Relative motion of the Adriatic with respect to the confining plates: Seismological and geodetic constraints

SUMMARY The most reliable and significant seismological and geodetic constraints on the kinematics of the Adriatic Plate are tentatively recognized and used for determining Adriatic–Eurasia Eulerian poles. The poles so obtained, in spite of the considerable uncertainty that might affect them, significantly differ from the ones of previous studies. Possible explanations of this discrepancy are discussed. It is then argued that the distribution of Quaternary deformation and seismotectonic activity in the Adriatic and surrounding regions suggests that no appreciable relative motion can be recognized between the Adriatic and Africa. This evidence implies that the kinematics of the Adriatic may provide a constraint on the motion of Africa in the central Mediterranean region.