Microplate Capture, Large-Scale Rotations and Initiation of the San Andreas Transform: Test of a New Tectonic Model

太平洋-北美板块边界的构造演化与加利福尼亚边缘的几个引擎特征的发展有关，包括横向山脉的大规模旋转，几个走滑断层的位置和地壳极端伸展的区域。最近一种主要基于地震反射数据的构造模型在理论上能够适应这些特征。这个项目将通过调查近海海洋板块与北美西部已知地质的关系和相互作用来测试这个模型，这些数据来自各种数据库。结果将检验新模型，如果成功，将产生一系列自30ma以来太平洋-北美板块边界演化的定量古生物图谱。

9405261 Nicholson The tectonic evolution of the Pacific-North America plate boundary is tied to the development of several engimtic features of the California margin, including large-scale rotations of the Transverse Ranges, the location of several strike-slip faults and regions of extreme crustal extension. A recent tectonic model based largely on seismic reflection data has been developed that, in theory, accommodates these features. This project will test this model by investigating the relationship and interaction of off-shore oceanic plates with respect to known geology of western North America, taken from a variety of databases. Results should test the new model, and if successful, will result in a series of quantitative palinspastic maps of the evolving Pacific- North America plate boundary since 30ma.