Collaborative Research: Seismogenesis of the Middle America Trench at the Nicoya Peninsula over multiple seismic cycles

这项工作将利用尼科亚半岛的陆上地质证据来解决与中美洲海沟100公里长的部分俯冲有关的基本问题。(1)古地震学研究：利用河口地层学和古生态学研究河口地区的史前地震规模和地震重现。(2)古大地测量学：作为古地震调查的一部分，本研究将调查尼科亚半岛的相对海平面变化，以评估地震间隔期间垂直地面运动的模式。(3)地貌构造与长期隆升：考察长期变形与地震发生的关系。所有这些技术将结合起来定义沿俯冲带的史前破裂行为。更广泛的影响这个项目包括培养一名博士生。本科生将参加实地项目。与哥斯达黎加同事的国际合作有很大的组成部分。将为来自美国和哥斯达黎加的学生组织一个讲习班，并在研究地点为学生举办一个实地学校。这项研究对于了解哥斯达黎加的地震危险非常重要。

Intellectual MeritThe proposed work would use onshore geologic evidence from the Nicoya Peninsula to address basic questions related to subduction along a 100-km-long part of the Middle America Trench. The work includes the following components: (1) Paleoseismology: This part of the project will investigate pre-historic earthquake size and recurrence using the stratigraphy and paleoecology of an estuary. (2) Paleogeodesy: As part of the paleoseismic investigation, the study would investigate relative sea level change on the Nicoya Peninsula to assess patterns of vertical ground motion during intervals between earthquakes. (3) Morphotectonics and long-term uplift: The study will test the relationship of long-term deformation to earthquake generation. All of these techniques will be combined to define the pre-historic rupture behavior along the subduction zone.Broader ImpactsThis project includes the training of a Ph.D. student. Undergraduate students will participate in the field program. There is a large component of international collaboration with colleagues in Costa Rica. A workshop for students from the US and Costa Rica will be organized, and a field school for the students will be held at the research site. The study is important for understanding seismic hazards in Costa Rica.