title: Strain in southern california: measured uniaxial north-South regional contraction.
abstract: The plate tectonics model of the Pacific moving northwest relative to North America implies that the regional strain in California should be simple shear across a vertical plane striking N45 degrees W or equivalently equal parts of north-south contraction and east-west extension. Measurements of the strain accumulation at seven separate sites in southern California in the interval 1972 through 1978 indicate a remarkably consistent uniaxial north-south contraction of about 0.3 part per million per year; the expected east-west extension is absent. It is not clear whether the period from 1972 through 1978 is anomalous or whether the secular strain in southern California is indeed a uniaxial north-south contraction.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lisowski
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: King