Integrated fieldwork and numerical modeling investigation of deformation structures in earth's crust

地球在太阳系中的类地行星中是独一无二的，因为它具有板块构造--最上层150至250公里厚的层(称为岩石圈)由许多在下地幔上方相互移动的“板块”组成。板块运动导致地震和火山爆发，并对山带和洋盆的形成负责。人类生活在岩石圈上，并从中获得能源、矿产和其他资源。尽管大陆岩石圈与人类关系密切，但人们仍然不完全了解大陆岩石圈是如何在漫长的时间(超过数百万年)和广阔的空间(相当于北美这样的大陆的大小)上随着板块运动而变形的。为了促进我们的理解，我们采用了两种相辅相成的方法：一种是在尽可能接近自然条件下对岩石圈材料进行实验室实验。另一个是研究记录在岩石中的古代岩石圈变形的“特征”，称为“变形构造”，并用计算机模拟这些构造的发展。这项建议要求资金支持我以北中国克拉通东部为例进行的大陆内变形研究。这项研究将涉及研究生和本科生，将科学调查与新科学家的培训结合起来。

The Earth is unique among the terrestrial planets in the solar system in that it has plate tectonics - the uppermost 150 to 250km thick layer (called the lithosphere) consists of many "plates" moving relative to each other above the underlying mantle. Plate movement causes earthquakes and volcanoes and is responsible for the formation of mountain belts and ocean basins. Human beings live on the lithosphere and derive energy, mineral, and other resources from it. Despite its close relationship to humanity, it remains incompletely understood how the continental lithosphere deforms in response to plate movement over long time (more than millions of years) and vast space (comparable to the size of a continent like the North America) scales. Two complementary approaches are applied to advance our understanding: One involves laboratory experiments on lithospheric materials under as close to natural conditions as possible. The other which is the one followed by this applicant is to study the "signatures" of ancient lithospheric deformation recorded in rocks which are called "deformation structures", and to model the development of these structures by computers. This proposal requests funds to support my research on intra-continental deformation using the east part of the North China Craton as a field example. The research will involve students at both graduate and undergraduate levels, combining scientific investigation with the training of new scientists.