Crustal deformation in the Indo-Burmese arc region: implications from the Myanmar and Southeast Asia GPS measurements

Abstract

Several models of plate boundary and convergence between the Indian and South China plate across the Indo-Burmese arc (IBA) region have been proposed, which include active subduction, transform, oblique and no plate boundary. We theoretically compute the displacement fields corresponding to each model and compare them with the results of GPS measurements in Myanmar and Southeast Asia. Available GPS observations are consistent with the model in which relative plate motion of about 36 mm/yr between India and Sundaland is partitioned almost equally between the Sagaing fault and the IBA through episodic dextral motion. Eastward motion of the Indian plate is generally compensated by eastward motion of the South China plate. Thus almost no subduction occurs along the Indo-Burmese arc. The GPS data are consistent with strain accumulation in both regions.