Mapping of Marine Terraces in Cape Blanco or to Calculate Uplift Rates

The project I am working on involves topography, Geomorphology and use of QGIS mapping systems to create high quality maps of marine terraces in Cape Blanco, Oregon. Our research includes an analytical mapping of the Cape Blanco region in order to better understand how plate tectonics are shaping the area by using marine terraces (an uplifted wave-cut platform). The aim of our research is to make a map of marine terraces for this area that will also provide data that can be used to calculate rates and spatial patterns of rock uplift for the area. We know that there are marine terraces in the area and we know the way they look and how they form, but we dont know their exact locations, ages, or how (or whether) they are deformed. With the data we collect, we will provide insight into Cape Blanco’s tectonic activity and add to our understanding of how the forces that drive plate tectonics ultimately lead to earthquakes and regional seismic hazard.

Faculty Advisor: Kristin Morell