Exciting Volunteer Research Opportunity in Southern California

Exciting Volunteer Research Opportunity -- Studying Earthquake Hazards and Rifting Processes in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys.

Applications due before 1 Dec 2010.

- What:

The Salton Seismic Imaging Project is seeking students and other volunteers to become involved in a groundbreaking research effort.

- When & Where:

The program is currently scheduled to take place for two weeks in February 2011 in southeastern California.

- Background:

The Imperial and Coachella Valleys, located in the Salton Trough, are forming by active plate tectonic processes. From the Imperial Valley southward into the Gulf of California, plate motions are rifting the continent apart. In the Coachella Valley, the plates are sliding past one another along the San Andreas and related faults. These processes build the stunning landscapes of the region, but also produce damaging earthquakes.

The Salton Seismic Imaging Project (SSIP) will create images of underground structure and sediments in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys and adjacent mountain ranges to investigate the earthquake hazards they pose to cities in this area. Importantly, the images will determine the underground geometry of the San Andreas Fault, how deep the sediments are, and how fast earthquake energy can travel through the sediments. All of these factors determine how hard the Earth will shake during a major earthquake. If we can better understand how and where earthquakes and strong shaking will occur, then buildings can be better designed or retrofitted to resist damage and collapse, and emergency plans can be prepared.

- How Volunteers Will Participate:

Participants will help to deploy portable seismometers in Southern California (mostly in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys). Day shift volunteers will help program the seismographs, and working in pairs will deploy 20-60 seismographs per day in shallow, shoveled holes, at a spacing of ~100 m or more - next to highways, paved roads, dirt roads, and canals. Night shift volunteers will drive and help direct other vehicles in and out of sites. Minor physical labor (carry boxes and sandbags, shovel holes) will be required of all volunteers.

Volunteers must be in good physical condition, able to follow instructions, and navigate by map and hand-held GPS following training. Volunteers must be able to carry 25 lbs and dig shallow holes (8 inches) with a shovel. Ability and willingness to drive is desirable but not required.

- Logistics:

Daily living expenses and transportation costs from the Los Angeles region to the field area will be covered by the project for volunteers. Volunteers may need to arrive the day before, and leave the day after, their volunteer dates.

- Deadlines, Application and More Information:

Volunteers will be notified as to whether they have been accepted into the project by 1 Dec 2010. We will then begin corresponding with volunteers to finalize travel plans. Applications are due before 1 Dec 2010.

Volunteer Application
Form: http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~jstock/VF-SSIP.doc

Project Information Sheet:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/research/salton/

For questions or more information contact Joann Stock at: jstock@gps.caltech.edu

Join the effort!