Field Work
2009
Thanks to a funding supplement, we were able to complete the resurvey of the
GPS network.
2008
The plan for 2008 called for a complete resurvey of the GPS network and completion of the delayed active seismic component of the project, which included an onshore-offshore component. This 08 field work was handicapped by the worst weather in more than a decade in southern Alaska. Despite 2 months of effort, the GPS team was unable to complete a resurvey of the network, and the onshore component of the active seismic was made impossible when fog prevented helicopter flights for more than 14 consecutive days during the offshore seismic program. Active seismic offshore data were acquired including 1250 km of reflection lines and two wide-angle profiles totaling 650 km in length.
 |
 |
 |
Ocean Bottom
Seismometers awaiting deployment in the wet lab aboard R/V Marcus
Langseth Photo: Bobby Reece, 2008 |
Deploying a UTIG
OBS in the Gulf of Alaska from the R/V Marcus Langseth Photo: Bobby Reece, 2008 |
Seismic air gun
floats off the stearn of the R/V Marcus Langseth in the Gulf of Alaska Photo: Bobby Reece, 2008 |
2007
The 07 field season saw generally good weather and was an important season for geologic studies with a month of helicopter support for that effort. We carried out maintenance of seismic stations and limited GPS observations, along with initial analysis and modeling of the data. Paleoseismology studies were done along the St. Elias coast; glaciology studies were conducted on Seward Glacier, and we worked with the American Museum of Natural History to develop a informal science education video related to the project. Active seismic group continued working on existing data due to further shipyard delays of the R/V Langseth.
 |
 |
 |
Ian looking for paleoseismic records on the beach near Cape Yakataga Photo: Eva Enkelmann, 2008 |
Ian and Ron coring in the swamp near Icy Bay Photo: Eva Enkelmann, 2008 |
Preparing to
move base camp at Cape Yakataga> Photo: Eva Enkelmann, 2008 |
2006
The 06 field season saw spectacular weather and allowed completion of the seismic network installation, completion of the GPS network installation, and 4 weeks of geologic field studies, completion of the first phase of thermochronology sampling, and trenching for paleoseismology studies. The active seismic program that had been planned for 2006 was delayed due to the fitting of the R/V Marcus G. Langseth; the active seismic group worked with existing seismic data and bathymetry data.
Update from
the Alaska Earthquake Info Center Group - installation of 14 new
seismic monitoring stations.
Update from
Chris Larsen, Julie Elliott, and Max Kauffman - installation of 70 GPS
sites (200502006) across the eastern Chugach and western St. Elias
Mountains.
2004-2005
The 05 field season saw partial installation of the broadband seismic network (ahead of schedule), completion of 4 weeks of geologic field studies, partial installation of the GPS network, and limited GPS studies of glacial flow rates (handicapped by bad weather). The early installation of the seismic network allowed the serendipitous recording of a major landslide and several “ice earthquakes”. LIDAR surveys were flown in September 05, acquiring 2 of the 3 focus areas (weather handicap). Groups worked on individual data and T. Pavlis spent the fall semester at Maine working with geodynamics group (Hurricane Katrina induced sabbatical).