Variation of the present-day stress field within the North German Basin-insights from thin shell FE modeling based on residual GPS velocities

We present a finite element-based dynamic modeling study of the recent stress conditions within the North German Basin, which is part of the Central European Basin System, based on geological, geophysical and geomorphological data. After compilation and evaluation of existing data, thin shell modeling is applied to understand the recent structural evolution of the Central European Basin System (CEBS) and its transition towards the Baltic Shield. In contrast to previous modeling approaches, we include a complex pattern of major faults from the Alpine Front to the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist Zone (STZ) and GPS measured residual velocities to define the boundary conditions of the model. Major deviations of the stresses occur along strong contrasts in the lithospheric structure and influence the stress pattern significantly. High intraplate compression is a responsible large-scale reactivation of the faults associated with the pre-existing basin framework in northern Central Europe, with an important record on vertical motions. The modeled slip/subsidence rates of the faults in the North German Basin are in the order of 0.01 and 0.2 mm year−1, which are in accordance with field observations, because no fault exhibits large Quaternary displacement rates in the study area.