Statistical Analysis of Directional Features - Geomathematics: Theoretical Foundations, Applications and Future Developments - page 295

Fig. 8.18 Uniformly
compressed plastic zone
narrowing eastward. The
replaced Austrian
Crystalline ( ¼ O) equals the
squeezed out material in all
places, and
O¼O 0 ¼O 1 ¼O 2 (Source:
Agterberg 1961 , Fig. 70)
8.2.5 Tectonic Interpretation of Unit Vector Fields
Fitted to Quartzphyllites in the Basement
of the Italian Dolomites
For the Mediterranean region as a whole, GPS data indicate a roughly NNW-SSE
oriented convergence between Africa and Europe of up to 8 mm/year (Picardi
et al. 2011 ). According to Lippitsch et al. ( 2003 ) average crustal shortening in the
Alps amounted to 5 mm/year during the past 40 million years. Deep seismic lines
crossing the Eastern Alps including TRANSALP all show a South-directed
European slab below the northward-indenting Adria Microplate lithosphere
(Gebrande et al. 2006 ). As pointed out by Luth et al. ( 2010 ), the TRANSALP
profile approximately coincides with a major subduction polarity change zone. To
the west of this zone, there is southward-directed European subduction below the
Western and Central Alps; and to the east of it, there is north-eastward directed
subduction of Adria below the Eastern Alps and the Dinarides. This interpretation
of neo-Alpine orogeny is primarily based on tele-seismic tomographic data
(Lippitsch et al. 2003 ; Kissling et al. 2006 ). Luth et al. ( 2010 ) and Luth ( 2011 )
have developed litho-scale analogue models to investigate the effect of subduction
polarity change on the overlying crustal architecture.
Results of seismic Vibroseis and explosive TRANSALP transects across the
Alps from Munich to Belluno were described by the TRANSALP Working Group
( 2002 ). In this section the unit vector field fitting results for measurements on
B-axes and schistosity planes near Bruneck and in the Pustertal east of the
TRANSALP Profile are reviewed on the basis of the TRANSALP findings and