EarthScope is a bold undertaking to apply modern observational, analytical and telecommunications technologies to investigate the structure and evolution of the North American continent and the physical processes controlling earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. EarthScope will provide a foundation for fundamental and applied research throughout the United States that will contribute to the mitigation of risks from geological hazards, the development of natural resources, and the public's understanding of the dynamic Earth. Overview Geological processes create the rich fabric of our landscape, from the ancient, eroded Appalachian Mountains to the younger, rugged Rockies and the volcanoes of the northwestern Cascades. Most of us rarely think about the forces that formed the majestic beauty of our national parks or produced our bountiful natural resources. Only when earthquakes rattle communities or volcanoes darken the skies are we jarred into considering the great Earth forces that fashion the terrain upon which we live, work and play. EarthScope is inspired by the need to address longstanding and fundamental questions about the forces that continue to shape our dynamic Earth. EarthScope's network of multipurpose geophysical instruments and observatories will significantly expand capabilities to observe the structure and ongoing deformation of the North American continent.
| Modern digital seismic arrays will produce three-dimensional images of North America's continental crust and the deeper mantle on which it "floats". |
| Global positioning satellite receivers, strainmeters and new satellite radar imagery will measure and map the smallest movements across faults, the magma movement inside active volcanoes and the very wide areas of deformation associated with plate tectonic motion. |
| An observatory deep within the San Andreas Fault will provide direct measurements of the physical state and mechanical behavior of one of the world's most active faults in a region of known earthquake generation. |
EarthScope will combine these geophysical measurements with data and observations from all disciplines of the Earth sciences, permitting enhanced analyses. Improved understanding of the structures and processes that affect our environment will translate into better hazards assessment, more precise estimates of natural resource potential and a deeper appreciation of connections between different aspects of our physical environment.
See http://www.earthscope.org for more information.