Plate kinematics and geodynamics in the Central Mediterranean

We argue that seismotectonic activity in the Central Mediterranean area and the Aegean–Balkan zone is driven by the NNE-ward motion of Africa and westward motion of Anatolia with respect to Eurasia. These boundary conditions can plausibly and coherently account for E–W shortening and roughly S–N extension in the Aegean domain, thrusting and uplift at the boundary between the Aegean–Balkan system and the Adriatic/Ionian domain (Hellenic trench, Cephalonia fault, Epirus, Albanides and Southern Dinarides), the kinematics of the Adria plate (a large block encompassing the Adriatic continental domain, the northern Ionian zone and Hyblean-Adventure block) and consequently, the complex pattern of deformation recognized at its boundaries. Furthermore, the fact that in our scheme Adria moves almost in connection with Africa is consistent with the lack of an active decoupling zone between Adria and Africa, an evidence that can hardly be reconciled with the kinematics so far proposed for these two plates. The reasons why we adopt an Africa–Eurasia relative motion different from that implied by the popular NUVEL-1 global solution are discussed in detail. Finally, we make some considerations about the possible implications of the presently available geodetic data on the long-term plate kinematics.