A little real-time science report: I'm interpreting a couple of grids of seismic reflection data across and near San Pedro Shelf, offshore Long Beach. I spent the last 2 days correlating to reflections (horizons) around the area. Right now, I'm guessing at the age of the horizons ("reflectors"). In a bit today, I will compare to some published cross sections through wells (Wright 1991). But, some of the folding south of the shelf, as well as the SW fold limb that forms a 700 m-high seafloor escarpment, may be much younger than even I thought. I'm doing this partly for SCEC, but I am also doing it for a proposal and so am rushed: this is the sort of project that really needs years of work. Anyway, if I am right about the Palos Verdes region (and Leon, Dolan, Shaw, and Pratt are correct about the Compton thrust, then Canie may see her insurance rates go up in a couple of years.
We had a discussion about global warming and bias a month ago here. I have to really watch bias...you have to be confident if you are to do regional seismic reflection interpretation, but you have to be willing to change as you go. This sort of interpretation (on multiple resolutions of 2D reflection data) is as much art as science...

Maybe I'll post later if I think I can tell the age of the younger horizon by correlation to Wright. To do it right I need to get velocity surveys, well logs, and paleontology reports for numerous petroleum test wells...and to buy these is not cheap...and the US Minerals Management Servive laid off half their earth scientists a couple years ago so they are very understaffed...we got a lot of public information from them in the past. think I'll add $1000 to our budget for buying logs.
Chris