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Persistent deformation in a post-collisional stable continental region: insights from 20 years of cGPS in Romania.

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Title: Persistent deformation in a post-collisional stable continental region: insights from 20 years of cGPS in Romania.
Authors: Muntean, Alexandra1 (AUTHOR) muntean@infp.ro, Petrescu, Laura1,2 (AUTHOR) laura.petrescu@infp.ro, Ambrosius, Boudewijn3 (AUTHOR) bacambrosius@gmail.com, Borleanu, Felix1 (AUTHOR), Nastase, Eduard Ilie1 (AUTHOR), Munteanu, Ioan4,5 (AUTHOR)
Source: Solid Earth. 2026, Vol. 17 Issue 5, p747-762. 16p.
Subjects: Global Positioning System, Physiographic provinces, Deformations (Mechanics), Plate tectonics, Paleoseismology, Lithosphere, Structural geology
Geographic Terms: Romania, Carpathian Mountains, Eurasia
Abstract: The Carpathian Region, located at the edge of the East European Platform, presents a unique tectonic setting where major deformation associated with subduction and collision appears to have ceased around 8 million years ago. Yet vertical movements and seismicity continued afterward till the present day, suggesting ongoing crustal deformation and challenging our understanding of intraplate earthquakes and the processes driving these phenomena in an area considered a stable continental interior. In this study, we analyze over two decades of continuous GPS (cGPS) data from 143 permanent stations to estimate both horizontal and vertical crustal motions, constructing the most accurate model of crustal deformation in the region to date. The estimated velocity field indicates a southward drift of the South Carpathians and Moesia relative to Eurasia, with velocities ranging from 0.5 to 2 mm yr−1. We detect a more complex pattern of vertical uplift and subsidence in the foredeep, challenging a previously held view that this region is solely subsiding. This pattern may reflect localized uplift in response to processes such as the Vrancea Slab break-off beneath the South-East Carpathians. Crustal-scale active faults accommodate the observed differential motion, fragmenting the foreland. Furthermore, using a regularized horizontal velocity vector field, we estimate strain rate variations, maximum shear strain, and dilatation patterns across Romania, which align with observed stress regimes and earthquake mechanisms. This agreement validates our results and indicates an influence of surface plate kinematics on the observed seismicity, in addition to the deep Vrancea Slab dynamics. Our findings provide insights into the causes of crustal deformation at the transition between active collision zones and stable continental platforms, enhancing our understanding of intraplate seismicity in regions traditionally considered tectonically stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Solid Earth is the property of Copernicus Gesellschaft mbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Persistent deformation in a post-collisional stable continental region: insights from 20 years of cGPS in Romania.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Muntean%2C+Alexandra%22">Muntean, Alexandra</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> muntean@infp.ro</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Petrescu%2C+Laura%22">Petrescu, Laura</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> laura.petrescu@infp.ro</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ambrosius%2C+Boudewijn%22">Ambrosius, Boudewijn</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> bacambrosius@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Borleanu%2C+Felix%22">Borleanu, Felix</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nastase%2C+Eduard Ilie%22">Nastase, Eduard Ilie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Munteanu%2C+Ioan%22">Munteanu, Ioan</searchLink><relatesTo>4,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Solid+Earth%22">Solid Earth</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 17 Issue 5, p747-762. 16p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Global+Positioning+System%22">Global Positioning System</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physiographic+provinces%22">Physiographic provinces</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deformations+%28Mechanics%29%22">Deformations (Mechanics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plate+tectonics%22">Plate tectonics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paleoseismology%22">Paleoseismology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lithosphere%22">Lithosphere</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+geology%22">Structural geology</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Romania%22">Romania</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carpathian+Mountains%22">Carpathian Mountains</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Eurasia%22">Eurasia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The Carpathian Region, located at the edge of the East European Platform, presents a unique tectonic setting where major deformation associated with subduction and collision appears to have ceased around 8 million years ago. Yet vertical movements and seismicity continued afterward till the present day, suggesting ongoing crustal deformation and challenging our understanding of intraplate earthquakes and the processes driving these phenomena in an area considered a stable continental interior. In this study, we analyze over two decades of continuous GPS (cGPS) data from 143 permanent stations to estimate both horizontal and vertical crustal motions, constructing the most accurate model of crustal deformation in the region to date. The estimated velocity field indicates a southward drift of the South Carpathians and Moesia relative to Eurasia, with velocities ranging from 0.5 to 2 mm yr−1. We detect a more complex pattern of vertical uplift and subsidence in the foredeep, challenging a previously held view that this region is solely subsiding. This pattern may reflect localized uplift in response to processes such as the Vrancea Slab break-off beneath the South-East Carpathians. Crustal-scale active faults accommodate the observed differential motion, fragmenting the foreland. Furthermore, using a regularized horizontal velocity vector field, we estimate strain rate variations, maximum shear strain, and dilatation patterns across Romania, which align with observed stress regimes and earthquake mechanisms. This agreement validates our results and indicates an influence of surface plate kinematics on the observed seismicity, in addition to the deep Vrancea Slab dynamics. Our findings provide insights into the causes of crustal deformation at the transition between active collision zones and stable continental platforms, enhancing our understanding of intraplate seismicity in regions traditionally considered tectonically stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Solid Earth is the property of Copernicus Gesellschaft mbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.5194/se-17-747-2026
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 747
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Global Positioning System
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physiographic provinces
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deformations (Mechanics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plate tectonics
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      – SubjectFull: Paleoseismology
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      – SubjectFull: Lithosphere
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      – SubjectFull: Structural geology
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      – SubjectFull: Romania
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      – SubjectFull: Carpathian Mountains
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      – SubjectFull: Eurasia
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      – TitleFull: Persistent deformation in a post-collisional stable continental region: insights from 20 years of cGPS in Romania.
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              Text: 2026
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