jews in Gibraltar History of th …   Wikipedia

  • Chief Minister of Gibraltar — Gibraltar This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Gibraltar Monarch Elizabeth I …   Wikipedia

  • Music of Gibraltar — Gibraltar This article is part of the series: Culture of Gibraltar Demographics of Gibraltar Gibraltarian people History of the Genoese in Gibraltar History of the Jews in Gibraltar History of the Maltese in G …   Wikipedia

  • Constitution of Gibraltar — Gibraltar This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Gibraltar Monarch Elizabeth I …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”