Strain partitioning and fault slip rates in the northeastern Caribbean from GPS measurements -: art. no. 1856

[1] GPS data collected in the Dominican Republic from 1994 to 2001 show that oblique convergence between the North American and Caribbean plates is partitioned between 5.2 +/- 2 mm. yr(-1) of dip-slip reverse motion on the North Hispaniola thrust (approximately N-S), and 12.8 +/- 2.5 mm. yr(-1) and 9.0 +/- 9.0 mm. yr(-1) of approximately E-W left-lateral strike-slip motion on the Septentrional and Enriquillo faults (95% confidence). The agreement between GPS and paleoseimological slip rates on the Septentrional fault, together with the 770-960 years since the last major earthquake and the 800-1200 years maximum repeat time of major earthquakes, may indicate that the Septentrional fault is currently in the late phase of its rupture cycle.