Samuel Y Johnson
Seafloor Mapping - Geologic framework, hazards, and habitats
Sam Johnson is a Research Geologist in the U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC), an organization of about 100 research and support staff based in Santa Cruz and Menlo Park, CA. He served as PCMSC Center Director from 2003 to 2008. He currently designs, coordinates, and conducts research projects that focus on seafloor and benthic habitat mapping, coastal and marine geomorphology and geologic framework, coastal evolution, and coastal earthquake and tsunami hazards. He helped plan and is the USGS lead for the multi-agency California Seafloor Mapping Program. His present research is focused on active tectonics and hazards offshore central California (Santa Barbara Channel to Cape Mendocino).
Professional Experience
1982-1984 - Assistant Professor, Washington State University
1984 to 2003 - Research Geologist, USGS Energy and Earthquake Hazards Programs
2003 to 2008 - Center Director, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
2008 to 2019 - Research Geologist, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
2019 to present - Research Geologist Emeritus, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Education and Certifications
B.A. (1975) University of California, Santa Cruz (Earth Sciences)
M.S. (1978) University of Washington (Geological Sciences)
Ph.D. (1982) University of Washington Geological Sciences
Affiliations and Memberships*
Geological Society of America (Fellow)
American Geophysical Union
Society for Sedimentary Geology
Seismological Society of America
Honors and Awards
Department of Interior Distinguished Service Award (2019)
Science and Products
Active tectonics of the Devils Mountain Fault and related structures, northern Puget Lowland and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca region, Pacific Northwest
Geologic evidence of earthquakes at the Snohomish Delta, Washington, in the past 1200 yr
Neotectonics of the eastern Juan de Fuca Strait: A digital geological and geophysical atlas
Geology for a changing world; a science strategy for the Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2000-2010
Petroleum geology of the state of Washington
Age of the Lospe Formation (early Miocene) and origin of the Santa Maria Basin, California. Petroleum source potential and thermal maturity of the Lospe Formation (lower Miocene) near Point Sal, onshore Santa Maria Basin, California. Obispo Formation, Cal
The southern Whidbey Island fault: An active structure in the Puget Lowland, Washington
Origin and evolution of the Seattle Fault and Seattle Basin, Washington
Stratigraphy, sedimentology, and provenance of the Raging River Formation (early? and middle Eocene), King County, Washington
Sedimentology of the conglomeratic lower member of the Lospe Formation (lower Miocene), Santa Maria Basin, California. Provenance of sandstone clasts in the lower Miocene Lospe Formation near Point Sal, California
Pennsylvanian and Early Permian paleogeography of the Uinta-Piceance Basin region, northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah
Phanerozoic evolution of sedimentary basins in the Uinta-Piceance Basin region, northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah
Science and Products
Active tectonics of the Devils Mountain Fault and related structures, northern Puget Lowland and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca region, Pacific Northwest
Geologic evidence of earthquakes at the Snohomish Delta, Washington, in the past 1200 yr
Neotectonics of the eastern Juan de Fuca Strait: A digital geological and geophysical atlas
Geology for a changing world; a science strategy for the Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2000-2010
Petroleum geology of the state of Washington
Age of the Lospe Formation (early Miocene) and origin of the Santa Maria Basin, California. Petroleum source potential and thermal maturity of the Lospe Formation (lower Miocene) near Point Sal, onshore Santa Maria Basin, California. Obispo Formation, Cal
The southern Whidbey Island fault: An active structure in the Puget Lowland, Washington
Origin and evolution of the Seattle Fault and Seattle Basin, Washington
Stratigraphy, sedimentology, and provenance of the Raging River Formation (early? and middle Eocene), King County, Washington
Sedimentology of the conglomeratic lower member of the Lospe Formation (lower Miocene), Santa Maria Basin, California. Provenance of sandstone clasts in the lower Miocene Lospe Formation near Point Sal, California
Pennsylvanian and Early Permian paleogeography of the Uinta-Piceance Basin region, northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah
Phanerozoic evolution of sedimentary basins in the Uinta-Piceance Basin region, northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah
*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