LiDAR and the EarthScope Speaker Series

OpenTopography team member Ramon Arrowsmith has been selected as a 2009-2010 EarthScope Speaker. The EarthScope Speaker Series is part of the larger EarthScope Education and Outreach program and seeks to present the scientific results of EarthScope researchers to faculty and students in departmental seminars at colleges and universities.

Ramon's presentation is titled: High spatial resolution tectonic geomorphology of active fault zones of western North America

GeoEarthscope and related LiDAR topography efforts have illuminated thousands of kilometers of active fault traces at decimeter resolution. These new data provide a spectacular opportunity to characterize fault zone geometry, slip-rate variation over time, and the interaction of surface and tectonic processes in the development of tectonic landforms. Bridging the gap in measurements of lithospheric deformation-between the seconds to decades of earthquake seismology and geodesy, compared to the million-year time scale of geology and structural seismology-tectonic landforms and earthquake geology contribute information about the strain release at the 100 to 100,000 year time scale. These results include the slip distribution from recent earthquakes and the shapes and sizes of the semi-independently moving blocks that comprise major fault zones.

Funding for travel and lodging expenses for Speakers is provided by the National Science Foundation. You can apply online to bring Ramon or other EarthScope Speakers to your institution.