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72-836: The Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) was the geodetic component of the EarthScope Facility. EarthScope was an Earth science program that explored the 4-dimensional structure of the North American Continent. EarthScope (and PBO) was a 15-year project (2003-2018) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in conjunction with NASA . PBO construction (an NSF MREFC) took place from October 2003 through September 2008. Phase 1 of operations and maintenance concluded in September 2013. Phase 2 of operations ended in September 2018, along with

144-438: A better understanding of continental deformation. A few questions EarthScope addressed include: Earth's continents are compositionally distinct from the oceanic crust. The continents record four billion years of geologic history, while the oceanic crust gets recycled about every 180 million years. Because of the age of continental crusts, the ancient structural evolution of the continents can be studied. Data from EarthScope

216-573: A large amount of information which will contribute to the understanding of continental dynamics and for the quantification of seismic hazards. There were seven topics the EarthScope program addressed with the use of the observatories. Convergent margins, also known as convergent boundaries , are active regions of deformation between two or more tectonic plates colliding with one another. Convergent margins create areas of tectonic uplift , such as mountain ranges or volcanoes. EarthScope focused on

288-738: A more detailed insight into faulting and earthquakes than ever before. This project provided a much needed data upgrade from work done in previous years thanks to many technological advances. New data enabled an improved study and understanding of faults and earthquakes that increased our knowledge of the complete earthquake process, allowing for the continued development of building predictive models. Detailed information on internal fault zone architecture, crust and upper mantle structure, strain rates, and transitions between fault systems and deformation types; as well as heat flow, electromagnetic/magnetotelluric, and seismic waveform data, were all made available. A few questions EarthScope addressed include: Through

360-613: A network of instrumentation including: high precision Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, strainmeters, seismometers , tiltmeters , and other geodetic instruments. The PBO GPS network included 1100 stations extending from the Aleutian Islands south to Baja and eastward across the continental United States. During the construction phase, 891 permanent and continuously operating GPS stations were installed, and another 209 existing stations were integrated (PBO Nucleus stations) into

432-584: A prototype of a system that was used to address several key elements of the production of EarthScope products. One of the prototype systems was the receiver reference model. It provided crustal thickness and average crustal Vp/Vs ratios beneath USArray transportable array stations. The main function of the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) and USArray, was to provide high quality data for earthquake monitoring, source studies and Earth structure research. The utility of seismic data

504-775: A proxy for the age at which a surface, such as an alluvial fan, was created. Burial dating uses the differential radioactive decay of 2 cosmogenic elements as a proxy for the age at which a sediment was screened by burial from further cosmic rays exposure. Luminescence dating techniques observe 'light' emitted from materials such as quartz, diamond, feldspar, and calcite. Many types of luminescence techniques are utilized in geology, including optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), cathodoluminescence (CL), and thermoluminescence (TL). Thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence are used in archaeology to date 'fired' objects such as pottery or cooking stones and can be used to observe sand migration. Incremental dating techniques allow

576-487: A reference for newly obtained poles for the rocks with unknown age. For paleomagnetic dating, it is suggested to use the APWP in order to date a pole obtained from rocks or sediments of unknown age by linking the paleopole to the nearest point on the APWP. Two methods of paleomagnetic dating have been suggested: (1) the angular method and (2) the rotation method. The first method is used for paleomagnetic dating of rocks inside of

648-698: A remote-sensing technique, and PBO (Plate Boundary Observatory), a fixed array of GPS receivers and strainmeters, the EarthScope project provided spatially continuous strain measurements over wide geographic areas with decimeter to centimeter resolution. The Global Strain Rate Map (GSRM) is a project of the International Lithosphere Program whose mission is to determine a globally self-consistent strain rate and velocity field model, consistent with geodetic and geologic field observations collected by GPS, seismometers, and strainometers. GSRM

720-915: A salt solution to improve conductivity with the ground. The Plate Boundary Observatory PBO consisted of a series of geodetic instruments, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and borehole strainmeters, that were installed to help understand the boundary between the North American Plate and Pacific Plate . The PBO network included several major observatory components: a network of 1100 permanent, continuously operating Global Positioning System (GPS) stations, many of which provide data at high-rate and in real-time, 78 borehole seismometers , 74 borehole strainmeters, 26 shallow borehole tiltmeters, and six long baseline laser strainmeters. These instruments were complemented by InSAR ( interferometric synthetic aperture radar ) and LiDAR ( light detection and ranging ) imagery and geochronology acquired as part of

792-476: A spatially dense set of seismic recordings, these signals could also be used to visualize the actual continuous seismic waves, providing new insights and interpretation techniques into complex wave propagation effects. Using signals recorded by the array of seismometers, the EarthScope project animated seismic waves as they sweep across the USArray transportable array for selected larger earthquakes. This illustrated

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864-523: Is a digital model of the global velocity gradient tensor field associated with the accommodation of present-day crustal motions. The overall mission also includes: (1) contributions of global, regional, and local models by individual researchers; (2) archive existing data sets of geologic, geodetic, and seismic information that can contribute toward a greater understanding of strain phenomena; and (3) archive existing methods for modeling strain rates and strain transients. A completed global strain rate map provided

936-500: Is also often used as a dating tool in archaeology, since the dates of some eruptions are well-established. Geochronology, from largest to smallest: It is important not to confuse geochronologic and chronostratigraphic units. Geochronological units are periods of time, thus it is correct to say that Tyrannosaurus rex lived during the Late Cretaceous Epoch. Chronostratigraphic units are geological material, so it

1008-635: Is an application already in use. In fact, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded the Arizona Geological Survey and its partner universities funding to adopt and maintain eight Transportable Array stations. The stations will be used to update Arizona's earthquake risk assessment. For EarthScope to live up to its potential in the Earth sciences , the connections between the research and

1080-462: Is greatly increased when noise levels, unwanted vibrations, are reduced; however broadband seismograms will always contain a certain level of noise. The dominant sources of noise are either from the instrumentation itself or from ambient Earth vibrations. Normally, seismometer self noise will be well below the seismic noise level, and every station will have a characteristic noise pattern that can be calculated or observed. Sources of seismic noise within

1152-410: Is known to have coexisted. Both disciplines work together hand in hand, however, to the point where they share the same system of naming strata (rock layers) and the time spans utilized to classify sublayers within a stratum. The science of geochronology is the prime tool used in the discipline of chronostratigraphy , which attempts to derive absolute age dates for all fossil assemblages and determine

1224-699: Is the change in shape and volume of continental and oceanic crust caused by stress applied to rock through tectonic forces. An array of variables including composition, temperature, pressure, etc., determines how the crust will deform. A few questions EarthScope addressed include: Continental deformation is driven by plate interactions through active tectonic processes such as continental transform systems with extensional, strike-slip, and contractional regimes. EarthScope provided velocity field data, portable and continuous GPS data, fault-zone drilling and sampling, reflection seismology, modern seismicity, pre- Holocene seismicity, and magnetotelluric and potential field data for

1296-510: Is the electromagnetic equivalent of the seismic arrays. The portable sensors were moved in a rolling grid similar to the Transportable Array grid, but were only in place about a month before they were moved to the next location. A magnetotelluric station consists of a magnetometer , four electrodes , and a data recording unit that are buried in shallow holes. The electrodes are oriented north-south and east-west and are saturated in

1368-532: The Ar/ Ar dating method can be extended into the time of early human life and into recorded history. Some of the commonly used techniques are: A series of related techniques for determining the age at which a geomorphic surface was created ( exposure dating ), or at which formerly surficial materials were buried (burial dating). Exposure dating uses the concentration of exotic nuclides (e.g. Be, Al, Cl) produced by cosmic rays interacting with Earth materials as

1440-490: The Earth are caused by any of the following: the actions of human beings at or near the surface of the Earth, objects moved by wind with the movement being transferred to the ground, running water (river flow), surf, volcanic activity, or long period tilt due to thermal instabilities from poor station design. A new approach to seismic noise studies was introduced with the EarthScope project, in that there were no attempts to screen

1512-483: The Earth sciences community. Invigoration is self-perpetuating as evidenced by participation from thousands of organizations from around the world and from all levels of students and researchers. This leads to a significantly heightened awareness within the general public, including the next cohort of prospective Earth scientists. With further evolution of the EarthScope project, there were opportunities to create new observatories with greater capabilities, including extending

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1584-540: The Earth. The Reference Network was composed of permanent seismic stations spaced about 300 km apart. The Reference Network provided a baseline for the Transportable Array and Flexible Array. EarthScope added and upgraded 39 stations to the already existing Advanced National Seismic System , which was part of the Reference Network. The Magnetotelluric Facility was composed of seven permanent and 20 portable sensors that recorded electromagnetic fields . It

1656-748: The EarthScope project and the PBO data include: Earthscope There were three EarthScope project observatories: These observatories consisted of boreholes into an active fault zone, global positioning system (GPS) receivers, tiltmeters , long-baseline laser strainmeters , borehole strainmeters, permanent and portable seismometers , and magnetotelluric stations. The various EarthScope components provided integrated and highly accessible data on geochronology and thermochronology , petrology and geochemistry , structure and tectonics , surficial processes and geomorphology , geodynamic modeling, rock physics , and hydrogeology . USArray, managed by IRIS,

1728-736: The EarthScope project. The arrays included the Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array, EarthScope's Plate Boundary Observatory, the Western Canadian Deformation Array, and networks run by the US Geological Survey. The daily GPS measurements from ~1500 stations along the Pacific/North American plate boundary provided millimeter-scale accuracy and could be used monitor the displacements of the earths crust. With

1800-474: The GeoEarthScope initiative. PBO also included comprehensive data products, data management and education and outreach efforts. These permanent networks were supplemented by a pool of portable GPS receivers that could be deployed for temporary networks to researchers, to measure the crustal motion at a specific target or in response to a geologic event. The Plate Boundary Observatory portion of EarthScope

1872-637: The PBO was, and NOTA data continue to be, transmitted to the GAGE Facility, operated by EarthScope Consortium, to the data center where it is collected, archived and distributed. These data sets continue to be freely and openly available to the public, with equal access provided for all users. PBO data includes the raw data collected from each instrument, quality-checked data in formats commonly used by PBO's various user communities, and processed data such as calibrated time series, velocity fields, and error estimates. Some scientific questions that addressed by

1944-458: The Pacific and North American tectonic plates in the western United States. These Earth movements can be very small and incremental and not felt by people, or they can be very large and sudden, such as those that occur during earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The high-precision instrumentation of the PBO enabled detection of motions to a sub-centimeter level. PBO measured Earth deformation through

2016-581: The U.S. came from USArray transportable array and Advance National Seismic System broadband seismic stations. Results were obtained in the time and the frequency domain. Waveform fit and amplitude-phase match figures were provided to allow users to evaluate moment tensor quality. Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and techniques provide a unique opportunity for earth scientists to study regional and local tectonic plate motions and conduct natural hazards monitoring. Cleaned network solutions from several GPS arrays merged into regional clusters in conjunction with

2088-461: The USArray over the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California . There is much promise for EarthScope tools and observatories, even after retirement, to be used by universities and professional geologists . These tools include the physical equipment, software invented to analyze the data, and other data and educational products initiated or inspired by EarthScope. The science produced by EarthScope and

2160-569: The boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate in the western United States. EarthScope provided GPS geodetic data, seismic images, detailed seismicity, magnetotelluric data, InSAR , stress field maps, digital elevation models , baseline geology, and paleoseismology for a better understanding of convergent margin processes. A few questions EarthScope addressed include: Crustal strain and deformation

2232-431: The classroom. Their job was to make sure that everyone understood what EarthScope was, what it was doing in the community, and how to use the data it was producing. By generating new research opportunities for students in the scientific community, the program also hoped to expand recruitment for future generations of earth scientists. "To use EarthScope data, products, and results to create a measurable and lasting change on

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2304-436: The construction of year-by-year annual chronologies, which can be fixed ( i.e. linked to the present day and thus calendar or sidereal time ) or floating. A sequence of paleomagnetic poles (usually called virtual geomagnetic poles), which are already well defined in age, constitutes an apparent polar wander path (APWP). Such a path is constructed for a large continental block. APWPs for different continents can be used as

2376-446: The continuous waveforms to eliminate body and surface waves from the naturally occurring earthquakes. Earthquake signals are not generally included in the processing of noise data, because they are generally low probability occurrences, even at low power levels. The two objectives behind the collection of the seismic noise data were to provide and document a standard method to calculate ambient seismic background noise, and to characterize

2448-537: The country. Building an Earth model of this scale required a complex community effort, and this model is largely the first EarthScope legacy. Researchers analyzing the data left us with a greater scientific understanding of geologic resources in the Great Basin and of the evolution of the plate boundary on the North American west coast. Another geologic legacy desired by the initiative, was to invigorate

2520-454: The creativity of those who wish to sort through the gigabytes of data. Also, because of its scale, the program will undoubtedly be the topic of casual conversation for many people outside of the geologic community. EarthScope chatter will be made by people in political, educational, social, and scientific arenas. The multidisciplinary character of EarthScope helped create stronger network connections between geologists of all types and from around

2592-447: The deep Earth and how the evolution of continental lithosphere is related to upper mantle processes. The basic idea of how the various melts are formed is known, but not the volumes and rates of magma production outside of Mid-ocean ridge basalts . EarthScope provided seismic data and tomographic images of the mantle to better understand these processes. A few questions EarthScope addressed include: The Education and Outreach Program

2664-483: The education and outreach communities must continue to be cultivated. Enhanced public outreach to museums, the National Park System , and public schools will ensure that these forward-thinking connections are fostered. National media collaboration with high-profile outlets such as Discovery Channel , Science Channel , and National Geographic may secure a lasting legacy within the social consciousness of

2736-544: The effects on the passage of energy waves impinging on those structures. The waves of energy are P-waves generated by earthquakes and are recording the wave velocities. The high quality data that was collected by the permanent seismic stations of USArray and the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) allowed the creation of high resolution seismic imaging of the Earth's interior below the United States. Seismic tomography helps constrain mantle velocity structure and aids in

2808-676: The end of the EarthScope project. In October 2018, PBO was assimilated into a broader Network of the Americas (NOTA), along with networks in Mexico ( TLALOCNet ) and the Caribbean ( COCONet ), as part of the NSF's Geodetic Facility for the Advancement of Geosciences (GAGE) . GAGE is operated by EarthScope Consortium. PBO precisely measured Earth deformation resulting from the constant motion of

2880-416: The exception of the radiocarbon method , most of these techniques are actually based on measuring an increase in the abundance of a radiogenic isotope, which is the decay-product of the radioactive parent isotope. Two or more radiometric methods can be used in concert to achieve more robust results. Most radiometric methods are suitable for geological time only, but some such as the radiocarbon method and

2952-491: The geologic history of the Earth and extraterrestrial bodies . By measuring the amount of radioactive decay of a radioactive isotope with a known half-life , geologists can establish the absolute age of the parent material. A number of radioactive isotopes are used for this purpose, and depending on the rate of decay, are used for dating different geological periods. More slowly decaying isotopes are useful for longer periods of time, but less accurate in absolute years. With

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3024-425: The moment tensor magnitude, is the most reliable quantity for comparing and measuring the size of an earthquake with other earthquake magnitudes. Moment tensors are used in a wide range of seismological research fields, such as earthquake statistics, earthquake scaling relationships, and stress inversion. The creation of regional moment tensor solutions, with the appropriate software, for moderate-to-large earthquakes in

3096-516: The name EarthScope Consortium to represent the shared vision of the new organization. Geochronology Geochronology is the science of determining the age of rocks , fossils , and sediments using signatures inherent in the rocks themselves. Absolute geochronology can be accomplished through radioactive isotopes , whereas relative geochronology is provided by tools such as paleomagnetism and stable isotope ratios . By combining multiple geochronological (and biostratigraphic ) indicators

3168-482: The nature of the major tectonic features. This method gives evidence for differences in thickness and the velocity anomaly of the mantle lithosphere between the stable center of the continent and the more active western North America. These data are vital for the understanding of local lithosphere evolution, and when combined with additional global data, allow the mantle to be imaged beyond the current extent of USArray. EarthScope Automated Receiver Survey (EARS), created

3240-536: The network. Geodetic imaging data was transmitted, often in realtime, from a wide network of GPS stations, augmented by seismometers, strainmeters and tiltmeters, complemented by InSAR ( interferometric synthetic aperture radar ), LiDAR (light-activated radar), and geochronology . The GPS stations were categorized into clusters. The transform cluster was near the San Andreas Fault in California ;

3312-406: The physical processes controlling earthquakes and volcanoes. The goal of USArray was primarily to gain a better understanding of the structure and evolution of the continental crust , lithosphere , and mantle underneath North America. The USArray was composed of four facilities: a Transportable Array, a Flexible Array, a Reference Network, and a Magnetotelluric Facility. The Transportable Array

3384-444: The precision of the recovered age can be improved. Geochronology is different in application from biostratigraphy, which is the science of assigning sedimentary rocks to a known geological period via describing, cataloging and comparing fossil floral and faunal assemblages. Biostratigraphy does not directly provide an absolute age determination of a rock, but merely places it within an interval of time at which that fossil assemblage

3456-495: The processes that control the behavior of the San Andreas Fault. Data collected from the various observatories were used to create different types of data products. Each data product addressed a different scientific problem. Tomography is a method of producing a three-dimensional image of the internal structures of a solid object (such as the human body or the earth) by the observation and recording of differences in

3528-412: The professors, but their students as well. Scouting for future seismic station locations created field work opportunities for students. The influx of data helped creaate projects for undergraduate research, master's thesis, and doctoral dissertations. A list of funded proposals can be found on the NSF website. Many applications for EarthScope data currently exist, as mentioned above. The EarthScope program

3600-443: The regional and teleseismic wave propagation phenomena. The seismic data collected from both permanent and transportable seismic stations was used to provide these computer generated animations. The seismic moment tensor is one of the fundamental parameters of earthquakes that can be determined from seismic observations. It is directly related to earthquake fault orientation and rupture direction. The moment magnitude , Mw derived from

3672-565: The researchers using its data products help guide lawmakers in environmental policy, hazard identification, and ultimately, federal funding of more large-scale projects like this one. Besides the three physical dimensions of North America's structure, a fourth dimension of the continent is being described through geochronology using EarthScope data. Improving understanding of the continent's geologic history allow future generations to more efficiently manage and use geologic resources and live with geologic hazards . Environmental policy laws have been

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3744-426: The same age and of such distinctive composition and appearance that, despite their presence in different geographic sites, there is certainty about their age-equivalence. Fossil faunal and floral assemblages , both marine and terrestrial, make for distinctive marker horizons. Tephrochronology is a method for geochemical correlation of unknown volcanic ash (tephra) to geochemically fingerprinted, dated tephra . Tephra

3816-700: The same continental block. The second method is used for the folded areas where tectonic rotations are possible. Magnetostratigraphy determines age from the pattern of magnetic polarity zones in a series of bedded sedimentary and/or volcanic rocks by comparison to the magnetic polarity timescale. The polarity timescale has been previously determined by dating of seafloor magnetic anomalies, radiometrically dating volcanic rocks within magnetostratigraphic sections, and astronomically dating magnetostratigraphic sections. Global trends in isotope compositions, particularly carbon-13 and strontium isotopes, can be used to correlate strata. Marker horizons are stratigraphic units of

3888-452: The source of forces originating in the upper mantle and their effects on the continental lithosphere. Seismic data gave scientists more understanding and insight into the lower mantle and the Earth's core, as well as activity at the core-mantle boundary . A few questions hoping to be answered by EarthScope included: EarthScope hoped to provide a better understanding of the physics of fluids and magmas in active volcanic systems in relation to

3960-730: The subduction cluster was in the Cascadia subduction zone (northern California, Oregon , Washington , and southern British Columbia ); the extension cluster was in the Basin and Range region; the volcanic cluster was in the Yellowstone caldera , the Long Valley caldera , and the Cascade Volcanoes ; the backbone cluster was at 100–200 km intervals across the United States to provide complete spatial coverage. Data from

4032-621: The subject of some controversy since the European settlement of North America. Specifically, water and mineral rights issues have been the focus of dispute. Representatives in Washington D.C. and the state capitals require guidance from authoritative science in drafting the soundest environmental laws for our country. The EarthScope research community was in a position to provide the most reliable course for government to take concerning environmental policy. Hazard identification with EarthScope

4104-402: The understanding of chemical and geodynamic processes that are at work. With the use of the data collected by USArray and global travel-time data, a global tomography model of P-wave velocity heterogeneity in the mantle could be created. The range and resolution of this technique allowed investigation into the suite of problems that are of concern in the North American mantle lithosphere, including

4176-427: The use of data modeling software and the recorded GPS data, the opportunity to quantify crustal deformation caused by plate tectonics , earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions was possible. The goal was to provide models of time-dependent strain associated with a number of recent earthquakes and other geologic events as constrained by GPS data. With the use of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar),

4248-438: The use of seismology, scientists were be able to collect and evaluate data from the deepest parts of our planet, from the continental lithosphere down to the core. The relationship between lithospheric and the upper mantle processes is something that is not completely known, including upper mantle processes below the United States and their effects on the continental lithosphere. There are many issues of interest, such as determining

4320-402: The use of this new method it became much easier to compare seismic noise characteristics between different networks in different regions. Seismometers of USArray transportable array recorded the passage of numerous seismic waves through a given point near the Earth's surface, and classically these seismograms are analyzed to deduce properties of the Earth's structure and the seismic source. Given

4392-640: The user could add various types of base maps, features, and plate velocities. Educators could access to real time GPS data of plate movement and influences through the UNAVCO website. EarthScope promised to produce a large amount of geological and geophysical data to the door for numerous research opportunities in the scientific community. As the USArray Big Foot project moved across the country, universities adopted seismic stations near their areas. These stations were then monitored and maintained by not only

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4464-420: The variation of ambient background seismic noise levels across the United States as a function of geography , season, and time of day. The new statistical approach provided the ability to compute probability density functions (PDFs) to evaluate the full range of noise at a given seismic station, allowing the estimation of noise levels over a broad range of frequencies from 0.01–16 Hz (100-0.0625s period). With

4536-412: The way that Earth science is taught and perceived in the United States." Education and outreach developed tools for educators and students across the United States to interpret and apply this information for solving a wide range of scientific issues within the earth sciences. The project tailored its products to the specified needs and requests of educators. The EarthScope Education and Outreach Bulletin

4608-473: The world. Earth science has already been promoted as a vital modern discipline, especially in today's “green” culture, to which EarthScope is contributing. The size of the EarthScope project augments the growing public awareness of the broad structure of the planet on which we live. Given that IRIS and UNAVCO operated the seismology and geodesy components of the instrumentation that the project relied on, when these two organizations merged in 2023 they adopted

4680-443: Was a 15-year program to place a dense network of permanent and portable seismographs across the continental United States. These seismographs recorded the seismic waves released by earthquakes that occur around the world. Seismic waves are indicators of energy disbursement within the earth. By analyzing the records of earthquakes obtained from this dense grid of seismometers, scientists could learn about Earth structure and dynamics and

4752-441: Was a bulletin targeted for grades 5-8 that summarized a volcanic or tectonic event documented by EarthScope and put it into an easily interpretable format, complete with diagrams and 3D models. They followed specific content standards based on what a child should be learning at those grade levels. The EarthScope Voyager, Jr. allowed students to explore and visualize the various types of data that were collected. In this interactive map,

4824-468: Was completed, over 2000 locations had been occupied. The Array Network Facility was responsible for data collection from the Transportable Array stations. The Flexible Array was composed of 291 broadband stations, 120 short period stations, and 1700 active source stations. The Flexible Array allowed sites to be targeted in a more focused manner than the broad Transportable Array. Natural or artificially created seismic waves could be used to map structures in

4896-409: Was composed of 400 seismometers that were deployed in a rolling grid across the United States over a period of 10 years. The stations were placed 70 km apart, and could map the upper 70 km of the Earth. After approximately two years, stations were moved east to the next site on the grid – unless adopted by an organization and made a permanent installation. Once the sweep across the United States

4968-413: Was dedicated to determining the three dimensional structure of the North American continent. Future uses of the data that it produced might include hydrocarbon exploration , aquifer boundary establishment, remote sensing technique development, and earthquake risk assessment. Due to the open and free-to-the-public data portals that EarthScope and its partners maintain, the applications are limited only by

5040-578: Was designed to integrate EarthScope into both the classroom and the community. The program reached out to scientific educators and students as well as industry professionals (engineers, land/resource managers, technical application/data users), partners of the project ( UNAVCO , IRIS, USGS, NASA, etc.), and the general public. To accomplish this, the EOP offered a wide array of educational workshops and seminars, directed at various audiences, to offer support on data interpretation and implementation of data products into

5112-463: Was operated by UNAVCO . The San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) consisted of a main borehole that cut across the active San Andreas Fault at a depth of approximately 3 km and a pilot hole about 2 km southwest of San Andreas Fault. Data from the instruments installed in the holes, which consisted of geophone sensors, data acquisition systems, and GPS clocks, as well as samples collected during drilling, helped to better understand

5184-440: Was used to find the mean seismic structure of the continental crust, associated mantle, and crust-mantle transition. Variability in that structure was also studied. EarthScope attempted to define continental lithosphere formation and continent structure and to identify the relationship between continental structure and deformation. A few questions EarthScope addressed include: EarthScope acquired 3D and 4D data that gave scientists

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