Collaborative Research: Antarctic Stress Map Project Phase I: Neogene-Quaternary Volcanic Alignments in the Transantarctic Mountains/Ross Sea Region

该奖项由极地项目办公室的南极地质和地球物理项目提供，支持对横贯南极山脉干谷段最近和当代应力场的研究。这个“南极应力图项目”（ASMAP）将作为初始阶段，从横贯南极山脉和罗斯海地区邻近的南极西部裂谷系统内的新近系-第四纪火山喷口排列中获取数据。火山锥和其他火山特征的分布、排列和形态将使用高分辨率卫星图像（SPOT， SAR）和航空照片进行测绘。现场测试将评估断层和火山喷口排列的结构关联。这些数据将与现有的火山岩年代学和岩石学信息以及其他岩脉和断层数据相结合，以便解释排列并确定整个南极洲这一地区的新构造应力状态。这种应力状态的分析将与其他正在进行的关于横贯南极山脉裂谷侧面和邻近裂谷系统的当代构造和古运动学的研究结合起来加以解释。来自独特的南极环境的新应力场数据将有助于限制板块边界和地壳浮力在积极变形的板内区域中的作用。

9909770WilsonThis award, provided by the Antarctic Geology and Geophysics Program of the Office of Polar Programs, supports an investigation of the recent and contemporary stress field of the Dry Valleys segment of the Transantarctic Mountains. This "Antarctic Stress Map Project" (ASMAP) will, as an initial phase, obtain data from Neogene-Quaternary volcanic vent alignments within the Transantarctic Mountains and adjacent West Antarctic rift system in the Ross Sea region. The distribution, alignments, and morphologies of volcanic cones and other volcanic features will be mapped using high resolution satellite imagery (SPOT, SAR) and aerial photographs. Field tests will assess structural associations of faults and volcanic vent alignments. These data will be coupled with existing chronological and petrological information on the volcanic rocks as well as other dike and fault data in order to interpret alignments and to define neotectonic stress states throughout this sector of Antarctica. This analysis of the stress regime will be interpreted in conjunction with other ongoing studies of contemporary tectonics and paleo-kinematics of the Transantarctic Mountains rift flank and adjacent rift system. New stress field data from the unique Antarctic setting will help to constrain the role of plate-boundary and crustal buoyancy forces in actively deforming intraplate regions.