Geophysical studies in western Canada and natural gas hydrate

这项拟议的研究分为两个主题：第一个主题是了解导致加拿大西部和其他地区地震和造山的过程。二是海洋天然气水合物的赋存和形成过程，特别是在加拿大西部海域。(1)在过去的10年里，非常高精度的GPS测量导致了我们对与地震和山体建筑的长期变形相关的短期地壳应变积累和释放的探测和理解能力的一场革命。加拿大西部地震的形变将通过在不列颠哥伦比亚省西南部、夏洛特女王地区和育空地区进行重复运动和连续的高精度GPS测量来绘制。这项研究将包括确定驱动变形的力以及地球中响应变形力的强度的变化。(2)海洋天然气水合物是一种冰冻形式的天然气，存在于一些海洋区域的大陆斜坡下，如温哥华岛外和北极地区。它可能提供一种新的清洁能源，可能在气候变化中发挥作用，并可能成为深水和北极常规石油和天然气勘探的危险因素。这项研究将包括海洋调查，以及对最近在温哥华岛外完成的IODP水合物钻探数据的分析。

The proposed research is in two subjects: The first is understanding the processes responsible for earthquakes and mountain building in western Canada and elsewhere. The second is the occurrence and process of formation of natural marine gas hydrate, especially off western Canada. (1) In the past 10 years, very high precision GPS measurements have resulted in a revolution in our ability to detect and understand the short-term crustal strain buildup and release associated with earthquakes and the long-term deformation of mountain building. The deformation responsible for earthquakes in western Canada will be mapped through repeated campaign and continuous very high precision GPS measurements in SW British Columbia, the Queen Charlotte area, and in the Yukon. The study will include determining the forces that drive the deformation and the variations in the strength in the earth that respond to the deforming forces. (2) Marine gas hydrates are a frozen form of natural gas that occurs beneath the continental slope in some marine areas such as off Vancouver Island and in the arctic. It may provide a new source of clean energy, may play a role in climate change, and may be a hazard in conventional oil and gas exploration in deep water and in the arctic. The study will include marine surveys, and the analyses of data from the recently completed IODP drilling of hydrate off Vancouver Island.