Collaborative Research: Tests of the Rigid Plate Hypothesis and a Revised Global Model for Geologically Instantaneous Plate Motions

9902818 DeMets研究人员建议开发一种改进的地质瞬时板块运动模型，该模型将改变某些地区的估计速度，超过公布的置信限。 新模型将导致一组显著不同的角速度，其自洽性比NUVEL-1A角速度更高，并将消除现在已知的几个系统误差源。 该团队将使用新的和现有的数据来测试刚性板假设，并估计板非刚性的上限和下限。 这套新的角速度将提供一个新的标准，用于与正在进行的全球定位系统和其他大地测量观测进行比较，而费用仅为这些观测的一小部分。

9902818 DeMets The investigators propose to develop an improved model of geologically instantaneous plate motions that will change estimated velocities in some regions more than the published confidence limits. The new model will lead to a significantly different set of angular velocities that will have a higher degree of self-consistency than do the NUVEL-1A angular velocities and will eliminate several sources of systematic error that are now understood. The team will use the new and existing data to test the rigid plate hypothesis and to estimate upper and lower bounds on plate non-rigidity. The new set of angular velocities will provide a new standard for comparison with ongoing GPS and other geodetic observations at a tiny fraction of the cost of such observations.