Researchers have used GPS data accurate to the second to graphically depict the dynamics of ongoing mountain formation in Europe. The African continental plate has been pushing against Europe for over 200 million years, with the first major phase of mountain formation beginning around 50 million years ago. Although the movement has slowed down, the Alps are still moving today, with the mountain range drifting about half a millimeter northward and rising 1.8 millimeters annually. The researchers obtained their data from over 300 GPS antennas located in the German, Austrian, Slovenian, Italian, French, and Swiss Alps. The scientists used the data to create a computer model of mountain migration for the entire Alpine region, with a resolution of 25 kilometers to depict horizontal and vertical shifts, as well as stretching and compression.
The movement of the Alps is so slow that hikers do not notice billions of tons of rock shifting beneath them. However, a team from the German Geodetic Research Institute at the Technical University of Munich has managed to make the dynamics of the Alps visible across the entire region. The researchers obtained their data from over 300 GPS antennas located in the German, Austrian, Slovenian, Italian, French, and Swiss Alps. The scientists used the data to create a computer model of mountain migration for the entire Alpine region, with a resolution of 25 kilometers to depict horizontal and vertical shifts, as well as stretching and compression. The researchers found that the movement of the mountains is not uniform, with the mountains in South and East Tyrol moving more to the east than to the north. Additionally, this region is being compressed. The researchers also found that the elevation of the Alps varies from region to region, with the mountains in the southern part of the Western Alps rising very little, while those in the Central Alps rise up to 2 millimeters.
The researchers faced the challenge of processing the numerous measurements, which were constantly affected by snow and other factors. The researchers used the corrected data to create a computer model of mountain migration for the entire Alpine region, with a resolution of 25 kilometers to depict horizontal and vertical shifts, as well as stretching and compression. The researchers’ model is the first to cover the entire Alpine region, from the Maritime Alps to Vienna, and provides a comprehensive view of the mountain range’s dynamics. The researchers’ findings were published in the journal Earth System Science Data.
