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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 31, L11612, doi:10.1029/2004GL020347, 2004

Crustal deformation in Thailand and tectonics of Indochina peninsula as seen from GPS observations

Makiko Iwakuni

Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan


Teruyuki Kato

Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan


Hiroshi Takiguchi

Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan


Toshiyuki Nakaegawa

Meteorological Research Institute, Japan Meteorological Agency, Tokyo, Japan


Mikio Satomura

Institute of Geosciences, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan


Abstract

The Indochina peninsula has been hypothesized to be in the Sunda block, a rigid block in SE Asia. However, its northern boundary is not obvious. To elucidate the boundary and the deformation on the peninsula, six permanent GPS sites were established in Thailand, and observations have been conducted since March 1998. Estimated velocities suggest that most of the Indochina peninsula is rigid and can be considered in the Sunda block. However, close examination suggest small but significant strain in the order of 10−8 exists in Thailand. Statistical test suggests that there is no significant differential motion between the Sunda block and the South China block. On the other hand, acute clockwise rotation of east Himalayan syntax indicates left lateral shear in the north of Thailand, which may be partially accommodated by left lateral motion along Mae Chan fault.

Received 24 April 2004; accepted 12 May 2004; published 11 June 2004.

Index Terms: 1208 Geodesy and Gravity: Crustal movements—intraplate (8110); 1243 Geodesy and Gravity: Space geodetic surveys; 8150 Tectonophysics: Plate boundary—general (3040); 8158 Tectonophysics: Plate motions—present and recent (3040).

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Citation: Iwakuni, M., T. Kato, H. Takiguchi, T. Nakaegawa, and M. Satomura (2004), Crustal deformation in Thailand and tectonics of Indochina peninsula as seen from GPS observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L11612, doi:10.1029/2004GL020347.