The contribution of GPS data to the detection of the Earth's crust deformations illustrated by GPS campaigns in the Adria region

From a geodetic point of view, the detection of areas within the Earth's crust that are strongly deformed can be seen as the first step in locating zones needing more precise study. In such studies, the datum problem of estimated velocities plays a key role in the geodynamical interpretation of results. In this paper, we will briefly present the advantages of an analytical surface deformation theory to describe movements of the Earth's crust and discuss the results of the deformation analysis based on the GPS (Global Positioning System) campaigns carried out in the area of the Adriatic Sea.