Scientific Goals

In 1998 the International Lithosphere Program (ILP) initiated a new project; "A Global Strain Rate Map" (ILP II-8). Under the guidance of investigators W. Holt (SUNY Stony Brook) and J. Haines (Cambridge University) the first steps towards the establishment of such a map have been made. A completed Global Strain Rate Map will provide a large amount of information that is vital for our understanding of continental dynamics and for the quantification of seismic hazards. The objective of the program is to combine strain rate estimates obtained by many research groups using different modeling techniques and data sources. These strain rate estimates can be accessed via the Science Product Support Page at the UNAVCO Facility.

On this following link you will find some details about the modeling performed at SUNY Stony Brook as well as some preliminary results. We emphasize that this is just one technique that can be adopted to estimate strain rates for the Global Strain Rate Map. However, a global model using this technique may be very suitable as a core model into which other contributions can be fed. Also, the large amount of geodetic velocities that need to be compiled as a main source of information for the Global Strain Rate Map could be used in the GPSVEL project (under guidance of G. Blewitt) in which global horizontal plate motions will be estimated.

To participate in this effort or for more information, please contact:
Dr. William Holt (wholthorizon.ess.sunysb.edu)

     Comments or questions about this page? Send e-mail to Chuck Meertens (chuckmunavco.org).

Last modified Friday, 28-Jan-2011 21:10:28 UTC