150-meter Fledermaus bathymetry grid from U.S. Geological Survey Cruise 03008, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RB0303, February 18 to March 7, 2003 aboard the Ronald H. Brown in the Puerto Rico Trench region (RB2003sd.sd)

In 2002 and 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC), in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), conducted three exploration cruises (USGS Cruise 02051, NOAA RB0208, September 24 to 30, 2002; USGS Cruise 03008, NOAA RB0303, February 18 to March 7, 2003 and USGS Cruise 03032, NOAA RB0305, August 28 to September 4, 2003). These cruises mapped for the first time the morphology of this entire tectonic plate boundary stretching from the Dominican Republic in the west to the Lesser Antilles in the east, a distance of approximately 700 kilometers (430 miles). Observations from these three exploration cruises, coupled with computer modeling and published Global Positioning System (GPS) results and earthquake focal mechanisms have provided new information that is changing the evaluation of the seismic and tsunami hazard from this plate boundary. The observations collected during these cruises also contributed to the basic understanding of the mechanisms that govern plate tectonics, in this case, the creation of the island of Puerto Rico and the deep trench north of it. Results of the sea floor mapping have been an important component of the study of tsunami and earthquake hazards to the northeastern Caribbean and the U.S. Atlantic coast off the United States. For additional information on the cruises see:
http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2002-051-FA
http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2002-051-FA
http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2002-051-FA

2002年至2003年间，美国地质调查局（U.S. Geological Survey, USGS）与伍兹霍尔海岸与海洋科学中心（Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, WHCMSC）联合美国国家海洋和大气管理局（National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA），先后开展三次勘探航次：分别为2002年9月24日至30日的USGS航次02051与NOAA RB0208航次；2003年2月18日至3月7日的USGS航次03008与NOAA RB0303航次；以及2003年8月28日至9月4日的USGS航次03032与NOAA RB0305航次。

本次航次首次完成了该构造板块边界（tectonic plate boundary）全域的地貌测绘，该边界西起多米尼加共和国，东至小安的列斯群岛，全长约700公里（430英里）。

三次勘探航次的观测数据，结合计算机模拟、已发表的全球定位系统（Global Positioning System, GPS）成果与地震震源机制资料，为该板块边界引发的地震与海啸灾害风险评估提供了全新信息，正推动学界更新对该灾害风险的认知与评估范式。

本航次采集的观测数据，还增进了学界对支配板块构造运动的内在机制的基础认知，在本次研究场景中，具体指向波多黎各岛及其北侧深海海沟的形成机理。

此次海底测绘成果，已成为加勒比海东北部海域以及美国大西洋沿岸地震及海啸灾害研究的重要组成部分。

如需了解航次的更多详情，请访问以下链接：
http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2002-051-FA
http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2002-051-FA
http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2002-051-FA