Distributed deformation across the Rio Grande Rift, Great Plains, and Colorado Plateau

Research Article| January 01, 2012 Distributed deformation across the Rio Grande Rift, Great Plains, and Colorado Plateau Henry T. Berglund; Henry T. Berglund 1UNAVCO Inc., 6350 Nautilus Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80301-5553, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Anne F. Sheehan; Anne F. Sheehan 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark H. Murray; Mark H. Murray 3Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, New Mexico 87801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mousumi Roy; Mousumi Roy 4Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-1116, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Anthony R. Lowry; Anthony R. Lowry 5Department of Geology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-4505, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. Steven Nerem; R. Steven Nerem 6Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0429, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Frederick Blume Frederick Blume 1UNAVCO Inc., 6350 Nautilus Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80301-5553, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Henry T. Berglund 1UNAVCO Inc., 6350 Nautilus Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80301-5553, USA Anne F. Sheehan 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA Mark H. Murray 3Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, New Mexico 87801, USA Mousumi Roy 4Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-1116, USA Anthony R. Lowry 5Department of Geology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-4505, USA R. Steven Nerem 6Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0429, USA Frederick Blume 1UNAVCO Inc., 6350 Nautilus Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80301-5553, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 May 2011 Revision Received: 08 Aug 2011 Accepted: 12 Aug 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2012 Geological Society of America Geology (2012) 40 (1): 23–26. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32418.1 Article history Received: 01 May 2011 Revision Received: 08 Aug 2011 Accepted: 12 Aug 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Henry T. Berglund, Anne F. Sheehan, Mark H. Murray, Mousumi Roy, Anthony R. Lowry, R. Steven Nerem, Frederick Blume; Distributed deformation across the Rio Grande Rift, Great Plains, and Colorado Plateau. Geology 2012;; 40 (1): 23–26. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32418.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We use continuous measurements of GPS sites from across the Rio Grande Rift, Great Plains, and Colorado Plateau to estimate present-day surface velocities and strain rates. Velocity gradients from five east-west profiles suggest an average of ∼1.2 nanostrains/yr east-west extensional strain rate across these three physiographic provinces. The extensional deformation is not concentrated in a narrow zone centered on the Rio Grande Rift but rather is distributed broadly from the western edge of the Colorado Plateau well into the western Great Plains. This unexpected pattern of broadly distributed deformation at the surface has important implications for our understanding of how low strain-rate deformation within continental interiors is accommodated. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.