Analysis of Contemporary Deformations of the North-Western Caucasus and Ciscaucasia Based on GNSS Data

Abstract

The field of the contemporary deformation of the North-Western Caucasus and Ciscaucasia is described based on GNSS horizontal movement data. It is shown that the deformation velocity is sufficient for the activation of large-scale faults of the region to be followed by seismic events with a moment magnitude of up to 7.0. Yet, the orogenic uplift at a rate of up to 12 mm/yr and the development of its varied, deep-broken relief cannot be explained only by the effect of external horizontal stresses. These processes are conditioned, to a great extent, on internal isostatic forces.