The spreading rate along the MAR does not change abruptly at the ATJ, instead decreasing from 22.9±0.1 mm/yr at 40°N to 19.8±0.2 mm/yr at 38°N. This means the ATJ is not a simple triple junction where three tectonic plates meet at a point. The transitional range of spreading rates instead indicates the presence of a microplate, commonly referred to as the Azores Microplate, although the observed behaviour can also be explained in terms of a diffuse boundary.[1] Its northern boundary intersects the MAR between 39.4°N and 40.0°N and its southern between 38.2°N and 38.5°N. The microplate moves about 2 mm/yr east-northeast along its Nubian boundary.[2]
da Silva Fernandes, R. M. (2004). Present-Day Kinematics at the Azores-Gibraltar Plate Boundary as Derived from GPS Observations(PDF). Delft University Press. ISBN9040725578. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
DeMets, C.; Gordon, R. G.; Argus, D. F. (2010). "Geologically current plate motions". Geophysical Journal International. 181 (1): 1–80. Bibcode:2010GeoJI.181....1D. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04491.x.
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Main tectonic structures that can be defined in the area of the Azores Triple Junction
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azores, triple, junction, geologic, triple, junction, where, boundaries, three, tectonic, plates, intersect, north, american, plate, eurasian, plate, african, plate, this, triple, junction, located, along, atlantic, ridge, amidst, azores, islands, nearly, west. 39 26 N 29 50 W 39 44 N 29 83 W 39 44 29 83 The Azores Triple Junction The Azores Triple Junction ATJ is a geologic triple junction where the boundaries of three tectonic plates intersect the North American Plate the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate This triple junction is located along the Mid Atlantic Ridge MAR amidst the Azores islands nearly due west of the Strait of Gibraltar It is classed as an R R R triple junction of the T type for its shape as it is an intersection of the Mid Atlantic Ridge running north south and the Terceira Rift which runs east southeast The spreading rate along the MAR does not change abruptly at the ATJ instead decreasing from 22 9 0 1 mm yr at 40 N to 19 8 0 2 mm yr at 38 N This means the ATJ is not a simple triple junction where three tectonic plates meet at a point The transitional range of spreading rates instead indicates the presence of a microplate commonly referred to as the Azores Microplate although the observed behaviour can also be explained in terms of a diffuse boundary 1 Its northern boundary intersects the MAR between 39 4 N and 40 0 N and its southern between 38 2 N and 38 5 N The microplate moves about 2 mm yr east northeast along its Nubian boundary 2 Contents 1 References 1 1 Notes 1 2 Sources 2 External linksReferences editNotes edit F O Marques J C Catalao C DeMets A C G Costa A Hildenbrand 2013 GPS and tectonic evidence for a diffuse plate boundary at the Azores Triple Junction PDF Earth and Planetary Science Letters 381 177 187 Bibcode 2013E amp PSL 381 177M doi 10 1016 j epsl 2013 08 051 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link DeMets Gordon amp Argus 2010 The Azores microplate pp 24 25 Sources edit da Silva Fernandes R M 2004 Present Day Kinematics at the Azores Gibraltar Plate Boundary as Derived from GPS Observations PDF Delft University Press ISBN 9040725578 Retrieved 22 October 2016 DeMets C Gordon R G Argus D F 2010 Geologically current plate motions Geophysical Journal International 181 1 1 80 Bibcode 2010GeoJI 181 1D doi 10 1111 j 1365 246X 2009 04491 x Tectonics of the AzoresExternal links editMain tectonic structures that can be defined in the area of the Azores Triple Junction nbsp This tectonics article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Azores Triple Junction amp oldid 1143616024, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
