Rufus D Catchings, PhD
Rufus Catchings is a seismologist working on
• Earthquake hazards
• Hydrogeology
• Regional imaging of resources
• Induced seismicity
Dr. Catchings’ scientific interests include seismic evaluation of the subsurface, particularly as it relates to earthquake and other hazards, groundwater and other resources, and tectonics. Catchings also develops seismic methodologies. He has conducted numerous studies and served as advisor for more than 60 local, state, federal, and international government agencies, and private organizations. He has served as research advisor for 15 M.S. and Ph.D. students. Catchings has more than 430 published works, including journal articles, reports, conference papers, and abstracts.
Dr. Catchings has been a Research Geophysicst at USGS since 1981. He served as Chief Scientist for the Earthquake Hazards Team, 2005–2008.
Awards
- Bromery Award, Geological Society of America, 2018
- Superior Service Award, U.S. Department of the Interior, 2000
- Special Act Award, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1990, 2006
- Fellow, Geological Society of America, 1997
Education
- Stanford University, PhD Geophysics, 1987
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, MS Geophysics, 1983
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Geophysics, 1980
- Appalachian State University, BS Geophysics, 1979
External Research Database
ResearchGate
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 20
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Images of crust beneath southern California will aid study of earthquakes and their effects
The Whittier Narrows earthquake of 1987 and the Northridge earthquake of 1991 highlighted the earthquake hazards associated with buried faults in the Los Angeles region. A more thorough knowledge of the subsurface structure of southern California is needed to reveal these and other buried faults and to aid us in understanding how the earthquake-producing machinery works in this region.
Authors
G. S. Fuis, D. A. Okaya, R.W. Clayton, W. J. Lutter, T. Ryberg, T. M. Brocher, T.M. Henyey, M.L. Benthien, P.M. Davis, J. Mori, R. D. Catchings, Uri S. ten Brink, M.D. Kohler, Kim D. Klitgord, R. G. Bohannon
Shallow velocity structure and Poisson's ratio at the Tarzana, California, strong-motion accelerometer site
The 17 January 1994, Northridge, California, earthquake produced strong ground shaking at the Cedar Hills Nursery (referred to here as the Tarzana site) within the city of Tarzana, California, approximately 6 km from the epicenter of the mainshock. Although the Tarzana site is on a hill and is a rock site, accelerations of approximately 1.78 g horizontally and 1.2 g vertically at the Tarzana site
Authors
R. D. Catchings, W.H.K. Lee
Crustal geophysics gives insight into new madrid seismic zone
No abstract available.
Authors
T. G. Hildenbrand, Eugene S. Schweig, Rufus D. Catchings, Victoria E. Langenheim, Walter D. Mooney, Thomas L. Pratt, W. D. Stanley
An image of the Columbia Plateau from inversion of high‐resolution seismic data
We use a method of traveltime inversion of high‐resolution seismic data to provide the first reliable images of internal details of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), the subsurface basalt/sediment interface, and the deeper sediment/basement interface. Velocity structure within the basalts, delineated on the order of 1 km horizontally and 0.2 km vertically, is constrained to within ±0.1 km/s
Authors
William J. Lutter, Rufus D. Catchings, Craig M. Jarchow
Upper-crustal structure beneath the Columbia River Basalt Group, Washington; gravity interpretation controlled by borehole and seismic studies: Discussion
No abstract available
Authors
R. D. Catchings, R. W. Saltus
Large-explosive source, wide-recording aperture, seismic profiling on the Columbia Plateau, Washington
Clear subsurface seismic images have been obtained at low cost on the Columbia Plateau, Washington. The Columbia Plateau is perhaps the most notorious of all 'bad-data' areas because large impedance contrasts in surface flood basalts severely degrade the seismic wavefield. This degradation was mitigated in this study via a large-explosive source, wide-recording aperture shooting method.The shootin
Authors
Craig M. Jarchow, Rufus D. Catchings, William J. Lutter
Data report for the 1993 seismic refraction experiment in the San Francisco Bay Area, California
No abstract available.
Authors
W. M. Kohler, R. D. Catchings
Seismic evidence for active magmatic underplating beneath the Basin and Range Province, western United States
Near-vertical and wide-angle seismic reflection data provide evidence for the presence of a magma body at the base of the crust beneath Buena Vista Valley in northwestern Nevada. The seismic response of this hypothesized magma body is characterized by high-amplitude, near-vertical P wave reflections and a comparably strong P-to-S converted phase. The magma body, referred to here as the Buena Vista
Authors
Craig M. Jarchow, George A. Thompson, Rufus D. Catchings, Walter D. Mooney
Data report for 1991 active-source seismic profiles in the San Francisco Bay area, California
No abstract available.
Authors
J.M. Murphy, R. D. Catchings, K. M. Kohler, G. S. Fuis, Donna Eberhart-Phillips
A relation among geology, tectonics, and velocity structure, western to central Nevada Basin and Range
In the northwestern to central Nevada Basin and Range, there are correlations between velocity and specific geologic structures of the crust. Mapped range-bounding faults at the surface can be traced to appreciable (10 km) depths based on velocity variations and are consistent with subsurface projections of the faults based on seismic reflection images. The limiting depth of the faults, as indicat
Authors
R. D. Catchings
Comment and Reply on "Origin of deep crustal reflections: Implications of coincident seismic refraction and reflection data in Nevada"
No abstract available.
Authors
R.D. Hyndman, T. J. Lewis, G. Marquis, W. Steven Holbrook, Rufus D. Catchings, Craig M. Jarchow
Basin and range crustal and upper mantle structure, northwest to central Nevada
We present an interpretation of the crustal and uppermost mantle structure of the Basin and Range of northwestern Nevada based on seismic refraction/wide‐angle reflection, near‐vertical reflection, and gravity data. In comparison to most previous estimates, we find that the crust is somewhat thicker (32–36 km versus 22–30 km), and the uppermost mantle velocity is somewhat higher (8.0 km/s versus 7
Authors
Rufus D. Catchings, Walter D. Mooney
Non-USGS Publications**
Catchings, R.D., and Mooney, W.D., 1988, Crustal structure of the Columbia Plateau: Evidence for continental rifting: Journal of Geophysical Research , v. 93, p. 459–474, doi.org/10.1029/JB093iB01p00459.
Catchings, R., Jarchow, C., Holbrook, S., Benz, H., Hawman, R., Thompson, G., Mooney, W., Smith, R., Priestley, K., Cipar, J., Borcherdt, R., Whitman, D., Smithson, S., Walker, D., Johnson, R., Karl, J., Jefferson, T., Clement, B., Dietel, C., Wu, F., and Harder, S., 1988, The 1986 PASSCAL Basin and Range Lithospheric Seismic Experiment, Eos Trans. AGU, 69( 20), 593– 598, doi:10.1029/88EO00174.
Zucca, J.J., Fuis, G.S., Milkereit, B., Mooney, W.D., and Catchings, R.D., 1986, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 91, p. 7859-7382, doi.org/10.1029/JB091iB07p07359.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 20
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 77
Images of crust beneath southern California will aid study of earthquakes and their effects
The Whittier Narrows earthquake of 1987 and the Northridge earthquake of 1991 highlighted the earthquake hazards associated with buried faults in the Los Angeles region. A more thorough knowledge of the subsurface structure of southern California is needed to reveal these and other buried faults and to aid us in understanding how the earthquake-producing machinery works in this region.
Authors
G. S. Fuis, D. A. Okaya, R.W. Clayton, W. J. Lutter, T. Ryberg, T. M. Brocher, T.M. Henyey, M.L. Benthien, P.M. Davis, J. Mori, R. D. Catchings, Uri S. ten Brink, M.D. Kohler, Kim D. Klitgord, R. G. Bohannon
Shallow velocity structure and Poisson's ratio at the Tarzana, California, strong-motion accelerometer site
The 17 January 1994, Northridge, California, earthquake produced strong ground shaking at the Cedar Hills Nursery (referred to here as the Tarzana site) within the city of Tarzana, California, approximately 6 km from the epicenter of the mainshock. Although the Tarzana site is on a hill and is a rock site, accelerations of approximately 1.78 g horizontally and 1.2 g vertically at the Tarzana site
Authors
R. D. Catchings, W.H.K. Lee
Crustal geophysics gives insight into new madrid seismic zone
No abstract available.
Authors
T. G. Hildenbrand, Eugene S. Schweig, Rufus D. Catchings, Victoria E. Langenheim, Walter D. Mooney, Thomas L. Pratt, W. D. Stanley
An image of the Columbia Plateau from inversion of high‐resolution seismic data
We use a method of traveltime inversion of high‐resolution seismic data to provide the first reliable images of internal details of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), the subsurface basalt/sediment interface, and the deeper sediment/basement interface. Velocity structure within the basalts, delineated on the order of 1 km horizontally and 0.2 km vertically, is constrained to within ±0.1 km/s
Authors
William J. Lutter, Rufus D. Catchings, Craig M. Jarchow
Upper-crustal structure beneath the Columbia River Basalt Group, Washington; gravity interpretation controlled by borehole and seismic studies: Discussion
No abstract available
Authors
R. D. Catchings, R. W. Saltus
Large-explosive source, wide-recording aperture, seismic profiling on the Columbia Plateau, Washington
Clear subsurface seismic images have been obtained at low cost on the Columbia Plateau, Washington. The Columbia Plateau is perhaps the most notorious of all 'bad-data' areas because large impedance contrasts in surface flood basalts severely degrade the seismic wavefield. This degradation was mitigated in this study via a large-explosive source, wide-recording aperture shooting method.The shootin
Authors
Craig M. Jarchow, Rufus D. Catchings, William J. Lutter
Data report for the 1993 seismic refraction experiment in the San Francisco Bay Area, California
No abstract available.
Authors
W. M. Kohler, R. D. Catchings
Seismic evidence for active magmatic underplating beneath the Basin and Range Province, western United States
Near-vertical and wide-angle seismic reflection data provide evidence for the presence of a magma body at the base of the crust beneath Buena Vista Valley in northwestern Nevada. The seismic response of this hypothesized magma body is characterized by high-amplitude, near-vertical P wave reflections and a comparably strong P-to-S converted phase. The magma body, referred to here as the Buena Vista
Authors
Craig M. Jarchow, George A. Thompson, Rufus D. Catchings, Walter D. Mooney
Data report for 1991 active-source seismic profiles in the San Francisco Bay area, California
No abstract available.
Authors
J.M. Murphy, R. D. Catchings, K. M. Kohler, G. S. Fuis, Donna Eberhart-Phillips
A relation among geology, tectonics, and velocity structure, western to central Nevada Basin and Range
In the northwestern to central Nevada Basin and Range, there are correlations between velocity and specific geologic structures of the crust. Mapped range-bounding faults at the surface can be traced to appreciable (10 km) depths based on velocity variations and are consistent with subsurface projections of the faults based on seismic reflection images. The limiting depth of the faults, as indicat
Authors
R. D. Catchings
Comment and Reply on "Origin of deep crustal reflections: Implications of coincident seismic refraction and reflection data in Nevada"
No abstract available.
Authors
R.D. Hyndman, T. J. Lewis, G. Marquis, W. Steven Holbrook, Rufus D. Catchings, Craig M. Jarchow
Basin and range crustal and upper mantle structure, northwest to central Nevada
We present an interpretation of the crustal and uppermost mantle structure of the Basin and Range of northwestern Nevada based on seismic refraction/wide‐angle reflection, near‐vertical reflection, and gravity data. In comparison to most previous estimates, we find that the crust is somewhat thicker (32–36 km versus 22–30 km), and the uppermost mantle velocity is somewhat higher (8.0 km/s versus 7
Authors
Rufus D. Catchings, Walter D. Mooney
Non-USGS Publications**
Catchings, R.D., and Mooney, W.D., 1988, Crustal structure of the Columbia Plateau: Evidence for continental rifting: Journal of Geophysical Research , v. 93, p. 459–474, doi.org/10.1029/JB093iB01p00459.
Catchings, R., Jarchow, C., Holbrook, S., Benz, H., Hawman, R., Thompson, G., Mooney, W., Smith, R., Priestley, K., Cipar, J., Borcherdt, R., Whitman, D., Smithson, S., Walker, D., Johnson, R., Karl, J., Jefferson, T., Clement, B., Dietel, C., Wu, F., and Harder, S., 1988, The 1986 PASSCAL Basin and Range Lithospheric Seismic Experiment, Eos Trans. AGU, 69( 20), 593– 598, doi:10.1029/88EO00174.
Zucca, J.J., Fuis, G.S., Milkereit, B., Mooney, W.D., and Catchings, R.D., 1986, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 91, p. 7859-7382, doi.org/10.1029/JB091iB07p07359.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.