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

研究人员建议开发一种改进的地质瞬时板块运动模型，该模型将使某些地区的估计速度变化超过公布的置信度。新的模型将导致一组显著不同的角速度，这些角速度将具有比NUVEL-1A角速度更高的自洽程度，并将消除目前已知的几个系统误差来源。该团队将使用新的和现有的数据来检验刚性板假说，并估计板的非刚性的上下限。这组新的角速度将为与正在进行的GPS和其他大地测量进行比较提供一个新的标准，而成本只是此类观测的一小部分。

9903763Gordon 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.