THE RECENT CRUSTAL STRESS-FIELD IN CENTRAL-EUROPE SENSU-LATO AND ITS QUANTITATIVE MODELING

A detailed pattern of trajectories of the direction of maximum horizon tal crustal stresses S-Hmax has been derived for Central Europe sensu late according to actual data on fault plane solutions, in-situ stress measurements, geologic fault slip determinations and geodetic informa tion. The generalization of this direction data on maximum compressive stress in the form of trajectories shows a bending from the well-esta blished NW-SE direction in western parts of the study area to directio ns of NE-SW to E-W in the eastern part. In some regions there is evide nce for a more complicated pattern, e.g. apparently differing S-Hmax-d irections in different depth horizons, stress deflections at pronounce d tectonic complexes, and radial directions around the Pannonian Basin . For studying the conditions in the brittle part of the crust steady- state elastic finite-element model calculations were carried out to ex plain the observed stress orientations. It is shown that the simulatio n according to a modern plate tectonic concept leads to a pattern of m ain principal stress directions that is compatible with the generalize d observed stress directions. More regional features were modelled by reasonable variation of elastic parameters of different lithospheric b locks.