The 2009 horizontal velocity field for South America and the Caribbean

Station velocities derived from space geodetic measurements in Central and South America were processed by the finite element method using a geophysical model and by a least squares collocation approach with empirical correlation functions for computing a continuous velocity field of the South American and the Caribbean crust. Velocities of the reference frame for the Americas (SIRGAS), and of various geodynamic networks (CASA, SNAPP, CAP, SAGA, and seismic gap projects) are used as input data. In general, the results present good agreement with previous models. Moreover, there are significant improvements, particularly in areas with new data (northern and central Andes, southern Tierra del Fuego).