P. Tregoning et al., PRESENT-DAY CRUSTAL MOTION IN THE SOLOMON-ISLANDS FROM GPS OBSERVATIONS, Geophysical research letters, 25(19), 1998, pp. 3627-3630
Site velocities in the Solomon Islands from Global Positioning System
measurements spanning two years provide direct evidence of active defo
rmation between the Pacific Plate and the Solomon Are block. Convergen
ce is occurring at the San Cristobal Trench at a rate of similar to 52
+/-4 mm/yr, with no apparent local deformation occurring in the Austra
lian Plate at a distance of similar to 100 km from the trench. The isl
ands of Guadalcanal and Makira are in a first approximation moving wit
h the Pacific Plate although there is evidence of small but significan
t decoupling from the Pacific Plate of 14-23 mm/yr in a direction of 7
5-85 degrees.