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
Gravity, magnetic, and physical property data in the Smoke Creek Desert area, northwest Nevada
Subsurface structure of the East Bay Plain ground-water basin: San Francisco Bay to the Hayward fault, Alameda County, California
Gravity and magnetic data along a seismic refraction-reflection line in northwest Nevada and northeast California
Seismic reflection evidence for a northeast-dipping Hayward fault near Fremont, California: Implications for seismic hazard
Three-dimensional geologic map of the Hayward fault, northern California: Correlation of rock unites with variations in seismicity, creep rate, and fault dip
Isostatic residual gravity map of The Santa Clara Valley and vicinity, California
Cross-sections and maps showing double-difference relocated earthquakes from 1984-2000 along the Hayward and Calaveras faults, California
Geophysical Terranes of the Great Basin and Parts of Surrounding Provinces
Gravity, magnetic, and high‐precision relocated seismicity profiles suggest a connection between the Hayward and Calaveras Faults, northern California
Assessment of metallic mineral resources in the Humboldt River Basin, Northern Nevada, with a section on Platinum-Group-Element (PGE) potential of the Humboldt mafic complex
Principal facts for gravity stations in the Dry Valley area, west-central Nevada and east-central California
Proceedings of the Hayward Fault Workshop, Eastern San Francisco Bay Area, California, September 19-20, 2003
Science and Products
Gravity, magnetic, and physical property data in the Smoke Creek Desert area, northwest Nevada
Subsurface structure of the East Bay Plain ground-water basin: San Francisco Bay to the Hayward fault, Alameda County, California
Gravity and magnetic data along a seismic refraction-reflection line in northwest Nevada and northeast California
Seismic reflection evidence for a northeast-dipping Hayward fault near Fremont, California: Implications for seismic hazard
Three-dimensional geologic map of the Hayward fault, northern California: Correlation of rock unites with variations in seismicity, creep rate, and fault dip
Isostatic residual gravity map of The Santa Clara Valley and vicinity, California
Cross-sections and maps showing double-difference relocated earthquakes from 1984-2000 along the Hayward and Calaveras faults, California
Geophysical Terranes of the Great Basin and Parts of Surrounding Provinces
Gravity, magnetic, and high‐precision relocated seismicity profiles suggest a connection between the Hayward and Calaveras Faults, northern California
Assessment of metallic mineral resources in the Humboldt River Basin, Northern Nevada, with a section on Platinum-Group-Element (PGE) potential of the Humboldt mafic complex
Principal facts for gravity stations in the Dry Valley area, west-central Nevada and east-central California
Proceedings of the Hayward Fault Workshop, Eastern San Francisco Bay Area, California, September 19-20, 2003
*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