A Marine Geophysical Study of the Gulf of Valencia

大陆边缘的深部构造和构造史研究是地球和海洋科学的一个重要课题。地壳层的性质和厚度以及沉积物的沉降历史可以用来确定大陆地壳的强度，也可以用来评估地壳减薄和拉伸的模型。地中海西部瓦伦西亚湾的大陆边缘是进行这类研究的理想地点，因为这一边缘形成的时间相对较晚，而且只有很薄的沉积物覆盖。目前的拨款将支持一项海洋地球物理计划，以检查该边缘的厚度、地震特征和热流。这项工作将是法国和西班牙科学家的合作项目，除了R.V.康拉德号之外，还将使用第二艘法国科考船。这些数据将与现有的井数据和该边缘的重力研究相结合，以评估大陆地壳在裂谷和拉伸过程中发生的过程。

The study of the deep structure and tectonic history of continental margins is an important topic in the earth and ocean sciences. The nature and thickness of crustal layers and the subsidence history determined from data on sediments can be used to determine the strength of the continental crust, as well as to evaluate models for crustal thinning and stretching. The continental margin of the Gulf of Valencia in the western Mediterranean is an ideal location for such a study since this margin has formed relatively recently and has only a thin sediment cover. The present award will support a marine geophysical program to examine the thickness, seismic character and heat flow across this margin. The work will be a cooperative project with French and Spanish scientists, and will utilize a second French research vessel in addition to the R.V. Conrad. These data will be integrated with existing well data and gravity studies of this margin to evaluate the processes occurring during rifting and stretching of continental crust.