Abstract Title: A Map of Current Tensor Strain Rate in the Basin and Range from 
GPS (poster).

Abstract Author(s): Blewitt, Geoffrey (University of Nevada, Reno) - Coolbaugh, 
Mark (University of Nevada, Reno) - Holt, William (State University of New York 
at Stony Brook) - Bennett, Richard (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for 
Astrophysics) - Davis, James (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)   

Abstract: We present a map of tensor strain rate in the western U.S., which 
shows considerable variation in style and magnitude across the Basin and Range 
province. The regional-scale geomorphology of periodic range fronts might 
suggest uniform accommodation of extension between the stable North American 
platform to the east, and the plate boundary kinematics to the west. GPS data 
on the other hand indicate that the total relative motion between the east and 
west boundaries of the Great Basin is accommodated in narrow zones of 
deformation, with most of the Basin and Range being dormant, acting more like 
non-deforming microplates. EarthScope promises to provide a more accurate map 
with higher spatio-temporal resolution of strain, which may help to explain 
this apparent disconnect between the geologically long-term distributed motion 
and the currently observed block-like motion. Here we aim to act as a resource 
for those seeking more information on the measurement potential of geodesy in 
the Great Basin, and to promote discussion of potential spin-off applications 
of EarthScope-enabled geodesy, including the targeting of geothermal and 
mineral resources, seismic hazard assessment, land subsidence and aquifer 
management.