Support for the Cascadia Initiative Expedition Team

日本最近发生的特大逆冲断层地震及其灾难性后果突出表明，更好地了解与俯冲过程有关的地震和火山灾害和风险至关重要。北美一个人口稠密的地区也有类似的情况，那就是卡斯卡迪亚，它从不列颠哥伦比亚省南部延伸到最北部的加州。卡斯卡迪亚倡议是一项陆上/海上地震和大地测量实验，将在海底部署一组地震仪，以补充陆上的一组台站，目的是解决从巨型逆冲断层地震到火山弧结构，再到胡安·德富卡和戈尔达板块的形成、变形和水合作用等问题。这些不同的目标是整个俯冲带系统的组成部分，需要一系列地震仪穿过海岸线，并包括相关的板块边界。2010年在俄勒冈州的波特兰举行的会议上指定的实验设计和目标在NSF卡斯卡迪亚倡议研讨会报告中进行了描述，该报告阐述了CI的科学目标，所涉及的资源和社区定义的OBS部署计划。该奖项将支持一个科学家团队，以管理和监督CI OBS部署的第一年（2011年夏季），卡斯卡迪亚倡议探险队（CIET）的规划和运营工作以及最初的教育和推广（E O）工作。卡斯卡迪亚倡议的主要广泛影响是其高度的社会相关性。更好地了解卡斯卡迪亚等地区的地震活动和火山活动是减轻风险和规划火山爆发和大地震潜在破坏性影响的关键。这项提议还包括重要的外联和教育活动。CIET教育和外联方案将在第一年开发两个机会。首先，“CC@sea”项目将支持社区学院（“CC”）学生参与社区学院、高中和社区的OBS部署、检索和巡航前及后续外展活动。第二个卡斯卡迪亚倡议E O计划在俄勒冈州（最初）、华盛顿和北方加州的高中教室里开展活动。

The vital importance of gaining a better understanding of seismic (earthquake) and volcanic hazards and risks related to the process of subduction was dramatically underscored by the recent megathrust earthquake in Japan, and its catastrophic consequences. A heavily populated region of North America that is subject to similarly conditions is Cascadia, which extends from southern British Columbia to northernmost California. The Cascadia Initiative (CI) is an onshore/offshore seismic and geodetic experiment that will deploy an array of seismometers on the seafloor to complement an array of stations onshore, with the aim of addressing questions ranging from megathrust earthquakes to volcanic arc structure to the formation, deformation and hydration of the Juan de Fuca and Gorda plates. These diverse targets are components of the overall subduction zone system and require an array of seismometers crosses the shoreline and encompasses relevant plate boundaries. The experimental design and objectives, specified at meeting held in Portland, Oregon in 2010, are described in the NSF Cascadia Initiative Workshop Report, which spells out the scientific objectives of the CI, the resources involved and the community-defined OBS deployment plan. This award will support a team of scientists tocaary out and oversee the first year of CI OBS deployments (summer 2011), the planning and operational efforts of the Cascadia Initiative Expedition Team (CIET) and the initial Education and Outreach (E&O) effort. The chief broader impact of the Cascadia Initiative is its very high societal relevance. Achieving a better understanding of seismicity and volcanism in regions such as Cascadia is key to mitigating risks and planning for the potentially devastating effects of volcanic eruptions and great earthquakes. This proposal includes important outreach and education activities as well. The CIET Education and Outreach program will develop two opportunities during the first year. First, the 'CC@sea' project will support community college ('CC') student participation in OBS deployment, retrieval and pre-cruise and follow-up outreach activities in CCs, high schools and the community. The second Cascadia Initiative E&O program develops activities in high school classrooms in Oregon (initially), Washington and northern California.