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Advancing Earth Sciences: Caltech Tectonics Observatory

Join the annual meeting to learn about the latest research on plate tectonics, subduction processes, and large earthquakes. Explore new techniques and strategies for understanding the dynamics of the lithosphere and improving hazard mitigation. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary environment fostering the future of earth sciences.

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Advancing Earth Sciences: Caltech Tectonics Observatory

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  1. Tectonics Observatory2004- Annual Meeting 8:45-10:45 • Mexico, Rob Clayton • Sumatra, Kerry Sieh • Taiwan, Jean-Philippe Avouac • Western US, Jason Saleeby • Alaska,  Kerry Sieh • Large earthquakes, Jeroen Tromp, Don Helmberger • Subduction processes, Japan, Mark Simons • Iran, Brian Wernicke 10:45-… Discussion and tea around the posters

  2. The CaltechTectonics Observatory • An initiative supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Fundation : $13,250,000 grant for a first 5-year phase. 15 Faculty involved  20 students and postdocs

  3. Plate Tectonics is only an approximation : some plate boundaries are rather broad zones of diffuse deformation and seismicity. • Plate Tectonics is a kinematic model : it does not address the mechanics and physics behind this surface manifestation of the earth dynamics. • Implications of Plate Tectonics for hazard mitigation are poor: it does not provide much keys for assessing seismic and volcanic hazard. • Time to update the elastic rebound model of the seismic cycle : The physical parameters controlling the behavior of large faults are poorly understood.

  4. The CaltechTectonics Observatory • Take advantage of recent technological advances in Earth Sciences to gain some better understanding of the dynamics of the lithosphere that will renew/encompass current paradigms (Plate Tectonics, Elastic rebound model of the EQ cycle)

  5. Stimulate cross-fertilization among the various earth science disciplines in the Division. • Develop the use of most recent techniques for tectonic studies (CGPS, satellite imagery, thermochronology, seismic imaging, isotopic geochemistry …) • Take advantage of new computational techniques and recent hardware advances. We intend to create an stimulating multidisciplinary environment to breed a new generation of earth scientists who will conceive the future theory and models of the earth dynamics

  6. Implementation Strategies Focus Areas • Data from existing and planned national networks (U.S., Japan, and Taiwan) • Targeted field efforts in key areas • Analysis Center • Computational • Geochemical • Geological & Geophysical (field obs. & remote sensing)

  7. Infrastructure/ People • Administrative assistant : Heather Steele • Technical support : J. Yu, S.Healy, M. Turner, John Galetzka, X, X • Steering committee (R. Clayton, J. Eiler, M. Gurnis, K. Sieh, M. Simons, B. Wernicke) • 8 multidisciplinary projects lead by 8 different faculty.

  8. Infrastructure • GIS facilities • Beowulf • Deployment of CGPS networks in Sumatra, Bargain, Nepal, • Geochemistry, Stable Isotopes Mass Spectrometer • 50 Broadband seismometers

  9. Regional Targets Japan Arabia and Indo-Asia collision zone ? Taiwan Sumatra Western North America Middle America Peru-Chile America ?

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