Abstract We study translation, rotation, and strain of active tectonic blocks in Northeastern Venezuela from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations. Since the installation of the geodetic network in 2003, one of the goals was to place at least three observation sites at each tectonic block to study the deformation of each one. Based on this premise, we define at least seven blocks: Bergantin and Caripe blocks south of the El Pilar Fault (EPF), and Cariaco Gulf, Land bridge, Paria, North Peninsula, and Margarita Island blocks north of the EPF. Our preferred block modeling shows angular rotations from 0.02 to 0.29° Ma−1. It is known that the EPF concentrates the active deformation in this region of the Caribbean-South American plate boundary. However, the existent rotation could accommodate part of the motion. The strain rate tensors (SRT) indicate NW-SE compression and NE-SW extension for the western blocks. To the east, the 4-Land bridge block keeps the NW-SE compression but shows a decrease in the extensional component. The 5-Paria blocks show a complete inversion in the sense of semi-axis. Additionally, we evaluate the possibility of different motions in Margarita block calculating translational vector, rotational velocity, and strain from three GNSS sites at each side thereof. Our results show remarkable similarities for the Macanao Peninsula and Eastern Margarita Island, pointing to both belonging to a single block.

中文翻译：

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基于 GNSS 分析的委内瑞拉东北部活动构造块的应变计算

摘要 我们通过全球导航卫星系统 (GNSS) 观测研究委内瑞拉东北部活动构造块的平移、旋转和应变。自 2003 年安装大地测量网以来，目标之一是在每个构造块上放置至少三个观测点，以研究每个构造块的变形。基于这个前提，我们至少定义了七个区块：El Pilar Fault (EPF) 以南的 Bergantin 和 Caripe 区块，以及 EPF 以北的 Cariaco Gulf、Landbridge、Paria、北半岛和 Margarita Island 区块。我们首选的块建模显示从 0.02 到 0.29° Ma-1 的角旋转。众所周知，EPF 将活动变形集中在加勒比-南美板块边界的这一区域。然而，现有的旋转可以容纳部分运动。应变率张量 (SRT) 表示西部块体的 NW-SE 压缩和 NE-SW 扩展。在东面，4-Land 桥块保持 NW-SE 压缩，但拉伸分量减少。5-Paria 块显示了半轴意义上的完全反转。此外，我们评估了 Margarita 块中不同运动的可能性，计算其每一侧的三个 GNSS 站点的平移矢量、旋转速度和应变。我们的结果显示了 Macanao 半岛和东玛格丽塔岛的显着相似之处，表明两者都属于一个街区。5-Paria 块显示了半轴意义上的完全反转。此外，我们评估了 Margarita 块中不同运动的可能性，计算其每一侧的三个 GNSS 站点的平移矢量、旋转速度和应变。我们的结果显示了 Macanao 半岛和东玛格丽塔岛的显着相似之处，表明两者都属于一个街区。5-Paria 块显示了半轴意义上的完全反转。此外，我们评估了 Margarita 块中不同运动的可能性，计算其每一侧的三个 GNSS 站点的平移矢量、旋转速度和应变。我们的结果显示了 Macanao 半岛和东玛格丽塔岛的显着相似之处，表明两者都属于一个街区。