RT Journal Article
T1 Unveiling tectonic deformation in El Salvador through GNSS and InSAR kinematic modelling
A1 Portela, Juan
A1 Bejar Pizarro, Marta
A1 Staller, Alejandra
A1 Lasserre, Cécile
A1 Cosenza-Muralles, Beatriz
A1 Álvarez Gómez, José Antonio
A1 Martínez Díaz, José Jesús
AB The El Salvador Fault Zone (ESFZ) accommodates most of the differential motion between the Central America Volcanic Forearc and the Chortís block in Central America. By combining recent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations, we develop the first kinematic block model for El Salvador that jointly inverts both data types. The model refines previous regional studies by resolving slip partitioning within the ESFZ and its continuations in Guatemala and the Gulf of Fonseca. Our preferred model predicts total slip rates of about 14 mm yr−1 across the central ESFZ, distributed between a northern branch (5–8 mm yr−1 dextral, 3–7 mm yr−1 normal) and a southern branch (2–6 mm yr−1 dextral). Dextral motion decreases toward the Jalpatagua Fault in Guatemala and toward the San Miguel Fault in eastern El Salvador, increasing again along the Marrabios Fault in Nicaragua. Subduction coupling beneath El Salvador appears weak (Φ≈0.2) and confined to shallow depths, strengthening westward into Guatemala. These results highlight a strongly coupled volcanic arc and a weakly coupled subduction interface. Future seafloor geodetic measurements and new radar satellite missions could improve constraints on slab coupling and crustal deformation processes in this seismically active region.
PB Copernicus Publications
SN 1869-9510
YR 2026
FD 2026-03-03
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133787
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133787
LA eng
NO Portela, J., Béjar-Pizarro, M., Staller, A., Lasserre, C., Cosenza-Muralles, B., Álvarez-Gómez, J. A., & Martínez-Díaz, J. J. (2026). Unveiling tectonic deformation in El Salvador through GNSS and InSAR kinematic modelling. Solid Earth, 17(2), 369-387. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-369-2026
NO MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033
DS Docta Complutense
RD 18 mar 2026