Deep Geophysical Observatory in Long Valley Caldera

Carnegie Institution Of Washington, Washington DC

Investigators

Abstract

0080841 Sacks This award provides partial funding support for the fabrication of an integrated downhole sensor package to be installed in the Long Valley Exploratory Well (a 3-kilometer deep hole drilled for geophysical observations in the Long Valley Caldera). Since 1980 the Long Valley Caldera has shown sustained unrest characterized by recurring earthquake swarms, dome-shaped uplift, and increased levels of fumarolic activity as well as high concentrations of CO2 gas emitted through its surface soils. The sensor package to be built will include a dilatometer/strainmeter, seismometers, and pressure sensors. The combination of measurements, made at depth and presumably close to the magmatic source, will allow probing of changes in the volcanic system with heretofore unprecedented sensitivity. ***