Marine geohazards including earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis lie offshore of densely populated areas of California, Oregon, and Washington. One goal of EXPRESS is to improve assessments of these hazards.
The EXPRESS Campaign
EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope.
U.S. west coast offshore hazards include catastrophic shaking from large earthquakes in the Cascadia subduction zone of northern California, Oregon, and Washington. In central and southern California, earthquakes on undersea strike-slip faults can also damage the mainland. Related hazards include local tsunamis generated by offshore earthquakes and landslides. Underwater landslides can also threaten seafloor infrastructure such as pipelines, communication cables, and oil platforms.
EXPRESS priorities that contribute to marine geohazard assessments include:
- Extend bathymetry and backscatter coverage to high priority areas
- Identify underwater geological hazards and evaluate their potential for generating tsunamis
This hazards study is part of EXPRESS (Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems). All studies of the EXPRESS project and other related projects are listed below.
EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards
Ecosystems: EXPRESS
Hazards: EXPRESS
Coastal and Marine Geohazards of the U.S. West Coast and Alaska
Resources: EXPRESS
Below are datasets associated with this project.
Composite multibeam bathymetry surface and data sources of the southern Cascadia Margin offshore Oregon and northern California
Donated AUV bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute cruises in 2018-2019 offshore of south-central California
High-resolution multi-channel and Chirp seismic-reflection data from USGS cruise 2018-641-FA collected in south-central California in support of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Cal DIG I offshore alternative energy project
Multichannel minisparker seismic-reflection and chip sub bottom data collected in the Santa Barbara Channel in July of 2018
Quaternary faults offshore of California
Multichannel sparker seismic reflection data of USGS field activity 2018-658-FA collected between Cape Blanco and Cape Mendocino from 2018-10-04 to 2018-10-18
Archive of boomer sub bottom data collected off shore Eureka, California during USGS field activity W-1-96-NC from 1996-06-29 to 1996-07-07
Multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data collected in 2016 in Catalina Basin, southern California and merged multibeam bathymetry datasets of the northern portion of the Southern California Continental Borderland
Multichannel minisparker seismic-reflection data of field activity 2015-617-FA; Monterey Bay, offshore central California from 2015-02-23 to 2015-03-06
Reprocessed boomer 3D seismic-reflection data collected in San Luis Obispo Bay, offshore of Pismo Beach, central California, from 2011-12-06 to 2012-10-05 (USGS field activity P-04-11-CC)
Reprocessed boomer 3D seismic-reflection data collected in Estero Bay, offshore of Morro Bay, central California, from 2012-08-12 to 2012-10-05 (USGS field activity P-04-11-CC)
Reprocessed 3D seismic-reflection data and neural-network fault cube, offshore of Point Sal, central California, from 2012-08-12 to 2012-10-05 (USGS field activity P-04-11-CC)
Below are publications associated with this project.
California deepwater investigations and groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I: Fault and shallow geohazard analysis offshore Morro Bay
The California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I project focuses on the potential seafloor hazards and impacts of alternative energy infrastructure in the outer continental shelf region offshore of south-central California. This is one of three reports covering a single study area located between Monterey and Point Conception, California in federal waters outside of the State
Morphology, structure, and kinematics of the San Clemente and Catalina faults based on high-resolution marine geophysical data, southern California Inner Continental Borderland
Right-lateral fault motion along the slope-basin transition, Gulf of Santa Catalina, southern California
An active fault system carrying a significant component of right-lateral strike-slip motion extends for ~60 km along the slope–basin transition, ~10 to 20 km offshore of the southern California coast from La Jolla to Dana Point. From south to north, this fault system includes the Carlsbad, San Onofre, and San Mateo fault zones. High-resolution single channel minisparker and chirp seismic reflectio
Practical approaches to maximizing the resolution of sparker seismic reflection data
The Santa Cruz Basin submarine landslide complex, southern California: Repeated failure of uplifted basin sediment
The Santa Cruz Basin (SCB) is one of several fault-bounded basins within the California Continental Borderland that has drawn interest over the years for its role in the tectonic evolution of the region, but also because it contains a record of a variety of modes of sedimentary mass transport (i.e., open slope vs. canyon-confined systems). Here, we present a suite of new high-resolution marine geo
The tectonically controlled San Gabriel Channel–Lobe Transition Zone, Catalina Basin, Southern California Borderland
Seafloor fluid seeps on Kimki Ridge, offshore southern California: Links to active strike-slip faulting
Investigation of late Pleistocene and Holocene activity in the San Gregorio fault zone on the continental slope north of Monterey Canyon, offshore central California
Missing link between the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults
“Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research” — Learn how our multi-agency team is mapping uncharted waters and exploring deep-sea ecosystems off the west coast of the United States, through this colorful geonarrative.
Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research: Overview of the EXPRESS research campaign
A multi-agency team is mapping uncharted waters and exploring deep-sea ecosystems off the west coast of the United States.
Oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface, yet little is known about these vast underwater worlds. Less than 20% have been explored. A global initiative seeks to change that, by pledging to complete detailed mapping of one-hundred percent of the seafloor by the year 2030..
Below are news stories related to this project.
Marine geohazards including earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis lie offshore of densely populated areas of California, Oregon, and Washington. One goal of EXPRESS is to improve assessments of these hazards.
The EXPRESS Campaign
EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope.
U.S. west coast offshore hazards include catastrophic shaking from large earthquakes in the Cascadia subduction zone of northern California, Oregon, and Washington. In central and southern California, earthquakes on undersea strike-slip faults can also damage the mainland. Related hazards include local tsunamis generated by offshore earthquakes and landslides. Underwater landslides can also threaten seafloor infrastructure such as pipelines, communication cables, and oil platforms.
EXPRESS priorities that contribute to marine geohazard assessments include:
- Extend bathymetry and backscatter coverage to high priority areas
- Identify underwater geological hazards and evaluate their potential for generating tsunamis
This hazards study is part of EXPRESS (Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems). All studies of the EXPRESS project and other related projects are listed below.
EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards
Ecosystems: EXPRESS
Hazards: EXPRESS
Coastal and Marine Geohazards of the U.S. West Coast and Alaska
Resources: EXPRESS
Below are datasets associated with this project.
Composite multibeam bathymetry surface and data sources of the southern Cascadia Margin offshore Oregon and northern California
Donated AUV bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute cruises in 2018-2019 offshore of south-central California
High-resolution multi-channel and Chirp seismic-reflection data from USGS cruise 2018-641-FA collected in south-central California in support of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Cal DIG I offshore alternative energy project
Multichannel minisparker seismic-reflection and chip sub bottom data collected in the Santa Barbara Channel in July of 2018
Quaternary faults offshore of California
Multichannel sparker seismic reflection data of USGS field activity 2018-658-FA collected between Cape Blanco and Cape Mendocino from 2018-10-04 to 2018-10-18
Archive of boomer sub bottom data collected off shore Eureka, California during USGS field activity W-1-96-NC from 1996-06-29 to 1996-07-07
Multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data collected in 2016 in Catalina Basin, southern California and merged multibeam bathymetry datasets of the northern portion of the Southern California Continental Borderland
Multichannel minisparker seismic-reflection data of field activity 2015-617-FA; Monterey Bay, offshore central California from 2015-02-23 to 2015-03-06
Reprocessed boomer 3D seismic-reflection data collected in San Luis Obispo Bay, offshore of Pismo Beach, central California, from 2011-12-06 to 2012-10-05 (USGS field activity P-04-11-CC)
Reprocessed boomer 3D seismic-reflection data collected in Estero Bay, offshore of Morro Bay, central California, from 2012-08-12 to 2012-10-05 (USGS field activity P-04-11-CC)
Reprocessed 3D seismic-reflection data and neural-network fault cube, offshore of Point Sal, central California, from 2012-08-12 to 2012-10-05 (USGS field activity P-04-11-CC)
Below are publications associated with this project.
California deepwater investigations and groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I: Fault and shallow geohazard analysis offshore Morro Bay
The California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I project focuses on the potential seafloor hazards and impacts of alternative energy infrastructure in the outer continental shelf region offshore of south-central California. This is one of three reports covering a single study area located between Monterey and Point Conception, California in federal waters outside of the State
Morphology, structure, and kinematics of the San Clemente and Catalina faults based on high-resolution marine geophysical data, southern California Inner Continental Borderland
Right-lateral fault motion along the slope-basin transition, Gulf of Santa Catalina, southern California
An active fault system carrying a significant component of right-lateral strike-slip motion extends for ~60 km along the slope–basin transition, ~10 to 20 km offshore of the southern California coast from La Jolla to Dana Point. From south to north, this fault system includes the Carlsbad, San Onofre, and San Mateo fault zones. High-resolution single channel minisparker and chirp seismic reflectio
Practical approaches to maximizing the resolution of sparker seismic reflection data
The Santa Cruz Basin submarine landslide complex, southern California: Repeated failure of uplifted basin sediment
The Santa Cruz Basin (SCB) is one of several fault-bounded basins within the California Continental Borderland that has drawn interest over the years for its role in the tectonic evolution of the region, but also because it contains a record of a variety of modes of sedimentary mass transport (i.e., open slope vs. canyon-confined systems). Here, we present a suite of new high-resolution marine geo
The tectonically controlled San Gabriel Channel–Lobe Transition Zone, Catalina Basin, Southern California Borderland
Seafloor fluid seeps on Kimki Ridge, offshore southern California: Links to active strike-slip faulting
Investigation of late Pleistocene and Holocene activity in the San Gregorio fault zone on the continental slope north of Monterey Canyon, offshore central California
Missing link between the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults
“Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research” — Learn how our multi-agency team is mapping uncharted waters and exploring deep-sea ecosystems off the west coast of the United States, through this colorful geonarrative.
Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research: Overview of the EXPRESS research campaign
A multi-agency team is mapping uncharted waters and exploring deep-sea ecosystems off the west coast of the United States.
Oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface, yet little is known about these vast underwater worlds. Less than 20% have been explored. A global initiative seeks to change that, by pledging to complete detailed mapping of one-hundred percent of the seafloor by the year 2030..
Below are news stories related to this project.