The Plate Boundary Observatory is proposed to create a four-dimensional image of the deformation of western North America. This proposal was presented by the PBO Steering Committee to the National Science Foundation based on input from the PBO Workshop held October 3-5, 1999.

The Plate Boundary Observatory would address several fundamental scientific problems associated within the actively deforming region of western North America. The three broad problem areas are plate boundary dynamics and evolution, the physics of earthquakes, and magmatic processes. The core of the proposal is the deployment of geodetic instrumentation to provide an unprecedented increase in the ability to observe plate boundary deformation, in terms of broad coverage and temporal and spatial resolution. The temporal range of observation will be extended back in time through geologic observations, and to the subsurface by seismic imaging.

The facility is expected to be utilized by a significant portion of the U.S. Earth Science community. Based on participation at the PBO workshop, present membership of the GPS consortium UNAVCO, and anticipated growth in this area of research, it is expected that about 150 scientists and as many students, from about 120 U.S. institutions would be involved in either the operations of the facility or analysis of the data. In addition, we expect great interest from foreign scientists, especially from countries within plate boundary zones, amounting to approximately half the level of U.S. scientific participation.

Additional Links:

University NAVSTAR Consortium (UNAVCO)

Earthscope