David Ponce
Dave Ponce is a Research Geophysicist with the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center in Menlo Park, California. His work focuses on the application of gravity, magnetic, and other geophysical methods to address a variety of earth science issues including earthquake hazards and mineral resources.
David Ponce is a senior Research Geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Menlo Park, California, with over 30 years of experience. He is a member and past Chief of the Geophysical Unit of Menlo Park (GUMP), a potential-field (gravity and magnetics), paleomagnetic, and electromagnetic methods research group. He received a B.S. and M.S. in Geology/Geophysics from San Jose State University, California. His primary areas of interest are geophysical investigations of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Basin and Range Province of the western U.S. These studies utilize geophysical methods to understand geology and tectonophysics; volcano and earthquake hazards; and water, mineral, and energy resources. He has authored more than 250 abstracts, reports, maps, or articles.
Dave is also a member of the American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America, and Society of Exploration Geophysicists and is a recipient of the Superior Service Award from the Department of Interior.
Professional Experience
Research Geophysicist, Geophysics Unit of Menlo Park (GUMP), Geology, Minerals, Energy and Geophysics Science Center (GMEG)
Project Chief, REE deposits in the southeast Mojave Desert, California
Principal Investigator, Geophysical investigations of the Calaveras, Hayward, and Rodgers Creek Faults, California and implications on earthquake hazards.
Education and Certifications
M.S., Geophysics/Geology, San Jose State University, 1981
B.S., Geophysics/Geology, San Jose State University, 1976
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Science and Products
Imaging the magmatic system of Mono Basin, California with magnetotellurics in three--dimensions
A summary of the late Cenozoic stratigraphic and tectonic history of the Santa Clara Valley, California
Structural superposition in fault systems bounding Santa Clara Valley, California
Subsurface geometry of the San Andreas-Calaveras fault junction: Influence of serpentinite and the Coast Range Ophiolite
Magnetic and gravity studies of Mono Lake, east-central, California
Methods and spatial extent of geophysical Investigations, Mono Lake, California, 2009 to 2011
Regional geophysical expression of a carbonatite terrane in the eastern Mojave Desert, California
Geophysical studies in the vicinity of Blue Mountain and Pumpernickel Valley near Winnemucca, north-central Nevada
Long-term creep rates on the Hayward Fault: Evidence for controls on the size and frequency of large earthquakes
Geophysical setting of the February 21, 2008 Mw 6 Wells earthquake, Nevada, and implications for earthquake hazards
The northwestern margin of the Basin and Range province: Part 2: Structural setting of a developing basin from seismic and potential field data
Geophysical setting of the blue mountain geothermal area, North-Central Nevada and its relationship to a crustal-scale fracture associated with the inception of the Yellowstone hotspot
Science and Products
Imaging the magmatic system of Mono Basin, California with magnetotellurics in three--dimensions
A summary of the late Cenozoic stratigraphic and tectonic history of the Santa Clara Valley, California
Structural superposition in fault systems bounding Santa Clara Valley, California
Subsurface geometry of the San Andreas-Calaveras fault junction: Influence of serpentinite and the Coast Range Ophiolite
Magnetic and gravity studies of Mono Lake, east-central, California
Methods and spatial extent of geophysical Investigations, Mono Lake, California, 2009 to 2011
Regional geophysical expression of a carbonatite terrane in the eastern Mojave Desert, California
Geophysical studies in the vicinity of Blue Mountain and Pumpernickel Valley near Winnemucca, north-central Nevada
Long-term creep rates on the Hayward Fault: Evidence for controls on the size and frequency of large earthquakes
Geophysical setting of the February 21, 2008 Mw 6 Wells earthquake, Nevada, and implications for earthquake hazards
The northwestern margin of the Basin and Range province: Part 2: Structural setting of a developing basin from seismic and potential field data
Geophysical setting of the blue mountain geothermal area, North-Central Nevada and its relationship to a crustal-scale fracture associated with the inception of the Yellowstone hotspot
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government