Decadal change of the Apulia microplate motion preceding the Mw 6.4, 26 November 2019 Durres (Albania) earthquake

Contemporary rigid motions of tectonic plates, which are inferred from geodetic data collected over several years, are commonly assumed to remain steady over the earthquake cycle. Such a tenet is predicated on the notion that stresses associated with the earthquake cycle might not be sufficient to overcome the asthenosphere viscous resistance at the lithosphere base, which counters plate--motion changes. This, however, has never been verified against observations. Here we focus on the Apulia microplate, a rigid tectonic unit located in the buffer zone between the Eurasia and Nubia plates, to show that its rigid motion constrained by Global Positioning System time series has changed in the decade preceding the Mw 6.4, 26 November 2019 Durres (Albania) earthquake. Furthermore, we investigate whether such a change could be the result of the interseismic stress buildup associated with the Durres earthquake cycle.