GeoFrame: A Science Workshop on the Lewis & Clark Megaswath (Cascadia-Northern Rockies-Black Hills)

Regents Of The University Of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor MI

Investigators

Abstract

The GeoFrame initiative will produce a coast-to-coast geologic swath across the conterminous US that addresses major scientific questions about the fundamental processes that form, stabilize and modify the continental crust, using 4-D (space and time) visualization of the US crust and uppermost mantle. We envision a ~100 km wide or broader passive source swath with a significantly reduced spacing from the 70 km spacing utilized by the USArray Bigfoot deployment. To provide greater crustal resolution, the geologic initiative would locally add active-source components, as well as include geochronologic and MT studies, allowing for the full integration of geological and geophysical approaches. The research areas would proceed in concert with planned USArray deployment to optimize research outcome and to maximize the outreach potential and country-wide research opportunities.