C. PROPOSAL INFORMATION SUMMARY
1.
Regional Panel Destination:
NC
2.
Project Title:
Evaluation and Application of LiDAR data to constraining a
late Pleistocene slip rate and vertical deformation of the
Northern San Andreas Fault, Fort Ross to Mendocino,
California: Collaborative research between Arizona State
University and the U.S. Geological Survey.
3.
Principal Investigator(s):
J Ramón Arrowsmith
Department of Geological Sciences
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-1404
Office: (480) 965-3541
Fax: (480) 965-8102
ramon.arrowsmith@asu.edu
4.
Authorized Institutional
Representative:
Larry Fallis
Office of Research and Sponsored Projects
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287
Office: (480) 965-1413
Fax: (480) 965-8102
larry.fallis@asu.edu
6.
Element Designation
Element III:
Research on earthquake occurrence, physics and effects
7.
Key Words
Tectonic Geomorphology, Regional modeling, Quaternary
Fault Behavior
8.
Amount Requested:
$66,424
9.
Proposed Start Date:
January 1, 2005
10. Proposed Duration:
12 months
11. New or Renewal Proposal;
New
12. Active Earthquake-related
research
USGS NEHRP - Rupture History of the San Andreas Fault
at Van Matre Ranch, Carrizo Plain, CA: Collaborative
Research with UC Irvine and ASU, 2/01/04-1/31/05, $20,000,
P.I. Summer Month: 1.00.
Civilian Research and Development Foundation Integrated investigation of active deformation in the
northern Tien Shan, Kyrgyz Republic: neotectonics,
earthquake geology, and seismology, 8/1/03-7/31/05,
$12,700, P.I. Summer Month: 0.00.
13. Has this proposal been submitted No
to any other agency for funding,
1
if so which?
14. Proposal Abstract
(From this proposal on separate sheet)
15. Proposal Budget Summary
(From this proposal on a separate sheet)
___________________________________________________________________
Evaluation and Application of LiDAR data to constraining a late Pleistocene slip rate and
vertical deformation of the Northern San Andreas Fault, Fort Ross to Mendocino,California:
Collaborative research between Arizona State University and the U.S. Geological Survey.
D. TABLE OF CONTENTS
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Proposal Information Summary……………………………………………………. 1
Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………... 2
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………….. 3
Proposed Budget
Summary Budget………………………………………………………………. 4
Detailed Budget…………………………………………………………………5
Proposal Body……………………………………………………………………… 6
Significance of project…………………………………………………………. 6
Overview of project focus and goals………………………………………. 6
How expected results will contribute to EQ hazard reduction in the U.S…. 8
Project Plan………………………………………………………….…………. 9
Element A. – LiDAR evaluation…………………………………………… 9
Element B. – Marine terrace characterization and slip rate test…………… 10
Element C. – Watershed scale geomorphic characterization………………. 11
References Cited……………………………………………………………….. 18
Final Report and Dissemination………………………………………………...21
Related Efforts…………………………………………………………………. 21
Curriculum Vitae
J Ramón Arrowsmith………………………………………………………..22
Christopher J. Crosby……………………………………………………… 23
Institutional Qualifications…………………………………………………….. 24
Project Management Plan……………………………………………………… 24
Current Support and Pending Applications……………………………………. 25
2
E. ABSTRACT
This proposal seeks funding for analysis of recently acquired LiDAR topographic data of the
Gualala block section of the northern San Andreas fault (NSAF) and associated marine terraces
between the towns of Fort Ross and Mendocino, California. The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) Evaluate LiDAR data as a tool for studying tectonic geomorphology and earthquake
geology and develop methodologies for utilizing these types of data in determining various
geomorphic metrics of surface processes and landscape history. (2) Characterize the tectonic
geomorphology of the NSAF at various temporal and spatial scales in order to better understand
SAF geometry, slip distribution and off-fault deformation as manifest in landscape development
and response. This proposal specifically addresses the priorities outlined for the Northern
California region in the FY2005 NEHRP Announcement that include: “Analyze the LIDAR
dataset for coastal northern California recently acquired by NASA (in collaboration with
the USGS)”.
Recent applications of LiDAR data to earthquake geology and geomorphology have generated
substantial enthusiasm for further utilizing these types of high-resolution topographic data to
quantify landscape response to tectonic deformation. Despite this enthusiasm, little information
exists on the benefits and technical aspects of LiDAR versus other methods of acquiring highresolution topographic data for earthquake geology and geomorphology applications. Our
proposed research will undertake a comparison of the NSAF LiDAR data with digital elevation
models (DEMs) generated from high-resolution aerial photography and precise historical
topographic mapping. We will evaluate these data in a variety of terrain and land cover
conditions and make recommendations regarding which method is most desirable for acquiring
high-resolution topographic data for application to earthquake geology and geomorphology.
Prentice (1989) provides a late Pleistocene slip rate of 16 to 24 mm/yr for the NSAF at Alder
Creek, CA based on offset marine terraces. This slip rate is a critical data point for
understanding NSAF system behavior and segmentation. Prentice’s (1989) slip rate is based on
tentative terrace correlations established via air photo mapping and simple relative position
arguments. Because of a lack of age control for the terraces along this portion of coast, the
correlation, and therefore the slip rate are uncertain. We propose to perform detailed geomorphic
characterization of the late Pleistocene marine terraces between Fort Ross and Mendocino,
California based on the newly acquired NSAF LiDAR data. Through morphologic and diffusion
analysis of the marine terrace risers we expect to be able to test the current terrace correlation
and thereby add confidence to the late Pleistocene SAF slip rate at Alder Creek.
Research on vertical deformation associated with the NSAF suggests that the coastal uplift rate at
Alder Creek, immediately adjacent to the SAF, is significantly higher than the uplift rate to the
north or south. We propose to analyze the NSAF LiDAR using a variety of geomorphic metrics
to constrain patterns of distributed, SAF driven deformation recorded in the landscape.
Distributed tectonic deformation in the landscape is often related to fault discontinuities and
variations in fault geometry. Such patterns of deformation may therefore reflect SAF geometry
(segmentation) and may be useful for inferring rupture behavior. Once deformation patterns are
constrained, we will undertake basic boundary element modeling to evaluate SAF geometry and
slip history that generates the observed patterns.
3
F. PROPOSED BUDGET
BUDGET SUMMARY
Project Title: Evaluation and Application of LiDAR data to constraining a late Pleistocene slip
rate and vertical deformation of the Northern San Andreas Fault, Fort Ross to
Mendocino, California: Collaborative research between Arizona State University
and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Principal Investigator(s):
J. Ramón Arrowsmith & Christopher J. Crosby
Proposed Start Date:
January 1, 2005
Proposed Completion Date: December 31, 2005
COST CATEGORY
1. Salaries and Wages
Federal
First Year
Federal
Second Year2
TOTAL
Both years2
$ 25,904
$-0-
$ 25,904
$ 25, 904
$-0-
$ 25,904
2. Fringe Benefits/Labor Overhead
$ 8,879
$-0-
$ 8,879
3. Equipment
$0
$-0-
$0
4. Supplies
$ 500
$-0-
$ 500
5. Services or Consultants
$0
$-0-
$0
6. Radiocarbon Dating Services
$0
$-0-
$0
7. Travel
$ 7,545
$-0-
$ 7,545
8. Publication Costs
$ 2,500
$-0-
$ 2,500
9. Other Direct Costs
$ 1,000
$-0-
$ 1,000
10. Total Direct Costs (items 1-9)
$ 46,529
$-0-
$ 46,529
11. Indirect cost/General and
Administrative (G&A) cost
$ 19,896
$-0-
$ 19,896
12. Amount Proposed (items 10&11)
$ 66,429
$-0-
$ 66,429
13. Total Project Cost (Total of
Federal and non-Federal amounts)
$ 66,424
$-0-
$ 66,424
Total Salaries and Wages
4
DETAILED BUDGET
Project Title:
Evaluation and Application of LiDAR data to constraining a late Pleistocene slip rate and
vertical deformation of the Northern San Andreas Fault, Fort Ross to Mendocino,
California: Collaborative research between Arizona State University and the U.S.
Geological Survey.
Principal Investigator(s):
Proposed Start Date:
Proposed Completion Date:
J. Ramón Arrowsmith & Christopher J. Crosby
January 1, 2005
December 31, 2005
Cost Categories:
1. Salaries/wages total
J Ramón Arrowsmith, Principle Investigator: .5 mo summer @ $7,513/mo.
(includes 4% cost of living allowance)
Christopher Crosby, Graduate Student: 2 sem. (50% M.S. GRA) @ $6,846/sem.
2.5 mo. (100% M.S. GRA) @ $3103/mo.
$25,904
$ 4,057
$13,966
$ 7,882
2. Fringe Benefits/Labor Overhead
J Ramón Arrowsmith, Principle Investigator: 25% salaries/wages total
Christopher Crosby, Graduate Student: 36% salaries/wages total
$ 8,879
$ 1,014
$ 7,865
3. Permanent Equipment
$
0
4. Supplies
Shovels, flagging, misc. field & surveying equipment
Film/developing
$
$
$
500
300
200
5. Services or Consultants
$
0
6. Radiocarbon Dating
$
0
7. Travel
Field recon. & landowner meetings
Per diem – 2 people; $30/day x 7 days
Lodging – 6 nights, shared accommodations
Rental vehicle
Airfare (PHX to SFO) – 2 people
$ 7,545
$
$
$
$
420
300
280
600
Topo surveying for photogrammetry and DEM verification; Watershed analysis
Per Diem – 2 people: $30/day x 21 days
Lodging – 20 nights, shared accommodations
Rental Vehicle
Airfare (PHX to SFO) – Arrowsmith visit
Per diem - $30/day x 7 days – Arrowsmith visit
$ 1,260
$ 1,000
$ 840
$ 300
$ 210
Travel to USGS, Menlo Park for collaboration with Dr. Carol Prentice
Per diem - $50/day x 14 days
Airfare (PHX to SFO)
Rental Vehicle
Lodging (13 nights)
$
$
$
$
8. Publication, Dissemination & Final Report
Final report
Publication (2 papers)
$ 2,500
$ 500
$ 2000
9. Other direct costs
$ 1000
5
700
300
560
975
Laboratory expenses (drafting materials, computer software maintenance,
Leica Photogrammetry Suite licences etc.)
$ 1000
10. Total Direct Costs
$ 46,529
11. Indirect costs
$ 19,896
12. Amount Requested
$ 66,424
G. PROPOSAL
SIGNIFICANCE OF PROJECT
Introduction
This project seeks funding for analysis of 418 km2 of recently acquired LiDAR (Light, Distance
And Ranging) topographic data of the Gualala block section of the northern San Andreas fault
(NSAF) and associated marine terraces between the towns of Fort Ross and Mendocino,
California (Figure 1). The proposed research specifically addresses the priorities outlined for the
Northern California region in the FY2005 NEHRP Announcement that include: “Analyze the
LIDAR dataset for coastal northern California recently acquired by NASA (in
collaboration with the USGS)”. The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) Evaluate LiDAR
data as a tool for studying tectonic geomorphology and earthquake geology and develop
methodologies for utilizing these types of data in determining various geomorphic metrics of
surface processes and landscape history. (2) Characterize the tectonic geomorphology of the
NSAF at various temporal and spatial scales in order to better understand San Andreas fault
geometry, slip distribution and off-fault deformation as manifest in landscape development and
response. We are collaborating with Dr. Carol Prentice of the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo
Park to expand upon her ongoing efforts at understanding the paleoseismology and
geomorphology of the Gualala block section of the NSAF. The proposed research builds upon
our long collaborative relationship with Dr. Prentice. A letter of support from Dr. Prentice is
attached to this proposal.
Overview of project focus and goals
Lawson (1908) provides the first detailed descriptions of the northern San Andreas fault zone
and coastal geomorphology as observed during mapping and documentation of the 1906
earthquake rupture. Brown and Wolfe (1972), Prentice (1989), and Prentice et al. (2000) describe
fault-related geomorphologic features for the active fault trace for the Gualala block section of
the San Andreas and describe the location of fault strands associated with the 1906 rupture.
Prentice (1989), Prentice et al. (2000), Baldwin et al. (2000), Prentice et al (2001a), Prentice et
al. (2001b), Muhs et al. (2003) and Prentice et al. (2003) describe regional-scale, tectonically
controlled geomorphology and landscape development for this portion of the fault. Beyond these
qualitative descriptions of the tectonic geomorphology of the NSAF, there has never been a
concerted effort to characterize the interaction between San Andreas driven deformation and
landscape development at various spatial and temporal scales. The newly acquired LiDAR
dataset provides a unique opportunity to quantitatively evaluate the interaction between tectonic
and geomorphic processes along the northern San Andreas. Current application of the NSAF
LiDAR has been limited to geomorphic strip mapping of the active fault trace (Koehler and
Baldwin, 2003; Prentice et al., 2003) and marine terrace mapping (Prentice et al., 2003).
6
The recent acquisition and application of LiDAR data to earthquake geology and geomorphology
(e.g. Hudnut et al., 2002; Harding and Berghoff, 2000; Roering et al., 1999) has generated
substantial enthusiasm from both of these communities for further utilizing these types of highresolution topographic data to quantify landscape response to tectonic deformation. Applications
of high-resolution topography, acquired via a number of methods, include but certainly are not
limited to: post-earthquake rupture documentation (Hudnet et al., 2002), paleoseismic site
evaluation (Koehler and Baldwin, 2003), active fault identification (Harding and Berghoff,
2000), landscape evolution studies (Roering et al., 1999), and landscape visualization and
mapping (Prentice et al., 2003) (Figure 2). Despite this wide range of applications and
enthusiasm for utilizing these data, little information exists on the benefits and technical aspects
of LiDAR versus other methods of acquiring high-resolution topographic data for earthquake
geology and geomorphology applications. Our proposed research will undertake a quantitative
comparison of the NSAF LiDAR data with digital elevation models (DEMs) generated from
high-resolution aerial photography and precise historical topographic mapping. We will evaluate
these data in a variety of terrain and land cover conditions and make recommendations regarding
which method is most desirable for acquiring high-resolution topographic data for application to
earthquake geology and geomorphology.
Work by Prentice (1989) and Prentice et al. (2003) along coastal California between Fort Ross
and Mendocino, California has focused on mapping and correlating late Pleistocene marine
terraces (Crosby et al., in preparation) in order to constrain a long-term SAF slip rate at Alder
Creek, near Point Arena, where the terraces are offset by the fault as it intersects the coast
(Figure 3). Prentice (1989) provides a late Pleistocene slip rate for the SAF at Alder Creek of 16
to 24 mm/yr based on tentative terrace correlations (Muhs et al., 2003; Prentice et al., 2000 and
2001). This slip rate is the only Pleistocene rate for the San Andreas north of Point Reyes and is
a critical data point for understanding San Andreas fault system behavior and segmentation. Age
control for the late Pleistocene terraces along this portion of coastal California is limited to three
Alpha- spectrometric U-series analysis of three marine terrace corals collected near the Point
Arena Lighthouse (Muhs et al., 1990, 1994, 2003). Because of the lack of age control, all terrace
correlations are based upon aerial photo mapping and simple relative position arguments and are
therefore uncertain. This uncertainty in terrace correlation translates directly into uncertainty in
the late Pleistocene slip rate for the SAF at Alder Creek. In this study we propose to perform
detailed geomorphic characterization of the late Pleistocene marine terraces between Fort Ross
and Mendocino, California based on the newly acquired NSAF LiDAR data. Through
morphologic and diffusion analysis of the marine terrace risers (e.g. Hanks et al., 1984; Hanks,
2000; Rosenbloom and Anderson, 1994) (Figure 4) we expect to be able to test the current
terrace correlation and thereby evaluate the late Pleistocene San Andreas slip rate at Alder Creek.
The question of vertical deformation associated with the NSAF has been addressed by Prentice
(1989), Hampton (1999), Prentice et al. (2000, 2001), Muhs et al. (2003) and ongoing work by
Prentice et al. (2003) and Covault (2004). Work by these researchers suggests that the coastal
uplift rate at Alder Creek, immediately adjacent to the SAF, is significantly higher than the uplift
rate to the north or south. The confirmation of the marine terrace correlation (Figure 3)
discussed above with regards to testing the SAF slip rate at Alder Creek will also be useful in
confirming or disproving the tentative observation of significant vertical deformation associated
with the SAF near Point Arena. The correlated terraces will act as elevation markers that will
7
help to constrain vertical deformation rates and spatial variations in uplift rate along the coast. In
addition, we propose to analyze the NSAF LiDAR data, merged with 10 and/or 30 meter DEMs
when outside the geographic extent of the LiDAR (Figure 1), to differentiate local, short wave
length, SAF-driven deformation from regional, coast range scale, uplift. Here, we assume Coast
Range scale uplift to be driven by the passage of the Mendocino Triple Junction and viscous
coupling within the resulting slab window (Furlong and Schwartz, 2004). This portion of our
study will mate our geomorphic characterization of the late Pleistocene terraces, with watershed
scale geomorphic characterization of the coastal range most proximal to the coast. This
integrated effort will allow for comparisons of patterns of deformation at different spatial and
temporal scales.
The underlying premise of this component of the proposed work is that the earth’s topography is
a measure of the combined effects of surface and tectonic processes. Different elements of a
landscape may respond differently to a high rate of surface uplift. Thus, hillslopes may not erode
as quickly as adjacent drainages and greater relief will result. Through the application of various
geomorphic metrics such as stream gradient index (e.g. Merritts and Vincent, 1989),
envelope/sub-envelope residuals (e.g. Burgmann et al., 1994) and drainage convexity (e.g.
Whipple and Tucker, 1999) zones of high relief can be located in the landscape. These zones of
high relief often correspond directly with regions of greatest tectonic uplift and deformation.
With detailed determination of patterns of fault deformation expressed in the geomorphology of
the coastal landscape, we will be able to infer the geometry and motions within the San Andreas
zone necessary to generate such deformation patterns. Distributed tectonic deformation in the
landscape is often related to fault discontinuities and variations in fault geometry (e.g. McClay
and Bonora, 2001; Aydin and Nur, 1985). Such patterns of deformation may therefore reflect
fault segmentation and may be useful for inferring rupture behavior. To this end, we intend to
include in our study some basic boundary element modeling (e.g. Okada, 1985; Toda et al.,
1998; Taboada et al., 1993) as a test of our observations. Our efforts will be the first of their kind
to utilize high-resolution digital elevation models obtained with LiDAR technology to study
landscape response to tectonically driven deformation. As part of this effort, we will use our
NSAF study as a test case to develop methodologies for the application of various geomorphic
metrics to LiDAR.
How expected results will contribute to earthquake hazard reduction in the U.S.
The proposed research will directly contribute to earthquake hazard reduction in the United
States in two ways. (1) Current determinations of a late Pleistocene slip rate for the San Andreas
fault at Alder Creek, CA based upon offsets of marine terraces (Figure 3) are limited by
uncertainty in the marine terrace correlation along this portion of the coast. Our proposed
research will help to test the terrace correlation through relative age dating of the terraces based
on diffusion analysis, and will therefore evaluate this important long-term slip rate on the
northern San Andreas. We anticipate that a revised and higher confidence slip rate from the
Gualala block segment of the NSAF will be a valuable input to revisions of the probabilities of
earthquake recurrence and rupture scenarios published by the Working Group on California
Earthquake Probabilities (WGCEP) in 2003. (2) Accurate high-resolution topographic data is a
valuable as a tool for performing a variety of earthquake geology and geomorphology tasks.
This study will evaluate LiDAR as a tool to acquire these types of data and will make
recommendations about strengths and weaknesses of the technique versus of methods.
8
PROJECT PLAN
The proposed project addresses two primary motivations. These motivations can be broadly
summarized as (1) evaluate LiDAR data as a tool for studying tectonic geomorphology and
earthquake geology; and (2), apply the newly acquired LiDAR data to characterizing the tectonic
geomorphology of the NSAF at various temporal and spatial scales in order to better understand
the role of San Andreas driven deformation on landscape development. We have identified three
primary elements that are necessary for the accomplishment of these goals:
A. Evaluate LiDAR data as a tool for gathering high-resolution topographic data for
application to earthquake geology and geomorphology.
B. Characterize and date late Pleistocene marine terraces with diffusion methods as a test of
terrace correlation and thereby the NSAF slip rate at Alder Creek.
C. Combine terrace work in B. with the topographic data evaluation in A. and watershed
scale geomorphic characterization to constrain coastal landscape response to distributed
versus San Andreas driven deformation. Evaluate and model the pattern of distributed
SAF deformation in relation to fault discontinuities and segmentation.
The study will directed by Dr. Ramón Arrowsmith and the research will be a integral component
of Arizona State University graduate student Christopher Crosby’s thesis. We will work
collaboratively with Dr. Carol Prentice of the U.S. Geological Survey throughout the project.
The majority of the work described in this proposal will be conducted at Arizona State
University’s Active Tectonics, Quantitative Structural Geology and Geomorphology lab, with a
smaller component of the work conducted in the field.
Element A. – LiDAR evaluation
LiDAR is a relatively new technology that employs an airborne scanning laser rangefinder to
produce accurate topographic surveys. The LiDAR instrument used to acquire the northern San
Andreas data records up to four returns for each laser pulse, and can therefore accurately
measure the topography of the ground even where overlying vegetation is quite dense. Laser
returns can be classified as having come from vegetation or the ground through analysis with
sophisticated algorithms (Harding, 2000). Once the returns are classified, “virtual deforestation”
by filtering the return data for ground returns only allows for the generation of “bare-earth”
digital elevation models (Haugerud and Harding, 2001). LiDAR’s ability to generate bare-earth
terrain models is exceptionally valuable for earthquake geology and geomorphology applications
in heavily forested terrain such as along the north coast of California (Figure 2).
Our evaluation of LiDAR data as a tool for acquiring high-resolution topography will be
completed through the comparison of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) derived from the NSAF
LiDAR to DEMs generated from a number of other datasets for the same geographic region.
Following the Great San Francisco earthquake of April 18, 1906, a massive effort was
undertaken to document the ground rupture associated with this earthquake. As a result of this
effort, The Report of the State Earthquake Investigation Commission (Lawon, 1908) includes a
detailed topographic map, with contour interval of 5 ft., made by F.E. Matthes of the portion of
the rupture near Fort Ross, CA. We are fortunate that the geographic region covered by this
historic map was also included in the newly acquired LiDAR coverage. We propose to generate
a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) of the F.E. Matthes map by digitizing the
9
contours and using appropriate tools in ESRI’s ArcGIS and/or GRASS GIS to generate the
DEM. DEMs from 1:6000 color, stereo, aerial photography covering the same geographic
region as the Matthes map and in the possession Dr. Prentice at the U.S. Geological Survey will
be generated by using the softcopy photogrammetry capability offered by the Leica
Photogrammetry Suite for ERDAS Imagine. Arrowsmith’s group at Arizona State has extensive
experience with this type of data processing and software (e.g. Hilley, 2001; also see:
http://activetectonics.la.asu.edu/LabDocs/Orthomax.html).
These three independent digital elevation models will then be compared and evaluated for
accuracy, ease of acquisition and cost. Accuracy will be evaluated via field checks, detailed total
station surveys and quantitative DEM analysis of hydrologic correctness and slope distribution.
Comparison of the different digital elevation models will be completed both visually to
determine which provides the most accurate representation of the actual ground surface and
through quantitative techniques such as differencing the DEMs to generate residuals that will
highlight variations between datasets. GIS tools such as “Flowaccum” in ArcGIS allow the
DEMs to be evaluated for hydrologic correctness, a measure of how accurately the DEMs
represent the true ground surface. The geographic region covered by all three datasets includes
a variety of terrain types and vegetation covers, from steep, densely vegetated slopes to flat
ground covered only by low grasses. This variation makes it possible to evaluate all three
methods of DEM acquisition for a number of terrain and vegetation scenarios. Once our
evaluation is complete we will make recommendations about LiDAR versus other methods as a
tool for gathering high-resolution topography for application to earthquake geology and
geomorphology. Furthermore, our analysis will help to constrain the quality of high-resolution
data products and contribute new insight on data processing techniques and workflows for these
types of data (Arrowsmith, in review).
Element B. – Marine terrace characterization and slip rate test
The San Andreas slip rate at Alder Creek (Prentice, 1989) is based upon offset late Pleistocene
marine terraces (Prentice et al., 2000, 2001, 2003; Muhs et al., 2003) (Figure 3). A well
constrained terrace correlation for the marine terraces along the Fort Ross to Mendocino portion
of the California coastline is absolutely necessary for understanding the slip rate at Alder Creek
as well as variations in vertical deformation that may be driven by slip along the SAF. The lack
of dateable material from these terraces precludes absolute age control as a means of testing the
terrace correlation and forces us to seek an alternative means to constrain the correlation. We
propose to use geomorphic characterization and diffusion analysis (Figures 4 and 5) of the late
Pleistocene terraces as a means to test coast parallel terrace correlations and thereby, the SAF
slip rate at Alder Creek and variations in coastal uplift rate.
Our geomorphic characterization of the late Pleistocene marine terraces will closely follow
previous geomorphic marine terrace studies in the published literature (e.g. Rosenbloom and
Anderson, 1994; Hanks et al., 1984; Hanks, 2000). Using previously completed marine terrace
mapping (Prentice, 1989; Prentice et al., in preparation) available in a format for import to a GIS
(Crosby et al., in preparation) we will build a GIS that integrates the marine terrace mapping
with the NSAF LiDAR, 10 and 30 m DEMs where necessary, and other basic geographic
information. We will extract elevation transects from the LiDAR derived DEMs across the
mapped terrace risers at regular intervals between Fort Ross and Mendocino. These elevation
10
profiles will then be fed into a hillslope diffusion algorithm developed by Hilley and Arrowsmith
(2001) (see also: http://activetectonics.la.asu.edu/diffuse/). This algorithm calculates
morphologic age for the given riser transect (Arrowsmith et al., 1996; Arrowsmith et al., 1998)
(Figure 5). The diffusion method assumes transport-limited conditions, simple initial topography
and no geomorphic transport along strike (Hanks, 2000). Initially, we will assume linear regolith
transport but will also use a non-linear approach (e.g. Roering et al., 1999; Mattson and Bruhn,
2001) as a test of our results. Our algorithm allows rapid mass wasting of the sea cliff following
abandonment by the sea. After mass wasting has driven the riser to a ramp-shaped initial
topography, we assume diffusion processes continue to modify the riser. Once we have
calculated the morphologic age for the risers, terraces mapped as the same age will be compared
for the whole length of coastline as a test of the terrace correlation. Marine terrace risers of the
same age should yield similar morphologic ages (Figure 5), making it obvious where mapping
based upon aerial photography may need to be revised. Figure 5 shows an illustration of the
morphologic dating approach we propose. Synthetic topographic profiles were produced by
forward model calculations of 500 and 1000 m2 morphologic ages starting with a 10 m high riser
and a flat tread. For a diffusion constant (K) of 10 m2/ka (Rosenbloom and Anderson, 1994),
these morphologic ages (KT) yield absolute ages of 50,000 and 100,000 years respectively. To
the synthetic data we added +/- 50 cm of random noise to simulate local heterogeneity in the
surface as is typically encountered and would be likely in LiDAR-derived profiles. Best-fit
models were then calculated for the synthetic “data”. Finally, figure 5 illustrates the relationship
between Root Mean Square (RMS) error and morphologic age for the synthetic profile data.
This analysis approach clearly demonstrates that we can quantitatively differentiate the
differently aged profiles and determine the difference between local “noise” and true age
variation (as long as it is greater than several tens of kyr).
Our proposed work will utilize diffusion analysis as a tool to test the relative age of terrace risers,
and not to initially determine an absolute age for the terraces. Because our goal is only relative
age dating, selection of an appropriate diffusion constant (K) is not as imperative because
uncertainty in K will not affect our correlation based on similar morphologic age. We will begin
our diffusion analysis using diffusion constants published for the Santa Cruz, California terraces
(Rosenbloom and Anderson, 1994) where climate is roughly comparable to that of the north
coast of California. As a second part of diffusion analysis, we propose to derive a diffusion
constant for the Gualala block portion of the California coast by performing diffusion analysis on
the U-series dated marine terrace at Point Arena, California. If an appropriate diffusion constant
is obtained, we will attempt to utilize our terrace transects to provide absolute age constraints on
the late Pleistocene terraces along this portion of the coastline. Because absolute dating via
diffusion analysis yields errors of 5-10% or more, we do not anticipate the technique acting as a
high-accuracy absolute age dating tool for the terraces.
Upon completion of our marine terrace characterization, we will work closely with Dr. Prentice
of the U.S. Geological Survey to revise the late Pleistocene terrace mapping and correlation and
to make changes to the determination of the NSAF slip rate at Alder Creek if necessary.
Element C. – Watershed scale geomorphic characterization
The proposed research to differentiate local, short wave length, SAF driven deformation from
regional, Coast Range scale, uplift will be an integration of all of our efforts. We will combine
11
the LiDAR data evaluation discussed in Element A and the late Pleistocene terrace
characterization discussed in Element B with a watershed scale geomorphic characterization of
the coastal range. The underlying premise of our proposed work is that the earth’s topography is
a measure of the combined effects of surface and tectonic processes. High relief can be generated
by high rates of tectonically driven surface deformation. Through the application of various
geomorphic metrics, zones of high relief can be located in the landscape. These zones of high
relief often correspond directly to regions of greatest tectonic uplift and deformation. Through
detailed determination of patterns of fault deformation expressed in the geomorphology of the
coastal landscape, we will be able to infer the geometry and motions within the San Andreas
zone necessary to generate such deformation patterns. Fault discontinuities and variations in fault
geometry are often manifest as distributed tectonic deformation in the landscape (e.g. McClay
and Bonora, 2001; Aydin and Nur, 1985). Once these patterns of deformation have been
deduced, inferences of fault segmentation and rupture behavior may be made.
We propose to build and utilize a GIS that integrates the marine terrace mapping with the NSAF
LiDAR, and 10 and 30 m DEMs where necessary, to apply various geomorphic metrics to the
data in order to determine patterns of high-relief and distributed deformation. We will draw
from the geomorphology literature a selection of techniques that include: slope/area relationships
(e.g. Dietrich et al., 1992; Roering et al., 1999), stream gradient index (e.g. Merritts and Vincent,
1989), envelope/sub-envelope residuals (e.g. Burgmann et al., 1994) and drainage convexity (e.g.
Whipple and Tucker, 1999). Many of these geomorphic metrics have never been applied to
high-resolution topographic data such as the NSAF LiDAR and our proposed research will
evaluate the added benefit these data provide. Through the application of these metrics to the
NSAF data we will evaluate how LiDAR data best fits into the quantitative geomorphology
workflow.
Once patterns of deformation have been deduced from the coastal landscape we will undertake
basic boundary element modeling (e.g. Okada, 1985: Toda et al., 1998, Toboada et al., 1993) to
evaluate the San Andreas fault geometry and slip history necessary to generate such patterns.
Boundary element models allow for the specification of arbitrary displacement discontinuities
along arbitrarily oriented and located faults in an elastic half space. We propose to use the
Poly3D boundary element modeling software developed at Stanford University (see:
http://pangea.stanford.edu/research/geomech/Software/poly3d/entry_page.html) to perform our
modeling. As an analog to our proposed work, we cite research at the Wheeler Ridge anticline
near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, CA (Arrowsmith, in review; Burbank and
Anderson, 2001; Mueller and Talling, 1997; Mueller and Suppe, 1997; Medwedeff, 1992). Here,
tectonic geomorphic characterization has been mated with boundary element modeling to
interpret fault geometry and slip necessary to generate the observed patterns of deformation.
Models of predicted deformation associated with fault kinematics are then quantitatively
compared to the DEM of Wheeler Ridge by grid subtraction methods to test the model results
against the observed tectonic geomorphology.
We anticipate that the results of our proposed research will provide the first quantitative
evaluation of distributed deformation driven by the Gualala block section of the northern San
Andreas fault. From our boundary element modeling of patterns of tectonically controlled
geomorphology we expect to be able to offer insight to SAF geometry, segmentation and perhaps
12
rupture behavior. In addition, our work will contribute to a developing knowledge base on the
application of high-resolution topographic data generated via LiDAR to the determination of
various geomorphic metrics.
13
14
15
16
17
REFERENCES CITED
Arrowsmith, J R., in review (10/2003), Active tectonics, tectonic geomorphology, and fault
system dynamics: how geoinformatics can help, International Journal on Applied Earth
Observation and Geoinformation special issue on Geoinformatics: Creating Cyber
infrastructure for the Geosciences,
Arrowsmith, J.R., Rhodes, D.D. and Pollard, D.D., 1998, Morphologic dating of scarps by
repeated slip events along the San Andreas Fault, Carrizo Plain, California: Journal of
Geophysical Research, v. 103, p. 10,141-10,160.
Arrowsmith, J R., Pollard, D.D., and Rhodes, D. D., 1996, Hillslope development in
areas of
active tectonics: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 101, p. 6255-6275.
Aydin, A. and Nur, A., 1985, The types and role of stopovers in strike-slip tectonics in: Biddle,
K.T. and Christie-Blick, N., eds. Strike-slip deformation, basin formation, and
sedimentation: Tulsa, Oklahoma, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists:
p. 35-44.
Baldwin, J.N., Knudsen, K.L., Lee, A., and Prentice, C.S., and Gross, R., 2000, Preliminary
estimate of coseismic displacement of the penultimate earthquake on the northern San
Andreas fault, Pt. Arena, California, in: Bokelmann, G. and Kovach, R.L., eds.: Tectonic
Problems of the San Andreas Fault System, Stanford University Publications, p. 355-368.
Brown, R.D., and Wolfe, E.W., 1972, Map showing recently active breaks along the San
Andreas Fault between Point Delgada and Bolinas Bay, California: U.S. Geological
Survey, Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations, Map I-692.
Burgmann, R., Arrowsmith, R., Dumitru, T., and McLaughlin, R., 1994, Rise and fall of the
southern Santa Cruz Mountains, California, from fission tracks, geomorphology, and
geodesy: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 99, p. 20,181 20,202.
Covault, 2004, Uplifted, Quaternary, marine terraces along the margin of the North American
plate: north central California between Alder Creek and Mendocino: Sixteenth Keck
Research Symposium in Geology, Proceedings, Washington and Lee University,
Lexington, VA, p.
Crosby, C.J., Prentice, C.S., Merritts, D., Gardner, T., in preparation, Digital database of marine
terrace mapping and correlation, Fort Ross to Mendocino: coastal northern California.
Dietrich, W.E., Wilson, C.J., Montgomery, D.R., McKean, J., and Bauer, R., 1992, Erosion
thresholds and land surface morphology: Geology, v. 20, p. 675-679.
Furlong, K.P and Schwartz, S.Y., 2004, Influence of the Mendocino Tripple Junction on the
tectonics of coastal California: Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., v. 32, p. 403-433
Hampton, C., 2000, Deformation of the western edge of the North American plate in proximity
to the San Andreas fault in north-central California as recorded in late Quaternary marine
terraces: Thirteenth Keck Research Symposium in Geology, Proceedings, Whitman
College, Walla Walla, WA, p. 144-147.
Hanks, T.C., 2000, The Age of Scarplike Landforms From Diffusion-Equation Analysis, In:
Noeller, J.S., Sowers, J.M., Lettis, W.R. eds., Quaternary Geochronology: Methods and
Applications: American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C., 582 p.
Hanks, T.C., Bucknam, R.C., Lajoie, K.R., Wallace, R.E., 1984, Modification of Wave Cut and
Faulting-Controlled Landforms: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 89, p. 5771-5790.
Harding, D.J., and Berghoff, G.S., 2000, Proceedings of the American Society of
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.,
18
Harding, D.J., 2000, Principles of Airborne Laser Altimeter Terrain Mapping:
http://rocky2.ess.washington.edu/data/raster/lidar/laser_altimetry_in_brief.pdf
Haugerud, R.A., and Harding, D.J., 2001, Some algorithms for virtual deforestation (VDF) of
LIDAR topographic survey data: International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote
Sensing workshop, Annapolis, MD.
Hilley, G., 2001, Landscape development of tectonically active areas: Tempe, Arizona, Arizona
State University, Ph.D. dissertation.
Hilley, G. E., and Arrowsmith, J R., 2001, Transport and production-limited fault scarp
simulation software, in: Merritts, D., and Burgmann, R., Tectonics and Topography:
Crustal Deformation, Surface Processes, and Landforms: Geological Society of America
Short Course Manual, Annual Meeting, 66 p., with CD image gallery.
Hudnut, K.W., Borsa, A., Glennie, C., and Minster, J.-B., 2002, High-Resolution Topography
along Surface Rupture of the 16 October 1999 Hector Mine, California, Earthquake (Mw
7.1) from Airborne Laser Swath Mapping: Bull. Seis. Soc. America, v. 92, p.
Jennings, C.W., 1994, Fault activity map of California and adjacent areas, with locations and
ages of recent volcanic eruptions: California Division of Mines and Geology, Geologic
Data Map No. 6, map scale 1:750,000.
Koehler, R.D, and Baldwin, J.N., 2003, Holocene geologic characterization of the northern San
Andreas fault, Gualala, California: National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program,
Annual Project Summary, v. 45.
Lambeck, K., and Chappell, J., 2001, Sea level change through the last glacial cycle: Science, v.
292, p. 679-686.
Lawson, A.C., 1908, The California Earthquake of April 18, 1906; Report of the State
Earthquake Investigation Commission: Carnegie Institute Washington Publication 87,
451 pp. (Reprinted 1969).
Mattson, A., and Bruhn, R.L., 2001, Fault slip-rates and initiation age based on diffusion
equation modeling: Wasatch fault zone and eastern Great Basin. J. Geophys. Res., v. 106,
p. 13739 – 13750.
McClay, K. and Bonora, M., 2001, Analog models of restraining stopovers in strike-slip fault
systems: AAPG Bulletin, v.85, p. 233-260.
Medwedeff, D.A., 1992, Geometry and kinematics of an active, laterally propagating wedge
thrust, Wheeler Ridge, California, in, Mitra, S., and Fisher, G.W., eds., Structural
geology of fold and thrusts belts: Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins Press, p. 3-28.
Merritts, Dorothy, and Vincent, Kirk R., 1989, Geomorphic response of coastal streams to low,
intermediate, and high rates of uplift, Mendocino triple junction region, northern
California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 101, p. 1373 1388.
Mueller, K., and Suppe, J., 1997, Growth of the Wheeler Ridge anticline, California: geomorphic
evidence for fault-bend folding behavior during earthquakes: Journal of Structural
Geology, v. 19, p. 383-396.
Mueller, K., Talling, P., 1997, Geomorphic evidence for tear faults accommodating lateral
propagation of an active fault-bend fold, Wheeler Ridge, California: Journal of Structural
Geology, v. 19, p. 397-411.
Muhs, D.R., Prentice, C.S., and Merritts, D.J., 2003, Marine terraces, sea level history and
Quaternary tectonics of the San Andreas fault on the coast of California, in: Easterbrook.
D.J., editor, Quaternary Geology of the United States, INQUA 2003 Field Guide Volume,
Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, p. 1-18.
19
Muhs, D.R, Kennedy, G.L., Rockwell, T.K., 1994, Uranium-series ages of marine terrace corals
from the Pacific coast of North America and implications for last interglacial sea level
history: Quaternary Research, v. 42, p. 72-87.
Muhs, D.R., Kelsey, H.M., Miller, G.H., Kennedy, G.L., Whelan, J.F., and McInelly, G.W.,
1990, Age estimates and uplift rates for late Pleistocene marine terraces: Southern Oregon
portion of the Cascadia forearc: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 95, p. 6685-6698.
Okada, Y., 1985, Surface deformation due to shear and tensile faults in a half-space: Bulletin of
the Seismological Society of America, v. 75, p. 1135-1154.
Prentice, C.S., Crosby, C.J., Harding D.J., Haugerud, R.A., Merritts, D.J., Gardner, T., Koehler,
R.D., Baldwin, J.N., 2003, Northern California LIDAR Data: A Tool for Mapping the
San Andreas Fault and Pleistocene Marine Terraces in Heavily Vegetated Terrain [abs.]:
EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, v. 84(46), Abstract G12A-06.
Prentice, C.S., Langridge, R., Baldwin, J.N., Dawson, T., Merritts, D.J., and Crosby, C.J., 2001,
Paleoseismic and Quaternary tectonic studies of the San Andreas Fault between Shelter
Cove and Fort Ross, Northern California, USA [abs]: Ten Years of Paeoseismology in
the ILP: Progress and Prospects, 17-21 December, 2001, Kaikoura, New Zealand,
Programme and Abstracts. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Information
Series 50, p. 52-53.
Prentice, C. S., Prescott, W.H., Langridge, R., And Dawson, T., 2001, New geologic and
geodetic slip rate estimates on the North Coast San Andreas Fault: approaching
agreement? [abs.]: Seismological Research Letters, v. 72, P. 282.
Prentice, C.S., Langridge, R., and Merritts, D.J., 2000, Paleoseismic and Quaternary
tectonic studies of the San Andreas fault from Shelter Cove to Fort Ross, In: Proceedings
of the 3rd conference on Tectonic Problems of the San Andreas Fault System, Bokelman,
G., and Kovach, R.L., Eds., Stanford University, Stanford, California.
Prentice, C.S., 1989, Earthquake geology of the northern San Andreas fault near Point Arena,
California: Pasadena, California, California Institute of Technology, Ph.D Dissertation,
252 p.
Roering, J.J., J.W. Kirchner, and W.E. Dietrich, 1999, Evidence for nonlinear, diffusive sediment
transport on hillslopes and implications for landscape morphology, Water Resources
Research, v. 35, p. 853-87
Rosenbloom, N.A. and Anderson, R.S., 1994, Hillslope and channel evolution in a marine
terraced landscape, Santa Cruz, California: Journal of Geophysical Research, v.99, p.
14013-14029.
Taboada, A., Bousquet, J.C., Philip, H., 1993, Coseismic elasic models of folds above blind
thrusts in the Beltic Cordilleras (Spain) and evaluation of seismic hazard: Tectonophysics,
v.220, p. 223-241.
Toda, S., Stein, R.S., Reasenberg, P.A., and Dieterich, J.H., 1998, Stress transferred by the
Mw=6.9 Kobe, Japan, shock: Effect on aftershocks and future earthquake probabilities:
Journal of Geophysical Research., v. 103, p. 24,543-24,565,
Whipple, K.X., and Tucker, G.E., 1999, Dyanamics of the stream-power river incision model:
Implications for height limits of mountain ranges, landscape response timescales, and
research needs: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 104, p.17661-17674.
Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities (WGCEP), 2003, Earthquake
Probabilities in the San Francisco Bay Region: 2003-2031: U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 03-214.
20
FINAL REPORT AND DISSEMINATION
The target audience for the results derived from the proposed study is the geologic, seismologic
and engineering communities interested in earthquake hazards reduction and tectonic
geomorphology. Additionally, we expect our work with LiDAR to be of interest to individuals
working in remote sensing and photogrammetry. We anticipate preparation of at least two
articles on the results of this research that will be submitted to an appropriate peer refereed
journal in a timely manner. A final technical report will be submitted to the U.S. Geological
Survey. Annual Project Summaries and Non-technical project summaries will be submitted to
the Project Officer, as per the FY2005 External Research Program announcement. This work
will also comprise the bulk of Crosby’s Masters thesis. We will participate as requested and as
availability permits in informal discussions about LiDAR data and applications at meetings and
in the field. We will maintain and frequently update a webpage devoted to our research at the
ASU Active Tectonics, Quantitative Structural Geology and Geomorphology research group
website: http://activetectonics.asu.edu/. We plan to present out results at a major national
meeting such as AGU, SSA or GSA. To keep costs down, we have not requested support to
present our work, support will instead come from other sources or personal funds.
RELATED EFFORTS
The research proposed here is an outgrowth of work Crosby was involved with during a threeyear internship/research assistantship at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park under Dr.
Carol Prentice. Crosby has been intimately involved in marine terrace mapping efforts along the
Gualala block portion of the northern California coast. While at the USGS he developed a GIS
of terrace mapping and related data (Crosby et al., in preparation) that has been instrumental in
the work of Prentice and other researchers concerned with SAF driven deformation along this
portion of the coast (Prentice et al., 2003; Covault, 2004). Crosby was also involved in many
aspects of the acquisition, quality evaluation, data management and early application of the
NSAF LiDAR data. Finally, Crosby has been involved in a pair of paleoseismic investigations
of the northern San Andreas fault at Fort Ross, CA, one of which formed the basis of his
undergraduate thesis work (see Crosby’s CV for reference). The research we propose here
integrates Crosby’s knowledge of the northern San Andreas fault, marine terrace mapping and
NSAF LiDAR.
The Principle Investigator for this project, Dr. Ramón Arrowsmith, is currently involved in a
number of efforts that dovetail with the research proposed here. As a PI on the NSF funded,
Information and Technology Research (ITR) GEON project (http://www.geongrid.org/)
Arrowsmith, with assistance from Crosby, are building tools and methodologies for distribution
and processing of LiDAR in the grid-computing environment being developed by GEON. We
expect to apply much of our knowledge and skills developed through the GEON project to the
northern San Andreas LiDAR research proposed here. Arrowsmith is also involved in the
LiDAR user community as a member of the steering committee for the NSF funded National
Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM). Additionally, Arrowsmith is a PI on an NSF
funded project to constrain kilometer-scale fault zone structure and kinematics along the San
Andreas fault near Parkfield, California (http://activetectonics.la.asu.edu/Parkfield/). Many of
the tectonic geomorphic techniques we propose to utilize in our northern San Andreas work are
currently being applied to similar research questions in Parkfield.
21
PROJECT PERSONNEL AND CURRICULUM VITAE
J Ramón Arrowsmith
Department of Geological Sciences
Tempe, AZ 85287-1404
WWW: http://www.asu.public.edu/~arrows
EMAIL: ramon.arrowsmith@asu.edu
Arizona State University
PHONE: (480) 965-3541
http://activetectonics.la.asu.edu
Academic Training



Whittier College–B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) in Geology and Spanish, 1989, supervised by Dr.
Dallas D. Rhodes. Presidential Scholarship at Whittier College (full tuition 1985–1989).
Stanford University–Ph.D. Geological and Environmental Sciences, 1995, supervised by Dr.
David D. Pollard. Dissertation title: “Coupled Tectonic Deformation and Geomorphic
Degradation along the San Andreas Fault System.”
Stanford University, Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Post-Doctoral
Scholar, April 1, 1995–July 31, 1995
Appointment
Arizona State University, Department of Geological Sciences
Assistant Prof., August 1, 1995–July 1, 2001; Associate Professor of Geology, July 1, 2001–
Related Publications
Arrowsmith, J R., Rhodes, D. D., and Pollard, D. D., Morphologic dating of scarps formed by repeated
slip events along the San Andreas Fault, Carrizo Plain, California, Journal of Geophysical Research,
103, B5, 10,141–10,160, 1998.
Thiede, R. C., Bookhagen, B., Arrowsmith, J R., Sobel, E. R., and Strecker, M. R., Climatic control on
areas of rapid exhumation along the Southern Himalayan Front, Earth and Planetary Science Letters,
in press.
Washburn, Z., Arrowsmith, J R., Dupont-Nivet, G., Feng, W. X., Qiao, Z. Y., Zhengle, C.,
Paleoseismology of the Xorxol segment of the Central Altyn Tagh Fault, Xinjiang, China, Annals of
Geophysics, 5, 1015-1034, 2003.
Young, J. J., Arrowsmith, J R., Colini, L., and Grant, L. B., 3-D excavation and measurement of recent
rupture history along the Cholame segment of the San Andreas Fault, Bulletin of the Seismological
Society of America: Special Issue on Paleoseismology of the San Andreas fault, 92,2,670-2,688,
2002.
Arrowsmith, R., Bürgmann, R., and Dumitru, T., Uplift and fault slip rates in the southern San Francisco
Bay area from fission-tracks, geomorphology, and geodesy, in Quaternary Geochronology: Methods
and Applications, Noller, J. S., Sowers, J. M., and Lettis, W. R., (Eds.), American Geophysical
Union Reference Shelf, 4, 503--508, 2000
Arrowsmith, J R., Pollard, D. D., and Rhodes, D. D., Hillslope development in areas of active tectonics,
Journal of Geophysical Research, 101, B3, 6,255--6,275, 1996. Correction: Journal of Geophysical
Research, 104, B1, 805, 1999.
Related activities and experience





USGS NEHRP proposal review panel (1996–1998, 2001-2002)
NSF-AGU Geoinformatics interim steering committee (2000–Present)
Arizona state government service: ASU representative of Arizona Earthquake Information
Network and member of Arizona Council for Earthquake Safety
California state government service: external reviewer for the California Earthquake Prediction
Evaluation Council (1997–Present)
Courses taught at Arizona State University: Introduction to Geology, Geologic Disasters and the
Environment, Structural Geology, Geomorphology, Computers in Geology, Desert surface
processes and Quaternary geology seminar, Field Geophysics, Advanced Field Geology,
Advanced Structural Geology.
22
Christopher Crosby
Department of Geological Sciences
Tempe, AZ 85287-1404
chris.crosby@asu.edu
(480) 220-3200
EDUCATION
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, Tempe, Arizona, 2003 to present – Active tectonics,
geomorphology, earthquake geology. Thesis and research advisor: Ramon Arrowsmith.
WHITMAN COLLEGE, Walla Walla, Washington, B.A., Geology with Honors in Major Study,
May 2000. Honors Thesis: Reassessment of the 1906 earthquake and paleoseismology of
the SanAndreas fault, Doda Ranch, northern California
RELEVANT RESEARCH AND INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Department of Geological Sciences
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
fall 2003-present
 Developed and implemented a GIS of geologic data related to the San Andreas fault near
Parkfield, CA
INTERN/RESEARH ASSISTANT, Western Earthquake Hazards Team
U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California
fall 2000-summer 2003
 Assisted with paleoseismic research projects on the northern San Andreas and Maacama faults
in California, the South American-Caribbean plate boundary in Trinidad, onshore faults in Puerto
Rico, and the Hurricane fault in northern Arizona
 Performed geomorphic mapping of marine terraces, to study variations in coastal uplift rates
along the northern California coast and to constrain a late Pleistocene slip rate of the northern
San Andreas fault
 Shipboard scientific party member for 5-week oceanographic cruise to investigate off-shore
paleoseismology of the northern San Andreas fault
RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS AND ABSTRACTS:
Prentice, C.S., Crosby, C.J., Harding, D.J., Haugerud, R.A., Merritts, D.J., Gardner, T.,
Koehler, R.D., and Baldwin, J.N., 2003, Northern California LIDAR Data: A Tool for
Mapping the San Andreas Fault and Pleistocene Marine Terraces in Heavily
Vegetated Terrain, American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Fenton, C.H., Prentice, C.S., Benton, J., Crosby, C.J., Sickler, R.R., Stephens, T.A., 2002, Paleoseismic
evidence for prehistoric earthquakes on the northern Maacama fault, Willits, CA: EOS,
Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, v. 83, p. F1044.
Crosby, C.J., Prentice, C.S., Weber, J., and Hengesh, J.V., 2001, Paleoseismic and geomorphic
evidence for Quaternary fault slip on the Central Range and Los Bajos faults, South AmericanCaribbean plate boundary, Trinidad: Ten Years of Paeoseismology in the ILP: Progress and
Prospects, 17-21 December, 2001, Kaikoura, New Zealand, Programme and Abstracts. Institute
of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Information Series 50, p. 50-51.
Prentice, C.S., Langridge, R., Baldwin, J.N., Dawson, T., Merritts, D.J., and Crosby, C.J., 2001,
Paleoseismic and Quaternary tectonic studies of the San Andreas Fault between Shelter
Cove and Fort Ross, Northern California, USA: Ten Years of Paleoseismology in
the ILP: Progress and Prospects, 17-21 December, 2001, Kaikoura, New Zealand, Programme
and Abstracts. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Information Series 50, p. 52-53.
Crosby, C.J., 2000, Reassessment of the 1906 earthquake and paleoseismology of the San
Andreas fault, Doda Ranch, northern California: Thirteenth Keck Research
Symposium in Geology, Proceedings, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, p. 136-139.
23
INSTITUTIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The Active Tectonics, Quantitative Structural Geology and Geomorphology research group is
housed in a several hundred square foot laboratory space with 3 adjacent student offices. In this
laboratory and related facilities, available computer hardware tools include 8 Macintosh and PC
desktop computers, 2 PC laptop computers, 3 UNIX workstations (Silicon Graphics and Sun), a
FreeBSD data server, 3 CD/DVD writers, flatbed scanner and 3 color printers. Available
software (beyond standard Mac/PC drafting and image editing, word-processing, and spreadsheet
tools) includes ER Mapper and ERDAS Imagine (including Leica Photogrammetry Suite) for
analysis of remotely sensed data and digital topographic data), ArcGIS, Arc-Info, and ArcView
for GIS compilation, MatLab for analysis and visualization, ANSYS for finite element and
POLY3D and DIS3D for boundary element mechanical modeling. We maintain an active web
site where research results and data are presented and frequently updated:
http://activetectonics.la.asu.edu. The research group employs a systems
administrator/programmer for technical assistance, computer systems support and programming
assistance.
Field tools essential for our projects include 2 Leica-Wild TCM 1100 total station (consisting of
an electronic theodolite and electronic distance meter (EDM)) providing high precision 3
dimensional locations of sighted targets within a few seconds over about 1 km providing a linear
accuracy of 3 mm plus or minus 2 ppm and angular accuracy of 3" and recording the data
digitally. For data reduction, we use both custom UNIX and Macintosh software and LISCAD-the Leica-Wild surveying and engineering software that is designed to work with these
instruments. Two portable printers and two laptops permit us to work with survey data in the
field. 5 Motorola radios provide field communications. We also have a full suite of field tools
necessary for supporting large field expeditions. Two digital cameras and two film cameras are
available for field work. We also have helium balloon and kite-based aerial photography systems
available for detailed documentation of important landforms and field sites
(http://activetectonics.la.asu.edu/kites/index.html).
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Dr. Ramón Arrowsmith will provide overall project management and technical direction
throughout the duration of the research. He will be actively involved in all project tasks. Under
the direction of Dr. Arrowsmith, Christopher Crosby will complete all data evaluation and
analysis tasks as the primary component of his M.S. thesis project. Throughout the duration of
our research we will maintain close communication and data sharing with Dr. Carol Prentice of
the U.S. Geological Survey. We have budgeted for travel to the USGS in Menlo Park in order to
work collaboratively during both the data analysis and result dissemination phases of the project.
We propose to conduct our research over a one-year period as shown below.
24
TASK
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
LiDAR
Evaluation
Marine terrace
characterization
&
slip rate test
Watershed scale
geomorphology
Manuscript
preparation
Final report /
Annual Project
Summary Prep.
Presentation of
results
CURRENT SUPPORT AND PENDING APPLICATIONS
J Ramón Arrowsmith
1) NSF-ITR - Arizona State University and University of Texas El Paso: Creation of a
Geospatial data system for the transition between the Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range,
10/01/01 – 9/30/04, $200,000, P.I. Summer Month: 0.33.
2) NSF-ITR - GEON: A Research Project to Create Cyberinfrastructure for the Geosciences,
9/01/02 – 8/31/07, $400,000, P.I. Summer Month: 0.50.
3) USGS EDMAP - Geological Mapping of the San Andreas Fault near Parkfield California,
5/01/03 – 2/28/04, $13,881, P.I. Summer Month: 0.00.
4) NSF - Kilometer-scale fault zone structure and kinematics along the San Andreas Fault near
Parkfield, California, 7/01/03 – 6/30/05, $187,956, P.I. Summer Month: 0.5.
5) USGS NEHRP - Rupture History of the San Andreas Fault at Van Matre Ranch, Carrizo
Plain, California: Collaborative Research with University of California, Irvine and Arizona State
University, 2/01/04-1/31/05, $20,000, P.I. Summer Month: 1.00.
6) Civilian Research and Development Foundation - Integrated investigation of active
deformation in the northern Tien Shan, Kyrgyz Republic: neotectonics, earthquake geology, and
seismology, 8/1/03-7/31/05, $12,700, P.I. Summer Month: 0.00.
7) NSF - Multi-cycle rupture history of the San Andreas Fault in the Carrizo Plain: Collaborative
Research with UC Irvine & National Science Foundation & 07/1/04--06/30/06, Pending, P.I.
Summer Month: 1.00.
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