EarthScope - P574 EarthCache
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"The EarthScope scientific community conducts multidisciplinary research across the Earth sciences utilizing freely available data from instruments that measure motions of the Earth's surface, record seismic waves, and recover rock samples from depths at which earthquakes originate."
This EarthScope station, and others like it, utilize our familiar Global Positioning Satellites to measure movement of the earth's tectonic plate. With these measurements, scientists may learn what is currently happening to the earth we live on today and what we may expect to happen in the future. The multiple sensor legs are embedded between ten and fifteen meters deep below the surface and are tracked by familiar GPS signals that are accurate to approximately two millimeters or about one eighth of an inch. This is far more accurate than the handheld GPSr you are using right now!
Just to the north of this east-west (transverse) ridge you are standing upon, is the Weber Fault; part of the San Gabriel River section of the San Gabriel fault zone. On your drive to the trail head, you will have been on, crossed or adjacent to the San Antonio, San Gabriel, and Stoddard Canyon faults. The well known San Andreas fault lies further to the northeast (as close as four miles) and passing directly through Wrightwood, five miles away.
This EarthScope station (Mt_HarwoodCS2008) was established on the sixth day of June, 2008. This station can be found at an elevation of 9,527 feet near Mt Harwood. This is a strenuous, yet popular hike along the Devil's Backbone trail on the way to (or from) Mount San Antonio (Mt. Baldy), the highest peak in L.A. County. You will be able to reach the station off of a lesser used trail that parallels the main trail.
To log this Earthcache as a find, send an email to me and include the following information with answers:
1. Earthscope - P574 (GC23M1T)
2. The number of people in your group.
3. The station Name
4. What direction is the antenna pointing? (Numeric or directional are both acceptable answers. ie. 97 degrees, NNW) I recommend bringing a standard compass with you to take this measurement.
5. Compare/contrast the terrain of the north side of the ridge with the south side of the ridge. (ie. rock type/size/shape, slope, terrain, etc)
6. Describe what you think is happening here (movement, slide, uplift, decay/erosion, etc.) to make the location of this station valuable to scientists.
Optional Task: Post a photo of you and your group at/near this EarthScope station.
You may log your find online immediately. If answers are not received within seven days, your log will be deleted. Logs and/or photos that provide answers will be promptly deleted and asked to be reposted.
Sources:
www.EarthScope.org
www.unavco.org
earthquakes.usgs.gov/learn
Google Earth with usgs fault kml
The EarthScope project is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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