Earthquake Processes and Effects

The high level of earthquake activity and the complexity of the fault systems throughout California area provides a unique natural laboratory for the study of the physics of earthquakes.

The geophysical structure of the Earth’s crust, from the surface to the Moho, plays a major role in seismic hazard by influencing earthquake source properties and wave propagation from the earthquake to the Earth’s surface. We make field measurements and create models to better characterize the crust and resulting earthquake ground motions.

The overarching theme of this project is to discover as much as we can about earthquakes and faulting from field and laboratory observations and to combine this with geophysical, geological, geochemical, and mathematical (including computational) modeling of earthquake sources and fault zones so as to best improve probabilistic USGS Earthquake Hazard Assessments. This project also investigates...

The overall objective of this research is to improve the understanding of the damaging ground motions produced in earthquakes in order to develop better methods for seismic hazard assessment and mitigation in urban areas. The overall objective of this research is to improve the understanding of the damaging ground motions produced in earthquakes in order to develop better methods for seismic...

There are currently two main Experimental Rock Physics Laboratories in the Earthquake Science Center in Menlo Park, California. These laboratories specialize in generating earthquakes under controlled conditions.

This research focuses on the ability to determine what areas are more prone to experiencing effects such as liquefaction and landslides when there is shaking from an earthquake.