Paul A Bedrosian
Paul is an expert in the development and application of electromagnetic geophysical methods to framework tectonics, resource assessment, natural hazards and fundamental Earth processes. His work has investigated seismic variability along the San Andreas Fault, tectonics of the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest, and the structure of Mount St. Helens. His current research is on regional-scale mine
Research Interests
- Structure and evolution of active and fossil tectonic margins
- Geophysical imaging of hydrothermal and magmatic systems
- Joint interpretation of coincident geophysical data sets
- Advanced processing and modeling techniques for imaging earth structure
Professional Experience
2008-present, Research Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
2005-2007, Mendenhall Fellow, U.S Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
2002-2004, Humboldt Fellow, GeoForschungsZentrum, Potsdam Germany
1998-2002, Research Assistant, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Physics, University of Washington, 2002
M.S. Physics, University of Washington, 1998
B.S. Physics, University Of Minnesota, 1996
B.S. Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 1996
Affiliations and Memberships*
2010-present, Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience (faculty)
2018-present, Earth, Planets and Space Journal (editor)
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 77
Extreme‐value geoelectric amplitude and polarization across the northeast United States
Maps are presented of extreme‐value geoelectric field amplitude and horizontal polarization for the Northeast United States. These maps are derived from geoelectric time series calculated for sites across the Northeast by frequency‐domain multiplication (time‐domain convolution) of 172 magnetotelluric impedance tensors, acquired during a survey, with decades‐long, 1‐min resolution time series of g
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Greg M. Lucas, Paul A. Bedrosian, Anna Kelbert
Crustal inheritance and a top-down control on arc magmatism at Mount St Helens
In a subduction zone, the volcanic arc marks the location where magma, generated via flux melting in the mantle wedge, migrates through the crust and erupts. While the location of deep magma broadly defines the arc position, here we argue that crustal structures, identified in geophysical data from the Washington Cascades magmatic arc, are equally important in controlling magma ascent and defining
Authors
Paul A. Bedrosian, Jared R. Peacock, Esteban Bowles-Martinez, Adam Schultz, Graham Hill
Geoelectric hazard maps for the Pacific Northwest
Maps of extreme value, horizontal component geoelectric field amplitude are constructed for the Pacific Northwest United States (and parts of neighboring Canada). Multidecade long geoelectric field time series are calculated by convolving Earth surface impedance tensors from 71 discrete magnetotelluric survey sites across the region with historical 1‐min (2‐min Nyquist) geomagnetic variation time
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Greg M. Lucas, Anna Kelbert, Paul A. Bedrosian
On the feasibility of real-time mapping of the geoelectric field across North America
A review is given of the present feasibility for accurately mapping geoelectric fields across North America in near-realtime by modeling geomagnetic monitoring and magnetotelluric survey data. Should this capability be successfully developed, it could inform utility companies of magnetic-storm interference on electric-power-grid systems. That real-time mapping of geoelectric fields is a challenge
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, E. Joshua Rigler, Anna Kelbert, Carol A. Finn, Paul A. Bedrosian, Christopher C. Balch
Combining multiphase groundwater flow and slope stability models to assess stratovolcano flank collapse in the Cascade Range
Hydrothermal alteration can create low‐permeability zones, potentially resulting in elevated pore‐fluid pressures, within a volcanic edifice. Strength reduction by rock alteration and high pore‐fluid pressures have been suggested as a mechanism for edifice flank instability. Here we combine numerical models of multiphase heat transport and groundwater flow with a slope‐stability code that incorpor
Authors
Jessica L. Ball, Joshua M. Taron, Mark E. Reid, Shaul Hurwitz, Carol A. Finn, Paul A. Bedrosian
Geoelectric hazard maps for the Mid-Atlantic United States: 100 year extreme values and the 1989 magnetic storm
Maps of extreme value geoelectric field amplitude are constructed for the Mid‐Atlantic United States, a region with high population density and critically important power grid infrastructure. Geoelectric field time series for the years 1983–2014 are estimated by convolving Earth surface impedances obtained from 61 magnetotelluric survey sites across the Mid‐Atlantic with historical 1 min (2 min Ny
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Greg M. Lucas, Anna Kelbert, Paul A. Bedrosian
Extreme-event geoelectric hazard maps: Chapter 9
Maps of geoelectric amplitude covering about half the continental United States are presented that will be exceeded, on average, once per century in response to an extreme-intensity geomagnetic disturbance. These maps are constructed using an empirical parameterization of induction: convolving latitude-dependent statistical maps of extreme-value geomagnetic disturbances, obtained from decades of 1
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Paul A. Bedrosian
Water-resources and land-surface deformation evaluation studies at Fort Irwin National Training Center, Mojave Desert, California
The U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), in the Mojave Desert, obtains all of its potable water supply from three groundwater basins (Irwin, Langford, and Bicycle) within the NTC boundaries (fig. 1; California Department of Water Resources, 2003). Because of increasing water demands at the NTC, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army, completed several
Authors
Jill N. Densmore, Justine E. Dishart, David M. Miller, David C. Buesch, Lyndsay B. Ball, Paul A. Bedrosian, Linda R. Woolfenden, Geoffrey Cromwell, Matthew K. Burgess, Joseph Nawikas, David O'Leary, Adam Kjos, Michelle Sneed, Justin T. Brandt
Geoelectric monitoring at the Boulder magnetic observatory
Despite its importance to a range of applied and fundamental studies, and obvious parallels to a robust network of magnetic-field observatories, long-term geoelectric field monitoring is rarely performed. The installation of a new geoelectric monitoring system at the Boulder magnetic observatory of the US Geological Survey is summarized. Data from the system are expected, among other things, to be
Authors
Cletus Blum, Tim White, Edward A. Sauter, Duff Stewart, Paul A. Bedrosian, Jeffrey J. Love
Magnetotelluric imaging of lower crustal melt and lithospheric hydration in the Rocky Mountain Front transition zone, Colorado, USA
We present an electrical resistivity model of the crust and upper mantle from two‐dimensional (2‐D) anisotropic inversion of magnetotelluric data collected along a 450 km transect of the Rio Grande rift, southern Rocky Mountains, and High Plains in Colorado, USA. Our model provides a window into the modern‐day lithosphere beneath the Rocky Mountain Front to depths in excess of 150 km. Two key feat
Authors
D. W. Feucht, Anne F Sheehan, Paul A. Bedrosian
Hydrogeophysical investigations of earthen dams – Two California case studies
Excessive groundwater seepage can be a common engineering concern with earthen dams. The application of geophysical methods, whether for characterization or for long-term monitoring, to help inform mitigation strategies is becoming a more common addition to these investigations. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has completed geophysical investigations at several earthen dams in cooperation with t
Authors
Bethany L. Burton, Paul A. Bedrosian, Burke J. Minsley, Scott Ikard, Michael H. Powers
Down to Earth with an electric hazard from space
In reaching across traditional disciplinary boundaries, solid-Earth geophysicists and space physicists are forging new collaborations to map magnetic-storm hazards for electric-power grids. Future progress in evaluation storm time geoelectric hazards will come primarily through monitoring, surveys, and modeling of related data.
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Paul A. Bedrosian, Adam Schultz
Non-USGS Publications**
P.A. Bedrosian, M.J. Unsworth, G.D. Egbert and C.H. Thurber. 2004. Geophysical images of the creeping San Andreas Fault: Implications for the role of crustal fluids in the earthquake process, Tectonophys., 385(1-4), doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2004.02.010.
M.J. Unsworth and P.A. Bedrosian. 2004. Electrical resistivity structure at the SAFOD site from magnetotelluric exploration, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31(12), doi:10.1029/2003GL019045.
M.J. Unsworth and P.A. Bedrosian. 2004. On the geoelectric structure of major strike-slip faults and shear zones., Earth, Planets and Space, 56, 1177–1184, doi:10.1186/BF03353337.
M.J. Unsworth, W. Wenbo, A. G. Jones, S. Li, P.A. Bedrosian, J. Booker, J. Sheng, D. Ming and T. Handong. 2004. Crustal and upper mantle structure of Northern Tibet imaged with magnetotelluric data, J. Geophys. Res., 109, doi:10.1029/2002JB002305.
P.A. Bedrosian, M.J. Unsworth and G.D. Egbert. 2002. Magnetotelluric imaging of the creeping segment of the San Andreas Fault near Hollister, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(11), 1506, doi:10.1029/2001GL014119.
M. Unsworth, O.C. Enriquez, S. Belmonte, J. Arzate and P.A. Bedrosian. 2002. Crustal structure of the Chicxulub Impact Crater imaged with magnetotelluric exploration, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(16), 1788, doi:10.1029/2002GL014998.
P.A. Bedrosian, M.J. Unsworth and F. Wang. 2001. Structure of the Altyn Tagh Fault and Daxue Shan from magnetotelluric surveys: Implications for faulting associated with the rise of the Tibetan Plateau, Tectonics, 20, 474-486, doi:10.1029/2000TC001215.
W. Wenbo, M. Unsworth, A. Jones, J. Booker, H. Tan, D. Nelson, L. Chen, S. Li, K. Solon, P.A. Bedrosian, S. Jin, M. Deng, J. Ledo, D. Kay and B. Roberts. 2001. Widespread fluids in the Tibetan Crust, Science, 292(5517), 716-718, doi:10.1126/science.1010580.
M. Unsworth, P.A. Bedrosian, M. Eisel, G. Egbert and W. Siripunvaraporn. 2000. Along-strike variations in the electrical structure of the San Andreas Fault at Parkfield, California, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27(18), 3021-3024, doi:10.1029/2000GL011476.
**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: 77
Extreme‐value geoelectric amplitude and polarization across the northeast United States
Maps are presented of extreme‐value geoelectric field amplitude and horizontal polarization for the Northeast United States. These maps are derived from geoelectric time series calculated for sites across the Northeast by frequency‐domain multiplication (time‐domain convolution) of 172 magnetotelluric impedance tensors, acquired during a survey, with decades‐long, 1‐min resolution time series of g
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Greg M. Lucas, Paul A. Bedrosian, Anna Kelbert
Crustal inheritance and a top-down control on arc magmatism at Mount St Helens
In a subduction zone, the volcanic arc marks the location where magma, generated via flux melting in the mantle wedge, migrates through the crust and erupts. While the location of deep magma broadly defines the arc position, here we argue that crustal structures, identified in geophysical data from the Washington Cascades magmatic arc, are equally important in controlling magma ascent and defining
Authors
Paul A. Bedrosian, Jared R. Peacock, Esteban Bowles-Martinez, Adam Schultz, Graham Hill
Geoelectric hazard maps for the Pacific Northwest
Maps of extreme value, horizontal component geoelectric field amplitude are constructed for the Pacific Northwest United States (and parts of neighboring Canada). Multidecade long geoelectric field time series are calculated by convolving Earth surface impedance tensors from 71 discrete magnetotelluric survey sites across the region with historical 1‐min (2‐min Nyquist) geomagnetic variation time
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Greg M. Lucas, Anna Kelbert, Paul A. Bedrosian
On the feasibility of real-time mapping of the geoelectric field across North America
A review is given of the present feasibility for accurately mapping geoelectric fields across North America in near-realtime by modeling geomagnetic monitoring and magnetotelluric survey data. Should this capability be successfully developed, it could inform utility companies of magnetic-storm interference on electric-power-grid systems. That real-time mapping of geoelectric fields is a challenge
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, E. Joshua Rigler, Anna Kelbert, Carol A. Finn, Paul A. Bedrosian, Christopher C. Balch
Combining multiphase groundwater flow and slope stability models to assess stratovolcano flank collapse in the Cascade Range
Hydrothermal alteration can create low‐permeability zones, potentially resulting in elevated pore‐fluid pressures, within a volcanic edifice. Strength reduction by rock alteration and high pore‐fluid pressures have been suggested as a mechanism for edifice flank instability. Here we combine numerical models of multiphase heat transport and groundwater flow with a slope‐stability code that incorpor
Authors
Jessica L. Ball, Joshua M. Taron, Mark E. Reid, Shaul Hurwitz, Carol A. Finn, Paul A. Bedrosian
Geoelectric hazard maps for the Mid-Atlantic United States: 100 year extreme values and the 1989 magnetic storm
Maps of extreme value geoelectric field amplitude are constructed for the Mid‐Atlantic United States, a region with high population density and critically important power grid infrastructure. Geoelectric field time series for the years 1983–2014 are estimated by convolving Earth surface impedances obtained from 61 magnetotelluric survey sites across the Mid‐Atlantic with historical 1 min (2 min Ny
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Greg M. Lucas, Anna Kelbert, Paul A. Bedrosian
Extreme-event geoelectric hazard maps: Chapter 9
Maps of geoelectric amplitude covering about half the continental United States are presented that will be exceeded, on average, once per century in response to an extreme-intensity geomagnetic disturbance. These maps are constructed using an empirical parameterization of induction: convolving latitude-dependent statistical maps of extreme-value geomagnetic disturbances, obtained from decades of 1
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Paul A. Bedrosian
Water-resources and land-surface deformation evaluation studies at Fort Irwin National Training Center, Mojave Desert, California
The U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), in the Mojave Desert, obtains all of its potable water supply from three groundwater basins (Irwin, Langford, and Bicycle) within the NTC boundaries (fig. 1; California Department of Water Resources, 2003). Because of increasing water demands at the NTC, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army, completed several
Authors
Jill N. Densmore, Justine E. Dishart, David M. Miller, David C. Buesch, Lyndsay B. Ball, Paul A. Bedrosian, Linda R. Woolfenden, Geoffrey Cromwell, Matthew K. Burgess, Joseph Nawikas, David O'Leary, Adam Kjos, Michelle Sneed, Justin T. Brandt
Geoelectric monitoring at the Boulder magnetic observatory
Despite its importance to a range of applied and fundamental studies, and obvious parallels to a robust network of magnetic-field observatories, long-term geoelectric field monitoring is rarely performed. The installation of a new geoelectric monitoring system at the Boulder magnetic observatory of the US Geological Survey is summarized. Data from the system are expected, among other things, to be
Authors
Cletus Blum, Tim White, Edward A. Sauter, Duff Stewart, Paul A. Bedrosian, Jeffrey J. Love
Magnetotelluric imaging of lower crustal melt and lithospheric hydration in the Rocky Mountain Front transition zone, Colorado, USA
We present an electrical resistivity model of the crust and upper mantle from two‐dimensional (2‐D) anisotropic inversion of magnetotelluric data collected along a 450 km transect of the Rio Grande rift, southern Rocky Mountains, and High Plains in Colorado, USA. Our model provides a window into the modern‐day lithosphere beneath the Rocky Mountain Front to depths in excess of 150 km. Two key feat
Authors
D. W. Feucht, Anne F Sheehan, Paul A. Bedrosian
Hydrogeophysical investigations of earthen dams – Two California case studies
Excessive groundwater seepage can be a common engineering concern with earthen dams. The application of geophysical methods, whether for characterization or for long-term monitoring, to help inform mitigation strategies is becoming a more common addition to these investigations. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has completed geophysical investigations at several earthen dams in cooperation with t
Authors
Bethany L. Burton, Paul A. Bedrosian, Burke J. Minsley, Scott Ikard, Michael H. Powers
Down to Earth with an electric hazard from space
In reaching across traditional disciplinary boundaries, solid-Earth geophysicists and space physicists are forging new collaborations to map magnetic-storm hazards for electric-power grids. Future progress in evaluation storm time geoelectric hazards will come primarily through monitoring, surveys, and modeling of related data.
Authors
Jeffrey J. Love, Paul A. Bedrosian, Adam Schultz
Non-USGS Publications**
P.A. Bedrosian, M.J. Unsworth, G.D. Egbert and C.H. Thurber. 2004. Geophysical images of the creeping San Andreas Fault: Implications for the role of crustal fluids in the earthquake process, Tectonophys., 385(1-4), doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2004.02.010.
M.J. Unsworth and P.A. Bedrosian. 2004. Electrical resistivity structure at the SAFOD site from magnetotelluric exploration, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31(12), doi:10.1029/2003GL019045.
M.J. Unsworth and P.A. Bedrosian. 2004. On the geoelectric structure of major strike-slip faults and shear zones., Earth, Planets and Space, 56, 1177–1184, doi:10.1186/BF03353337.
M.J. Unsworth, W. Wenbo, A. G. Jones, S. Li, P.A. Bedrosian, J. Booker, J. Sheng, D. Ming and T. Handong. 2004. Crustal and upper mantle structure of Northern Tibet imaged with magnetotelluric data, J. Geophys. Res., 109, doi:10.1029/2002JB002305.
P.A. Bedrosian, M.J. Unsworth and G.D. Egbert. 2002. Magnetotelluric imaging of the creeping segment of the San Andreas Fault near Hollister, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(11), 1506, doi:10.1029/2001GL014119.
M. Unsworth, O.C. Enriquez, S. Belmonte, J. Arzate and P.A. Bedrosian. 2002. Crustal structure of the Chicxulub Impact Crater imaged with magnetotelluric exploration, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(16), 1788, doi:10.1029/2002GL014998.
P.A. Bedrosian, M.J. Unsworth and F. Wang. 2001. Structure of the Altyn Tagh Fault and Daxue Shan from magnetotelluric surveys: Implications for faulting associated with the rise of the Tibetan Plateau, Tectonics, 20, 474-486, doi:10.1029/2000TC001215.
W. Wenbo, M. Unsworth, A. Jones, J. Booker, H. Tan, D. Nelson, L. Chen, S. Li, K. Solon, P.A. Bedrosian, S. Jin, M. Deng, J. Ledo, D. Kay and B. Roberts. 2001. Widespread fluids in the Tibetan Crust, Science, 292(5517), 716-718, doi:10.1126/science.1010580.
M. Unsworth, P.A. Bedrosian, M. Eisel, G. Egbert and W. Siripunvaraporn. 2000. Along-strike variations in the electrical structure of the San Andreas Fault at Parkfield, California, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27(18), 3021-3024, doi:10.1029/2000GL011476.
**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.
*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