Sun-Illuminated Color GeoTIFF Image of the 150-meter bathymetry grid of the Puerto Rico Trench generated from data collected in 2002 and 2003 by the U.S. Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (combined_grd.tif, geographic, WGS84)

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），先后开展了三次勘探航次：分别为2002年9月24日至30日的USGS航次02051、NOAA航次RB0208；2003年2月18日至3月7日的USGS航次03008、NOAA航次RB0303；以及2003年8月28日至9月4日的USGS航次03032、NOAA航次RB0305。
本次航次首次完成了该整条构造板块边界的地形地貌测绘，该边界西起多米尼加共和国，东至小安的列斯群岛，全长约700千米（430英里）。
基于这三次勘探航次的观测数据，结合计算机模拟分析、已发表的全球定位系统（Global Positioning System, GPS）成果以及地震震源机制研究，学界获得了全新认知，正更新着对该板块边界诱发地震与海啸灾害风险的评估工作。
本次航次采集的观测数据，也为学界深化板块构造运行机制的基础理解提供了支撑——具体到本次研究场景中，即波多黎各岛及其北侧深海海沟的形成机理。
本次海底测绘成果，已成为加勒比海东北部及美国大西洋沿岸海域海啸与地震灾害研究的重要组成部分。
如需了解航次的更多信息，请访问：
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