Technology:

Self-Flying Planes Aid Geothermal, Seismic Exploration (USGS)

USGS geophysicist and GRC Member Jonathan Glen, in cooperation with scientists and engineers from NASA, Carnegie-Mellon University and Central Washington University, is working to characterize the complex seismic and geothermal systems of the Basin and Range area of the western USA and understanding the relationships between them.

They are using an experimental system called payload-directed flight (PDF) to study and map the underground fracture and fault systems of Surprise Valley, Calif., a promising target for geothermal exploration and development in the far northeast corner of the state. They hope to complete their two-year study not only with comprehensive geophysical data from Surprise Valley itself, but an efficient research strategy for exploring geothermal systems in comparable terrain throughout the world.

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