A Deep-Penetration Reflection Seismic Study at the Juncture of the Blake Plateau Basin, Carolina Trough, and Southeast Georgia Embayment

了解大陆边缘的深部结构对于确定大陆裂谷过程中形成新的洋盆的过程、评估陆壳对伴随裂谷而来的热事件的响应以及比较裂谷事件前后的火山和沉积事件至关重要。美国东海岸有着复杂的地质历史，其中至少包括两个裂谷阶段和一个重要的大陆缝合时期。这些历史的大部分保存在大陆边缘的深层沉积层中。本项目的目标是利用地震反射剖面和折射数据对这些深层沉积层进行声学成像。然后可以解释这些数据，以了解东海岸的地质历史，以及在大陆块裂谷过程中伴随着大陆地壳的伸展和抬升的过程。数据将通过租赁一艘商用地震船和在美国东南海岸外部署海底地震仪来获得。

Understanding the deep structure of continental margins is critical in determining the processes by which new ocean basins are formed during continental rifting, in evaluating the response of the continental crust to thermal events which accompany rifting, and in comparing volcanic and sedimentary events which precede and post date rifting events. The East Coast of the U.S. has had a complex geologic history which includes at least two stages of rifting and a major period of continental suturing. Much of this history is preserved in the deep, sedimentary strata along the continental margin. The objective of the present project is to use seismic reflection profiling and refraction data to acoustically image these deep sedimentary layers. These data can then be interpreted to understand the geologic history of the East Coast as well as the processes which accompany stretching and uplift of continental crust during rifting of continental masses. Data will be acquired through lease of a commercially available seismic ship and deployment of ocean bottom seismometers off the southeast coast of the US.