A comprehensive GPS velocity field along the Dead Sea Fault System (DSFS) provides new constraints on along-strike variations of near-transform crustal deformation along this plate boundary, and internal deformation of the Sinai and Arabian plates. In general, geodetically derived slip rates decrease northwards along the transform (5.0 ± 0.2 to 2.2 ± 0.5 mm yr⁻¹) and are consistent with geological slip rates averaged over longer time periods. Localized reductions in slip rate occur where the Sinai Plate is in ∼N–S extension. Extension is confined to the Sinai side of the fault and is associated with prominent changes in transform geometry, and with NW–SE striking, left-lateral splay faults, including the Carmel Fault in Israel and the Roum Fault in Lebanon. The asymmetry of the extensional velocity gradients about the transform reflects active fragmentation of the Sinai Plate along the continental margin. Additionally, elastic block modelling of GPS velocities requires an additional structure off-shore the northern DSF segment, which may correspond with a fault located along the continental margin, suggested by prior geophysical studies.

中文翻译：

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沿死海断层系统的当前滑移率的空间变化表明西奈板块破碎

沿死海断层系统（DSFS）的综合GPS速度场为沿该板块边界的近转换地壳变形以及西奈和阿拉伯板块内部变形的沿走向变化提供了新的约束。通常，大地测量得出的滑移率沿变换向北减小（5.0±0.2至2.2±0.5 mm yr ^-1），并且与较长时间段内的平均地质漏失率保持一致。在西奈板块延伸至ＮＳ范围内，滑移率局部降低。延伸仅限于断层的西奈侧，并伴有变换几何学的显着变化，以及北西向东南走向的显着的左张开断层，包括以色列的卡梅尔断层和黎巴嫩的鲁姆断层。围绕变换的扩展速度梯度的不对称性反映了西奈板块沿大陆边缘的活跃破碎。此外，GPS速度的弹性块建模需要在北部DSF段的海上建立额外的结构，这可能与先前的地球物理研究建议的沿大陆边缘的断层相对应。