Collaborative Research: Geodynamics of the Eastern California Shear Zone

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0003396Furlong0003740DixonThe Eastern California Shear Zone serves as a major component of the Pacific-North American plate boundary, accommodating 20-25% of the total strain along this boundary, with little deformation occurring between the San Andreas system and the shear zone. The San Andreas system is traditionally considered to mark the plate boundary between the Pacific plate and the North American plate, but the nature of the Eastern California Shear Zone is controversial, with hypotheses varying between it being completely analogous to a plate boundary to reflecting local effects within the edge of the North American plate. This project intends to combine new GPS observations and geodynamical modeling to test these various hypotheses. Results are expected to better clarify the role of the Eastern California Shear Zone in Pacific plate - North American plate tectonics.