1. Using paleomagnetism to understand distributed deformation across the San Andreas fault system, central California
Sarah Titus - Department of Geology, Carleton College
The western half of central California includes the San Andreas fault system, which marks the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. I am interested in understanding how plate boundary deformation is accommodated across the 150 km-wide fault system.
To accomplish this, I use the ancient magnetic signature preserved in rocks to determine whether the rocks have changed position (i.e. deformed) since they formed. Other regional studies (arrows with green wedges) demonstrate small clockwise rotations in the region.
However, there are no data in central California between Paso Robles and King City. I have been collecting and analyzing rock samples in this area (blue circles) with Carleton students to characterize the deformation in this section of central California.