Seismicity of the Eastern Mediterranean and Some Tectonic Features of the Mediterranean Ridge

Seismic data and other geophysical information have been used to investigate the tectonic features of the eastern Mediterranean ridge. It has been found that the main seismic zone of the region follows the Mediterranean ridge. Fault plane solutions of earthquakes show that the axis of compression is horizontal and perpendicular to the trend of the ridge and the axis of tension dips steeply. These solutions also indicate that the underthrusting of the Aegean arc by the African lithospheric plate starts from the Mediterranean ridge. Efficient transmission of body waves across the Mediterranean ridge indicates that this is not a mid-oceanic ridge. There is evidence that the Mediterranean ridge is the remains of sea-floor deformation caused by interaction between the African and Eurasian lithospheric plates. The seismic data indicate tectonic continuity of Cyprus with the Alpine thrust belt.