Fault Kinematic Modeling Along a Widely Deformed Plate Boundary in Southern Italy

Convergent plate boundaries are often characterized by widely deformed zones, where coexisting tectonic processes and variable fault kinematics can occur. Here, we quantify this variability along the Africa‐Eurasia deformed boundary in southern Italy, based on the evaluation of geodetic strain rate by recent space geodesy observations and plate motions, which are integrated by main geometric properties of detected faults in the area. We propose a compilation of 160 known faults. We use numerical methods to predict fault kinematics and net slip rate, due to the geodetic deformation field with the inclusion of fault strain accommodation. The obtained tectonic setting is compared with the observable, showing a fault rake agreement of the 73%, which allows us to consider this approach potentially favorable to improve the knowledge of fault kinematics along diffuse plate boundaries, when fault properties are not directly available. Plain Language Summary A boundary between two plates is not a single line but it is often a large area with diffuse deformation, simultaneous tectonic processes and complex geodynamics. Here, we analyze the Africa‐Eurasia convergent and deformed boundary in southern Italy, central Mediterranean, where the lineaments along which crustal blocks move, the faults, show variable motion directions. We integrated the data describing the accurate displacement of the Earth's surface coming from recent satellite observations and from global plate motion models, together with geometric characteristics of 160 known faults, which we compiled for the purpose of computing the deformation field, that is, the geodetic strain rate, and kinematics along the faults of the area, using numerical methods. The procedure to integrate geodetic and geological observed data allows us to model crustal deformation both offshore and onshore the study area, and the agreement of the 73% between observed versus predicted fault kinematics suggests that this approach can help to investigate tectonics deformation along diffuse plate boundaries worldwide, when fault properties cannot be directly observed. Key Points We combine 392 recent Global navigation satellite system rates and the geometry of 160 faults of southern Italy to compute new strain rate field using numerical methods We present fault kinematics of the region and compare it to reference literature We obtain a tectonic setting which suggests this approach is useful to investigate fault kinematics along diffu