GPS constraints on Africa (Nubia) and Arabia plate motions

We use continuously recording GPS (CGPS) and survey-mode GPS (SGPS) observations to determine Euler vectors for relative motion of the African (Nubian), Arabian and Eurasian plates. We present a well-constrained Eurasia–Nubia Euler vector derived from 23 IGS sites in Europe and four CGPS and three SGPS sites on the Nubian Plate (−0.95 ± 4.8°N, −21.8 ± 4.3°E, 0.06 ± 0.005° Myr−1). We see no significant (>1 mm yr−1) internal deformation of the Nubian Plate. The GPS Nubian–Eurasian Euler vector differs significantly from NUVEL-1A (21.0 ± 4.2°N, −20.6 ± 0.6°E, 0.12 ± 0.015° Myr−1), implying more westward motion of Africa relative to Eurasia and slower convergence in the eastern Mediterranean. The Arabia–Eurasia…