EAR-PF: An Investigation of Continental Rift-Parallel Deformation

莎拉·斯坦普斯博士在麻省理工学院期间获得了美国国家科学基金会地球科学博士后奖学金，从事GPS大地测量学教育项目的研究和开发。该项目旨在确认和阐明驱动沿东非裂谷观测到的裂谷平行表面变形的动力过程的起源，东非裂谷是一个典型的大陆裂谷系统。斯坦普斯博士将(1)利用全球定位系统（GPS）仪器在西分支和鲁夸裂谷沿线先前测量过的地点进行大地测量基准测试，这些地点显示出裂谷平行变形；(2)使用自适应有限元技术测试裂谷平行变形的候选机制，该技术可以解决各种空间尺度上的粘弹性和时间相关问题。验证沿东非裂谷平行变形的存在和确定相关机制将使我们对裂谷作用过程有更全面的了解。使用GPS作为监测活动变形的工具对于提高对地震和火山灾害的认识至关重要。该项目支持GPS大地测量学培训计划的发展，旨在教育大学生用GPS观察毫米精度的地表运动。该试点项目将在马达加斯加的塔那那利佛大学实施，并为未来发展中国家和美国的GPS大地测量能力建设工作提供资料。

Dr. D. Sarah Stamps has been awarded an NSF Earth Science Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct research and develop a GPS geodesy education program while at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This project aims to confirm and elucidate the origin of the dynamic processes driving rift-parallel surface deformation observed along the East African Rift, an archetype continental rift system. Dr. Stamps will (1) occupy geodetic benchmarks with Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments at previously measured sites along the Western Branch and Rukwa Rift where rift-parallel deformation is indicated, and (2) test candidate mechanisms for rift-parallel deformation using an adaptive finite element technique that can solve viscoelastic and time-dependent problems at various spatial scales. Verifying the existence of rift-parallel deformation along the East African Rift and determining the responsible mechanism(s) will provide a more complete understanding of rifting processes.The use of GPS as a tool for monitoring active deformation is vital for advancing knowledge of seismic and volcanic hazards. This project supports the development of a GPS geodesy training program aimed at educating university students to observe millimeter precision surface motions with GPS. The pilot program will be implemented at the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar and documented for future GPS geodesy capacity building efforts in developing countries and within the US.