Modeled continuous velocity field Modeled strain rate magnitudes

Surface Deformation of Alaska

• Evidence for a rigid Bering plate• Extension in northwestern Alaska and eastern Russia• Extrusion toward northwestern Canada• Deformation propagates far inboard from the plate

margin

500 km

Finzel et al. (2011)

Yellow vectors from PBO and othersRed vectors, continuous model velocity field

Area of inferred Yakutat flat slab

subduction

A New Deformation Model for Alaska and Western Canada

New perspective on Alaska

Finzel et al. (2011)

Old Alaskan paradigm

500 km

Yakutatmicroplate

• Highly deforming regions • Abundant seismicity, high gradients in the modeled velocity field, high strain rate magnitudes

• Relatively rigid regions• Sparse seismicity, very small gradients in the modeled velocity field, low strain rate

magnitudes

Contributions to our understanding of the Alaskan convergent margin

• A new kinematic model for Alaska and western Canada, including the location and nature of the present day plate boundaries in the region that includes:• Evidence for a rigid Bering plate• Extension in northwestern Alaska and eastern Russia• Extrusion toward northwestern Canada• Deformation propagates far inboard from the plate margin

Finzel et al. 2011