CAREER: Combining Field Data and Computational Models to Characterize the Distribution of Oceanic Transform Fault Deformation throughout the Lithosphere

该项目旨在量化跨越海洋转换断层的变形，这是两个构造板块相互滑动的地方。由于海洋板块难以直接研究，本提案的研究部分集中在新喀里多尼亚、塞浦路斯和冰岛的三个野外地点，那里的海洋转变暴露在陆地上。之所以选择这些地点，是因为它们也记录了海洋板块不同层次（地幔、中地壳和上地壳）的转换变形。将使用两种技术来研究每个转换系统：收集详细的现场测量数据和根据现场数据开发定量模型。这两种方法都是检查转换断层变形的常用方法，尽管它们很少同时使用。将现场数据与模型结果进行比较将是一个反馈过程，以完善模型设置并探索哪些参数对匹配现场观测结果很重要。最终，将综合所有三个站点的结果，以更好地了解转换断层变形的板块尺度模式。除了本研究的研究目标，这个职业生涯项目的教育组件涉及两个年龄组的学生：卡尔顿学院的大学生和13至15岁的女孩从诺斯菲尔德，明尼苏达州。卡尔顿大学的本科生将直接参与研究项目，形成跨学科的科学团队，对每个现场进行结构分析和建模。地质学专业的学生将完成高级论文的实地项目，其他STEM学生将被招募参加涉及计算和建模项目的夏季研究经验。该项目的预期成果将是STEM学生将认识到地球科学是大学毕业后可能的职业道路。中学生将参加一个暑期项目，该项目将研究作为中大陆裂谷系统一部分的转换断层的当地例子。虽然断层不能直接观察到，但可以使用地球物理方法成像。这个暑期项目的目标是提高年轻女孩对地球科学的兴趣，更广泛地说，是对科学的兴趣。总体而言，该项目支持早期职业科学家的研究和教育计划，并有助于本科院校的研究基础设施。研究结果将在同行审查的科学和教育文献中广泛传播，并在专业协会会议上作介绍。

This project seeks to quantify deformation across oceanic transform faults, which are places where two tectonic plates slide past each other. Because oceanic plates are difficult to study directly, the research portion of this proposal focuses on three field sites in New Caledonia, Cyprus, and Iceland where oceanic transforms are exposed on land. These sites were chosen because they also record transform deformation from different levels (mantle, mid-crust, and upper crust) of oceanic plates. Two techniques will be used to study each transform system: the collection of detailed field measurements and the development of quantitative models based on the field data. Both are common ways to examine transform fault deformation, although they are rarely used in tandem. Comparing field data to model results will be a feedback process, to refine model set-ups and explore which kinds of parameters are important for matching field observations. Ultimately, the results from all three sites will be synthesized to better understand the plate-scale patterns of transform fault deformation. In addition to the research objectives of this study, the educational components of this CAREER project involve two age groups of students: college students from Carleton College and 13-to 15-year old girls from Northfield, Minnesota. The Carleton undergraduate students will be involved directly in research projects, forming interdisciplinary science teams for the structural analysis and modeling of each field site. The geology majors will complete field-based projects for senior theses, and other STEM students will be recruited for summer research experiences involving computational and modeling projects. A desired outcome of the project will be that STEM students will recognize geoscience as a possible career path following college. The middle-school students will participate in a summer program that will examine, among other topics, a local example of a transform fault that is part of the Midcontinent Rift system. Although the fault cannot be observed directly, it can be imaged using geophysical methods. The objective of this summer program is to increase the interest of young girls in the geosciences, and more broadly, in science in general. Overall, the project supports the research and educational program of an early career scientist, and contributes to the research infrastructure of undergraduate institution. Research results will be broadly disseminated in the peer reviewed scientific and education literature and by presentations at professional society meetings.