Dynamics of the Basin and Range
In addition to its visually spectacular landscape and geomorphology, the
Basin and Range province boasts a world-class geodynamic wonderland.
Geodynamics is the study of forces that drive and resist motion or deformation
of the Earth. Our group uses geodetically determined surface velocities, together
with other data, to unravel the contributions from the driving forces that cause
these motions. Our principle tool is space geodesy, which includes the Global
Positioning System (GPS), and Interferometric Synthetic Aperature Radar (InSAR).
We perform periodic surveys and install semi-permanent remote sensors
(e.g.
MAGNET)
that measure crustal deformation.
Our projects vary in scale from the individual fault
(e.g. transient deformations at Lake Tahoe),
plate boundary scale deformation patterns
(e.g. across the Basin and Range), to the global
(e.g. the Global Strain Rate Map).
Examples of specific research questions we consider are:
- How do Pacific/North America plate boundary tractions influence deformation of the Great Basin?
- How is stress transferred across the San Andreas fault and California into the Great Basin?
- What is the role of gravity in deformation of the Basin and Range?
Relevant publications:
- Kreemer, C., and W.C. Hammond,
Geodetic constraints on areal changes in the Pacific-North America plate boundary zone: What controls Basin and Range extension?
Geology, Vol. 35, p. 943-946, 2007.
Link and
auxiliary material
Here is a Link
to a related perspective article
- Hammond, W.C. and W. Thatcher, Crustal Deformation across the Sierra Nevada, Northern Walker Lane,
Basin and Range transition, western United States measured with GPS, 2000-2004, Journal of Geophysical Research,
Vol. 112, B05411, doi:10.1029/2006JB004625. 2007.
PDF
- Pancha, A., J.G. Anderson, and C. Kreemer
Comparison of seismic and geodetic scalar moment rates across the Basin and Range Province
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Vol. 96, 11-32, 2006.
PDF
- Hammond, W.C.
The ghost of an earthquake
Science, Vol. 310, p. 1440-1442, 2005.
PDF
- Hammond, W.C., and W. Thatcher
Northwest Basin and Range tectonic deformation observed with the Global Positioning System, 1999-2000
Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 110, B10405, doi:10.1029/2005JB003678, 2005.
PDF
- Hammond, W.C. and W. Thatcher
Contemporary tectonic deformation of the Basin and Range province, western United States: 10 years of observation with the Global Positioning System
J. Geophys. Res. 109(B8), 8403, doi:10.1029/2003JB002746, 2004
PDF
- Hammond, W.C.
Vertical motion of the Basin and Range, western United States from 10 Years of Campaign GPS
Cahiers du Centre European de Geodynamique et de Seismologie, Ed. T. van Dam & O. Francis, Vol. 23, p. 131-136, 2004
PDF
- Smith, K.D., D. von Seggern, G. Blewitt , L. Preston, J.G. Anderson, B.P. Wernicke, J.L. Davis
Evidence for deep magma injection beneath Lake Tahoe, Nevada-California
Science, doi:10.1126/science.1101304, 2004
PDF
Other sources of information:
