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Jared Kluesner, Ph.D.

I am a Research Geophysicist at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center. I study offshore earthquake and landslide hazards using advanced geophysical and geological techniques.

My research at the USGS focuses on offshore earthquake and landslide hazards and their risks to critical energy infrastructure, coastal communities, and major port facilities. I study submarine faults, seismic activity, and seafloor instability through developing and using advanced marine geophysical methods and machine learning techniques to analyze complex datasets and improve hazard detection and characterization. My work helps inform hazard assessments and supports safer design and resilience planning in seismically active offshore and coastal environments. I received my Ph.D. at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and joined the USGS in the Spring of 2015.

Professional Experience

  • 2023-present UNOLS Marine Seismic Research Operations Committee (MSROC)

  • 2019-present Research Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey

  • 2015-present Research Associate, University of California Santa Cruz

  • 2015-2019 EDGE Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey

  • 2014-2015 Assistant Researcher, University of California Santa Cruz

  • 2012-2014 Post-Doctoral Scholar, University of California Santa Cruz

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

  • B.Sc. Geology, Indiana State University

  • A.Sc. Computer Science, Vincennes University

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Seismological Society of America

  • American Geophysical Union

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 33

Widespread abyssal turbidites record megathrust earthquake-triggered landslides and coseismic deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone Widespread abyssal turbidites record megathrust earthquake-triggered landslides and coseismic deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone

Abyssal marine turbidites provide some of the longest and most spatially extensive records of subduction zone earthquake recurrence globally; however, correlation of these deposits over long distances and interpretation of synchronous emplacement requires both an understanding of the turbidite generating systems and precise dating. Here, we present an integrated suite of high-resolution...
Authors
Jenna C. Hill, Janet Watt, Charles K. Paull, David W Caress, Daniel S. Brothers, Kevin Arizmendi, Roberto Gwiazda, Jared W. Kluesner, Eve M. Lundsten, Nora Maria Nieminski, Jason Scott Padgett, Jennifer B. Paduan, George Ramath Snyder
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reconstructing late Pleistocene relative sea levels on transgressed shelves: An example from central California Reconstructing late Pleistocene relative sea levels on transgressed shelves: An example from central California

Although prevalent for the late Holocene, relative sea level (RSL) constraints during and immediately after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) are sparse. This scarcity of data is particularly pronounced along mid-latitude shelves such as central California, which lack post LGM RSL constraints older than 12 ka. In this study we collected 7 sediment cores and high-resolution seismic data from...
Authors
Elisa Medri, Alexander Simms, Jared W. Kluesner, Samuel Y. Johnson, Stuart Nishenko, H. Gary Greene, James E. Conrad, Devin Rand
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Post-glacial stratigraphy and late Holocene record of great Cascadia earthquakes in Ozette Lake, Washington, USA Post-glacial stratigraphy and late Holocene record of great Cascadia earthquakes in Ozette Lake, Washington, USA

Ozette Lake is an ~100-m-deep coastal lake located along the outer coast of the Olympic Peninsula (Washington, USA); it is situated above the locked portion of the northern Cascadia megathrust but also relatively isolated from active crustal faults and intraslab earthquakes. Here we present a suite of geophysical and geological evidence for earthquake-triggered mass transport deposits...
Authors
Daniel Brothers, Brian L. Sherrod, Drake Moore Singleton, Jason Scott Padgett, Jenna C. Hill, Andrew C. Ritchie, Jared W. Kluesner, Peter Dartnell
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Characteristics of the fault damage zone From high-resolution seismic imaging along the Palos Verdes Fault, California Characteristics of the fault damage zone From high-resolution seismic imaging along the Palos Verdes Fault, California

The distribution and intensity of fault damage zones provides insight into fault activity and its relationship to fluid flow in the crust. Presently, measures of the in-situ distribution of fault damage remain limited and along-strike studies are rare. This study focuses on an offshore section Palos Verdes Fault damage zone that spans 28 km, near Los Angeles, California. To investigate...
Authors
Travis Vincent Alongi, Emily Brodsky, Jared W. Kluesner, Daniel S. Brothers
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

Methane seeps on the U.S. Atlantic margin: An updated inventory and interpretative framework Methane seeps on the U.S. Atlantic margin: An updated inventory and interpretative framework

Since the discovery of >570 methane flares on the northern U.S. Atlantic margin between Cape Hatteras and Georges Bank in the last decade, the acquisition of thousands of kilometers of additional water column imaging data has provided greater coverage at water depths between the outer continental shelf and the lower continental slope. The additional high-resolution data reveal >1400 gas...
Authors
Carolyn D. Ruppel, Adam Skarke, Nathaniel C. Miller, Maleen Kidiwela, Jared W. Kluesner, Wayne E. Baldwin
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

A comprehensive assessment of submarine landslides and mass wasting processes offshore southern California A comprehensive assessment of submarine landslides and mass wasting processes offshore southern California

It is critical to characterize submarine landslide hazards near dense coastal populations, especially in areas with active faults, which can trigger slope failure, subsequent tsunamis, and damage seabed infrastructure during earthquake shaking. Offshore southern California, numerous marine geophysical surveys have been conducted over the past decade, and high-resolution bathymetric and...
Authors
M. Walton, James E. Conrad, Antoinette Gabrielle Papesh, Daniel S. Brothers, Jared W. Kluesner, Mary McGann, Peter Dartnell
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution geophysical and geochronological analysis of a relict shoreface deposit offshore central California: Implications for slip rate along the Hosgri fault High-resolution geophysical and geochronological analysis of a relict shoreface deposit offshore central California: Implications for slip rate along the Hosgri fault

The Cross-Hosgri slope is a bathymetric lineament that crosses the main strand of the Hosgri fault offshore Point Estero, central California. Recently collected chirp seismic reflection profiles and sediment cores provide the basis for a reassessment of Cross-Hosgri slope origin and the lateral slip rate of the Hosgri fault based on offset of the lower slope break of the Cross-Hosgri...
Authors
Jared W. Kluesner, Samuel Y. Johnson, Stuart P. Nishenko, Elisa Medri, Alex Simms, Gary Greene, Harrison J. Gray, Shannon A. Mahan, Jason Scott Padgett, Emma Taylor Krolczyk, Daniel S. Brothers, James E. Conrad
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Luminescence Dating Laboratory

Diving deeper into seep distribution along the Cascadia Convergent Margin, USA Diving deeper into seep distribution along the Cascadia Convergent Margin, USA

Previous margin-wide studies of methane seep distribution along the Cascadia Subduction Zone indicate peaks in seep density within the landward limit of the of gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ; ≤500 m depth), suggesting a link between current ocean warming, acceleration of hydrate dissociated, and methane emissions. This inferred connection, however, may not account for regional geologic...
Authors
Jane A. Rudebusch, Nancy G. Prouty, James E. Conrad, Janet Watt, Jared W. Kluesner, Jenna C. Hill, Nathaniel C. Miller, Sally J. Watson, Jess Hillman
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Subaqueous clinoforms created by sandy wave-supported gravity flows: Lessons from the central California shelf Subaqueous clinoforms created by sandy wave-supported gravity flows: Lessons from the central California shelf

Subaqueous clinoforms are an important yet underappreciated shelf feature. Their origins are typically associated with subaerial deltas but recent work has identified similar features in settings without a significant fluvial source. These other studies have shown that such subaqueous clinoforms, also known as infralittoral prograding wedges (IPWs), are created largely by wave-induced...
Authors
Elisa Medri, Alexander R. Simms, Jared W. Kluesner, Samuel Y. Johnson, Stuart P. Nishenko, H. Gary Greene, James E. Conrad
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Systematic mapping of the ocean-continent transform plate boundary of the Queen Charlotte fault system, southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia—A preliminary bathymetric terrain model Systematic mapping of the ocean-continent transform plate boundary of the Queen Charlotte fault system, southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia—A preliminary bathymetric terrain model

In 2015, U.S. Geological Survey scientists in collaboration with scientists from other institutions began a study of the Queen Charlotte fault—the first systematic study of the fault in more than three decades. The primary goal of the study was to gain a better understanding of the earthquake, tsunami, and underwater-landslide hazards throughout southeastern Alaska, as well as gather...
Authors
Brian D. Andrews, Daniel S. Brothers, Peter Dartnell, J. Vaughn Barrie, Peter J. Haeussler, Kristen M. Green, H. Gary Greene, Nathaniel C. Miller, Jared W. Kluesner, Uri S. ten Brink
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization

Using active source seismology to image the Palos Verdes Fault damage zone as a function of distance, depth, and geology Using active source seismology to image the Palos Verdes Fault damage zone as a function of distance, depth, and geology

Fault damage zones provide a window into the non-elastic processes of an earthquake. Geological and seismic tomography methods have been unable to measure damage zones at depth with sufficient spatial sampling to evaluate the relative influence of depth, distance, and lithological variations. Here, we identify and analyze the damage zone of the Palos Verdes Fault offshore southern...
Authors
Travis Alongi, Emily Brodsky, Jared W. Kluesner, Daniel S. Brothers
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution marine seismic imaging of the Seattle fault zone: Near surface insights into fault zone geometry, Quaternary deformation, and long-term evolution High-resolution marine seismic imaging of the Seattle fault zone: Near surface insights into fault zone geometry, Quaternary deformation, and long-term evolution

The Seattle fault zone (SFZ) is a north‐directed thrust fault system that underlies the greater Seattle metropolitan area. Evidence of past land level changes, landslides, liquefaction, and a local tsunami indicate that this 70‐km‐long fault system can host up to M 7–7.5 earthquakes. Both the geometry and earthquake recurrence of the SFZ are debated and surveys of the shallow subsurface...
Authors
G.L Moore, Emily Roland, Scott E.K. Bennett, Janet Watt, Jared W. Kluesner, Daniel S. Brothers, Emma K Myers
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
People stand on the stern of a ship guiding a piece of equipment that is attached to a crane.

Underwater Landslides off Southern California

An earthquake can trigger a landslide along the ocean floor, which can then set off a tsunami. Without modern, high-resolution imaging of the seafloor, many historical slides and threats from future slides remain undetected.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Underwater Landslides off Southern California

Underwater Landslides off Southern California

An earthquake can trigger a landslide along the ocean floor, which can then set off a tsunami. Without modern, high-resolution imaging of the seafloor, many historical slides and threats from future slides remain undetected.
Learn More
View from a dock near a calm bay with boats docked and one motoring slowly through the bay with a large outcrop in background.

Offshore Faults along Central and Northern California

From Point Conception to Cape Mendocino, seafloor faults have been, in the past, mapped in varying ways and without enough detail to assess their earthquake potential. To provide this important information, USGS uses advanced technology to image offshore faults that could trigger devastating earthquakes near densely populated areas and a nuclear power plant.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Offshore Faults along Central and Northern California

Offshore Faults along Central and Northern California

From Point Conception to Cape Mendocino, seafloor faults have been, in the past, mapped in varying ways and without enough detail to assess their earthquake potential. To provide this important information, USGS uses advanced technology to image offshore faults that could trigger devastating earthquakes near densely populated areas and a nuclear power plant.
Learn More
A computed-generated image showing the Queen Charlotte Fault and nearshore area, using bathymetry and lidar data

Coastal and Marine Geohazards of the U.S. West Coast and Alaska

Coastal and marine geohazards are sudden and extreme events beneath the ocean that threaten coastal populations. These underwater hazards include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis. The tectonically active west coast of the Americas is prone to such hazards, as it lies along the boundaries of major tectonic plates that make up the Earth's crust—the North American, Caribbean...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 3-D CT Core Imaging Laboratory, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Big Sur Landslides, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Subduction Zone Science
Coastal and Marine Geohazards of the U.S. West Coast and Alaska

Coastal and Marine Geohazards of the U.S. West Coast and Alaska

Coastal and marine geohazards are sudden and extreme events beneath the ocean that threaten coastal populations. These underwater hazards include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis. The tectonically active west coast of the Americas is prone to such hazards, as it lies along the boundaries of major tectonic plates that make up the Earth's crust—the North American, Caribbean...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 29

Chirp sub-bottom data collected in the Great Salt Lake, Utah during USGS field activity 2021-615-FA Chirp sub-bottom data collected in the Great Salt Lake, Utah during USGS field activity 2021-615-FA

This data release contains 57 high-resolution chirp sub-bottom profiles collected in the southern Great Salt Lake, Utah, by the U.S. Geological Survey in June 2021 during field activity 2021-615-FA. The dataset was acquired to image subsurface sedimentary structures and stratigraphy in support of efforts to characterize past earthquake events along the Great Salt Lake Fault, contributing...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Seismic sub-bottom, sediment core and radiocarbon data collected in Ozette Lake, Washington from 2019-2021 Seismic sub-bottom, sediment core and radiocarbon data collected in Ozette Lake, Washington from 2019-2021

Seismic-reflection data and cores were collected in Ozette Lake, Washington, from 2019 to 2021. These data were used to investigate submarine landslide deposits triggered by large Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquakes. Identification of fault-related submarine hazards is a primary mission of the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program. In the US Pacific Northwest region, the greatest...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Multichannel minisparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected during USGS field activity 2021-614-FA along the Palos Verdes Fault Zone Multichannel minisparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected during USGS field activity 2021-614-FA along the Palos Verdes Fault Zone

High-resolution multichannel seismic (MCS) and coincident Chirp sub-bottom data were acquired during USGS field activity 2021-614-FA aboard the R/V Sproul in May of 2021. The survey was conducted in the offshore region of southern California, specifically in the inner continental borderlands tectonic region. The focus of the survey was to collect seismic lines perpendicular to the Palos...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reprocessed single channel sparker seismic reflection data offshore central California from USGS field activities S-6-08-SC and S-6-09-SC Reprocessed single channel sparker seismic reflection data offshore central California from USGS field activities S-6-08-SC and S-6-09-SC

The U.S. Geological Survey collected high-resolution single channel minisparker data between Point Sal and Piedras Blancas in 2008 and 2009 with support from the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) CRADA and the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology program. Reprocessing of this data in 2018 improved vertical resolution of the stratigraphy and structural deformation of the original data and was...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital maps of submarine landslides and mass wasting features offshore of southern California Digital maps of submarine landslides and mass wasting features offshore of southern California

This data release provides the locations and certain key metrics of landslide features offshore southern California, including landslide perimeters, scarps, evacuation zones, debris aprons, and slide-prone areas in geographic information system (GIS) shapefile format. The offshore region of southern California is a tectonically active area that includes more than 20 fault-bounded basins...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution multichannel sparker seismic-reflection and chirp sub-bottom data acquired along the Cascadia margin during USGS field activity 2019-024-FA High-resolution multichannel sparker seismic-reflection and chirp sub-bottom data acquired along the Cascadia margin during USGS field activity 2019-024-FA

High-resolution multichannel sparker seismic (MCS) data and chirp sub-bottom data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in collaboration with the University of Washington (UW) in the summer of 2019 along the Cascadia submarine forearc offshore Oregon and Washington. Data were acquired to characterize quaternary deformation and sediment dynamics along the central and northern...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reprocessed multichannel seismic reflection data acquired offshore Southern California during USGS field activity L-4-90-SC Reprocessed multichannel seismic reflection data acquired offshore Southern California during USGS field activity L-4-90-SC

Multichannel seismic (MCS) data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1990 in the California Continental Borderland (USGS field activity L490SC). In 2021, these data were reprocessed to improve accuracy and resolvability of geologic structures and fault systems of California's continental margin. MCS data were acquired to support the Southern California Earthquake...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Multichannel sparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected during USGS field activity 2018-658-FA between Cape Blanco and Cape Mendocino in October of 2018 Multichannel sparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected during USGS field activity 2018-658-FA between Cape Blanco and Cape Mendocino in October of 2018

This data release contains processed high-resolution multichannel sparker seismic-reflection (MCS) data and chirp sub-bottom data that were collected aboard Humboldt State University's R/V Coral Sea in October of 2018 on U.S. Geological Survey cruise 2018-658-FA on the shelf and slope between Cape Blanco, Oregon, and Cape Mendocino, California. MCS data were collected to characterize...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Multichannel sparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected offshore South East Alaska during USGS Field Activity 2017-621-FA Multichannel sparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected offshore South East Alaska during USGS Field Activity 2017-621-FA

High-resolution multichannel seismic reflection data and chirp sub-bottom data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in July and August 2017 offshore southeast Alaska to expand data coverage along the Queen Charlotte Fault system. Data were acquired to study earthquake hazards, fault mechanics and submarine mass wasting processes along the Queen Charlotte fault system, a 1200 km...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Geophysical and core sample data collected offshore central California, during field activity 2019-651-FA (ver 2.0, August 2023) Geophysical and core sample data collected offshore central California, during field activity 2019-651-FA (ver 2.0, August 2023)

This dataset includes sub-bottom seismic and sediment core data collected during USGS field activity 2019-651-FA. Data were collected aboard the M/V Bold Horizon in October 2019 offshore central California in the vicinity of Morro Bay. Sub-bottom data include multichannel sparker and CHIRP seismic in SEG-Y format with associated navigation tracklines. Core data include photo and computed
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reprocessed multichannel seismic reflection data acquired offshore Southern California during USGS field activity O-1-99-SC Reprocessed multichannel seismic reflection data acquired offshore Southern California during USGS field activity O-1-99-SC

Multichannel seismic (MCS) data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in June of 1999 in the coastal zone and continental shelf between Los Angeles and San Diego, offshore California (USGS field activity O-1-99-SC). In 2021 these data were reprocessed to improve accuracy and resolvability of geologic structures and fault systems of California's continental margin.
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reprocessed legacy seismic-reflection data from USGS field activity B-1-72-SC collected offshore central and southern California Reprocessed legacy seismic-reflection data from USGS field activity B-1-72-SC collected offshore central and southern California

Seismic-reflection data were collected offshore central and southern California in 1972 aboard the USNS Bartlett (USGS Field Activity B-1-72-SC). In 2021 these legacy data were reprocessed to improve accuracy and geologic resolvability of Californias continental margin. The effort to rescue and reprocess these legacy seismic-reflection data profiles was supported by Pacific Gas and...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization

Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the northern part of the California Continental Borderland, southern California Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the northern part of the California Continental Borderland, southern California

The California Continental Borderland is the complex continental margin in southern California that extends from Point Conception southward into northern Baja California (Fisher and others, 2009). This colored shaded-relief bathymetry map of the northern continental borderland in southern California was generated primarily from multibeam-echosounder data collected by the University of...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the Inner Continental Borderland, southern California Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the Inner Continental Borderland, southern California

In late 2013, Scripps Institution of Oceanography collected multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data of the Inner Continental Borderland Region, Southern California. The U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center processed these data, and this report provides the data in a number of different formats in addition to a set of map sheets. The data catalog...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Widespread Abyssal Landslides Offer New Insights into Cascadia’s Earthquake Recurrence

Widespread Abyssal Landslides Offer New Insights into Cascadia’s Earthquake Recurrence

Far below the ocean surface off the Pacific Northwest coast, earthquake-triggered landslides record the powerful stirrings of the Cascadia Subduction...

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Haunted Seismic Data, Ghostbusted by Science

Haunted Seismic Data, Ghostbusted by Science

Removing ghostly artifacts from sparker seismic reflection data doesn’t require a phone call to a certain group of parapsychologists in matching...

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Uncovering 14,000 Years of Seismic Activity in Northern Cascadia

Uncovering 14,000 Years of Seismic Activity in Northern Cascadia

New USGS research documents a 14,000-year history of seismic activity preserved in the sediments of Ozette Lake, a ~100-meter (328-foot) deep coastal...

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Seafloor Imaging Reveals Nearly 1,500 Submarine Landslides Off Southern California Coast

Seafloor Imaging Reveals Nearly 1,500 Submarine Landslides Off Southern California Coast

In new research, scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have identified nearly 1,500 submarine landslide features off the coast of...

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Web Portal Offers Access to National Marine Seismic Surveys

Web Portal Offers Access to National Marine Seismic Surveys

In a significant stride towards fostering scientific exploration and understanding of the ocean floor and below, the United States Geological Survey...

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USGS-Led Study Reassesses Earthquake Hazard Potential for Central California’s Hosgri Fault

USGS-Led Study Reassesses Earthquake Hazard Potential for Central California’s Hosgri Fault

Assessing earthquake hazards demands a comprehensive understanding of active faults, including their location, length, connectivity, slip rate, and...

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Methane Seep Distribution in the Cascadia Subduction Zone

Methane Seep Distribution in the Cascadia Subduction Zone

Beneath the seafloor lie vast stores of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—produced by the degradation of organic material, either by the earth’s heat or...

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Giant grooves discovered on an earthquake fault offshore Costa Rica

Giant grooves discovered on an earthquake fault offshore Costa Rica

Imagine dragging your outstretched fingers through wet beach sand, leaving long grooves behind. Scientists recently discovered enormous grooves buried...

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Expedition along a Hazardous, Fast-Moving Fault off Southeast Alaska—the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault

Expedition along a Hazardous, Fast-Moving Fault off Southeast Alaska—the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault

USGS scientists hope to learn more about the earthquake hazards that this large, fast-moving fault poses to communities and tourists in Alaska and...

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Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 33

Widespread abyssal turbidites record megathrust earthquake-triggered landslides and coseismic deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone Widespread abyssal turbidites record megathrust earthquake-triggered landslides and coseismic deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone

Abyssal marine turbidites provide some of the longest and most spatially extensive records of subduction zone earthquake recurrence globally; however, correlation of these deposits over long distances and interpretation of synchronous emplacement requires both an understanding of the turbidite generating systems and precise dating. Here, we present an integrated suite of high-resolution...
Authors
Jenna C. Hill, Janet Watt, Charles K. Paull, David W Caress, Daniel S. Brothers, Kevin Arizmendi, Roberto Gwiazda, Jared W. Kluesner, Eve M. Lundsten, Nora Maria Nieminski, Jason Scott Padgett, Jennifer B. Paduan, George Ramath Snyder
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reconstructing late Pleistocene relative sea levels on transgressed shelves: An example from central California Reconstructing late Pleistocene relative sea levels on transgressed shelves: An example from central California

Although prevalent for the late Holocene, relative sea level (RSL) constraints during and immediately after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) are sparse. This scarcity of data is particularly pronounced along mid-latitude shelves such as central California, which lack post LGM RSL constraints older than 12 ka. In this study we collected 7 sediment cores and high-resolution seismic data from...
Authors
Elisa Medri, Alexander Simms, Jared W. Kluesner, Samuel Y. Johnson, Stuart Nishenko, H. Gary Greene, James E. Conrad, Devin Rand
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Post-glacial stratigraphy and late Holocene record of great Cascadia earthquakes in Ozette Lake, Washington, USA Post-glacial stratigraphy and late Holocene record of great Cascadia earthquakes in Ozette Lake, Washington, USA

Ozette Lake is an ~100-m-deep coastal lake located along the outer coast of the Olympic Peninsula (Washington, USA); it is situated above the locked portion of the northern Cascadia megathrust but also relatively isolated from active crustal faults and intraslab earthquakes. Here we present a suite of geophysical and geological evidence for earthquake-triggered mass transport deposits...
Authors
Daniel Brothers, Brian L. Sherrod, Drake Moore Singleton, Jason Scott Padgett, Jenna C. Hill, Andrew C. Ritchie, Jared W. Kluesner, Peter Dartnell
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Characteristics of the fault damage zone From high-resolution seismic imaging along the Palos Verdes Fault, California Characteristics of the fault damage zone From high-resolution seismic imaging along the Palos Verdes Fault, California

The distribution and intensity of fault damage zones provides insight into fault activity and its relationship to fluid flow in the crust. Presently, measures of the in-situ distribution of fault damage remain limited and along-strike studies are rare. This study focuses on an offshore section Palos Verdes Fault damage zone that spans 28 km, near Los Angeles, California. To investigate...
Authors
Travis Vincent Alongi, Emily Brodsky, Jared W. Kluesner, Daniel S. Brothers
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

Methane seeps on the U.S. Atlantic margin: An updated inventory and interpretative framework Methane seeps on the U.S. Atlantic margin: An updated inventory and interpretative framework

Since the discovery of >570 methane flares on the northern U.S. Atlantic margin between Cape Hatteras and Georges Bank in the last decade, the acquisition of thousands of kilometers of additional water column imaging data has provided greater coverage at water depths between the outer continental shelf and the lower continental slope. The additional high-resolution data reveal >1400 gas...
Authors
Carolyn D. Ruppel, Adam Skarke, Nathaniel C. Miller, Maleen Kidiwela, Jared W. Kluesner, Wayne E. Baldwin
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

A comprehensive assessment of submarine landslides and mass wasting processes offshore southern California A comprehensive assessment of submarine landslides and mass wasting processes offshore southern California

It is critical to characterize submarine landslide hazards near dense coastal populations, especially in areas with active faults, which can trigger slope failure, subsequent tsunamis, and damage seabed infrastructure during earthquake shaking. Offshore southern California, numerous marine geophysical surveys have been conducted over the past decade, and high-resolution bathymetric and...
Authors
M. Walton, James E. Conrad, Antoinette Gabrielle Papesh, Daniel S. Brothers, Jared W. Kluesner, Mary McGann, Peter Dartnell
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution geophysical and geochronological analysis of a relict shoreface deposit offshore central California: Implications for slip rate along the Hosgri fault High-resolution geophysical and geochronological analysis of a relict shoreface deposit offshore central California: Implications for slip rate along the Hosgri fault

The Cross-Hosgri slope is a bathymetric lineament that crosses the main strand of the Hosgri fault offshore Point Estero, central California. Recently collected chirp seismic reflection profiles and sediment cores provide the basis for a reassessment of Cross-Hosgri slope origin and the lateral slip rate of the Hosgri fault based on offset of the lower slope break of the Cross-Hosgri...
Authors
Jared W. Kluesner, Samuel Y. Johnson, Stuart P. Nishenko, Elisa Medri, Alex Simms, Gary Greene, Harrison J. Gray, Shannon A. Mahan, Jason Scott Padgett, Emma Taylor Krolczyk, Daniel S. Brothers, James E. Conrad
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Luminescence Dating Laboratory

Diving deeper into seep distribution along the Cascadia Convergent Margin, USA Diving deeper into seep distribution along the Cascadia Convergent Margin, USA

Previous margin-wide studies of methane seep distribution along the Cascadia Subduction Zone indicate peaks in seep density within the landward limit of the of gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ; ≤500 m depth), suggesting a link between current ocean warming, acceleration of hydrate dissociated, and methane emissions. This inferred connection, however, may not account for regional geologic...
Authors
Jane A. Rudebusch, Nancy G. Prouty, James E. Conrad, Janet Watt, Jared W. Kluesner, Jenna C. Hill, Nathaniel C. Miller, Sally J. Watson, Jess Hillman
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Subaqueous clinoforms created by sandy wave-supported gravity flows: Lessons from the central California shelf Subaqueous clinoforms created by sandy wave-supported gravity flows: Lessons from the central California shelf

Subaqueous clinoforms are an important yet underappreciated shelf feature. Their origins are typically associated with subaerial deltas but recent work has identified similar features in settings without a significant fluvial source. These other studies have shown that such subaqueous clinoforms, also known as infralittoral prograding wedges (IPWs), are created largely by wave-induced...
Authors
Elisa Medri, Alexander R. Simms, Jared W. Kluesner, Samuel Y. Johnson, Stuart P. Nishenko, H. Gary Greene, James E. Conrad
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Systematic mapping of the ocean-continent transform plate boundary of the Queen Charlotte fault system, southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia—A preliminary bathymetric terrain model Systematic mapping of the ocean-continent transform plate boundary of the Queen Charlotte fault system, southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia—A preliminary bathymetric terrain model

In 2015, U.S. Geological Survey scientists in collaboration with scientists from other institutions began a study of the Queen Charlotte fault—the first systematic study of the fault in more than three decades. The primary goal of the study was to gain a better understanding of the earthquake, tsunami, and underwater-landslide hazards throughout southeastern Alaska, as well as gather...
Authors
Brian D. Andrews, Daniel S. Brothers, Peter Dartnell, J. Vaughn Barrie, Peter J. Haeussler, Kristen M. Green, H. Gary Greene, Nathaniel C. Miller, Jared W. Kluesner, Uri S. ten Brink
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization

Using active source seismology to image the Palos Verdes Fault damage zone as a function of distance, depth, and geology Using active source seismology to image the Palos Verdes Fault damage zone as a function of distance, depth, and geology

Fault damage zones provide a window into the non-elastic processes of an earthquake. Geological and seismic tomography methods have been unable to measure damage zones at depth with sufficient spatial sampling to evaluate the relative influence of depth, distance, and lithological variations. Here, we identify and analyze the damage zone of the Palos Verdes Fault offshore southern...
Authors
Travis Alongi, Emily Brodsky, Jared W. Kluesner, Daniel S. Brothers
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution marine seismic imaging of the Seattle fault zone: Near surface insights into fault zone geometry, Quaternary deformation, and long-term evolution High-resolution marine seismic imaging of the Seattle fault zone: Near surface insights into fault zone geometry, Quaternary deformation, and long-term evolution

The Seattle fault zone (SFZ) is a north‐directed thrust fault system that underlies the greater Seattle metropolitan area. Evidence of past land level changes, landslides, liquefaction, and a local tsunami indicate that this 70‐km‐long fault system can host up to M 7–7.5 earthquakes. Both the geometry and earthquake recurrence of the SFZ are debated and surveys of the shallow subsurface...
Authors
G.L Moore, Emily Roland, Scott E.K. Bennett, Janet Watt, Jared W. Kluesner, Daniel S. Brothers, Emma K Myers
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
People stand on the stern of a ship guiding a piece of equipment that is attached to a crane.

Underwater Landslides off Southern California

An earthquake can trigger a landslide along the ocean floor, which can then set off a tsunami. Without modern, high-resolution imaging of the seafloor, many historical slides and threats from future slides remain undetected.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Underwater Landslides off Southern California

Underwater Landslides off Southern California

An earthquake can trigger a landslide along the ocean floor, which can then set off a tsunami. Without modern, high-resolution imaging of the seafloor, many historical slides and threats from future slides remain undetected.
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View from a dock near a calm bay with boats docked and one motoring slowly through the bay with a large outcrop in background.

Offshore Faults along Central and Northern California

From Point Conception to Cape Mendocino, seafloor faults have been, in the past, mapped in varying ways and without enough detail to assess their earthquake potential. To provide this important information, USGS uses advanced technology to image offshore faults that could trigger devastating earthquakes near densely populated areas and a nuclear power plant.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Offshore Faults along Central and Northern California

Offshore Faults along Central and Northern California

From Point Conception to Cape Mendocino, seafloor faults have been, in the past, mapped in varying ways and without enough detail to assess their earthquake potential. To provide this important information, USGS uses advanced technology to image offshore faults that could trigger devastating earthquakes near densely populated areas and a nuclear power plant.
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A computed-generated image showing the Queen Charlotte Fault and nearshore area, using bathymetry and lidar data

Coastal and Marine Geohazards of the U.S. West Coast and Alaska

Coastal and marine geohazards are sudden and extreme events beneath the ocean that threaten coastal populations. These underwater hazards include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis. The tectonically active west coast of the Americas is prone to such hazards, as it lies along the boundaries of major tectonic plates that make up the Earth's crust—the North American, Caribbean...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 3-D CT Core Imaging Laboratory, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Big Sur Landslides, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Subduction Zone Science
Coastal and Marine Geohazards of the U.S. West Coast and Alaska

Coastal and Marine Geohazards of the U.S. West Coast and Alaska

Coastal and marine geohazards are sudden and extreme events beneath the ocean that threaten coastal populations. These underwater hazards include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis. The tectonically active west coast of the Americas is prone to such hazards, as it lies along the boundaries of major tectonic plates that make up the Earth's crust—the North American, Caribbean...
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Chirp sub-bottom data collected in the Great Salt Lake, Utah during USGS field activity 2021-615-FA Chirp sub-bottom data collected in the Great Salt Lake, Utah during USGS field activity 2021-615-FA

This data release contains 57 high-resolution chirp sub-bottom profiles collected in the southern Great Salt Lake, Utah, by the U.S. Geological Survey in June 2021 during field activity 2021-615-FA. The dataset was acquired to image subsurface sedimentary structures and stratigraphy in support of efforts to characterize past earthquake events along the Great Salt Lake Fault, contributing...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Seismic sub-bottom, sediment core and radiocarbon data collected in Ozette Lake, Washington from 2019-2021 Seismic sub-bottom, sediment core and radiocarbon data collected in Ozette Lake, Washington from 2019-2021

Seismic-reflection data and cores were collected in Ozette Lake, Washington, from 2019 to 2021. These data were used to investigate submarine landslide deposits triggered by large Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquakes. Identification of fault-related submarine hazards is a primary mission of the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program. In the US Pacific Northwest region, the greatest...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Multichannel minisparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected during USGS field activity 2021-614-FA along the Palos Verdes Fault Zone Multichannel minisparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected during USGS field activity 2021-614-FA along the Palos Verdes Fault Zone

High-resolution multichannel seismic (MCS) and coincident Chirp sub-bottom data were acquired during USGS field activity 2021-614-FA aboard the R/V Sproul in May of 2021. The survey was conducted in the offshore region of southern California, specifically in the inner continental borderlands tectonic region. The focus of the survey was to collect seismic lines perpendicular to the Palos...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reprocessed single channel sparker seismic reflection data offshore central California from USGS field activities S-6-08-SC and S-6-09-SC Reprocessed single channel sparker seismic reflection data offshore central California from USGS field activities S-6-08-SC and S-6-09-SC

The U.S. Geological Survey collected high-resolution single channel minisparker data between Point Sal and Piedras Blancas in 2008 and 2009 with support from the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) CRADA and the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology program. Reprocessing of this data in 2018 improved vertical resolution of the stratigraphy and structural deformation of the original data and was...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital maps of submarine landslides and mass wasting features offshore of southern California Digital maps of submarine landslides and mass wasting features offshore of southern California

This data release provides the locations and certain key metrics of landslide features offshore southern California, including landslide perimeters, scarps, evacuation zones, debris aprons, and slide-prone areas in geographic information system (GIS) shapefile format. The offshore region of southern California is a tectonically active area that includes more than 20 fault-bounded basins...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution multichannel sparker seismic-reflection and chirp sub-bottom data acquired along the Cascadia margin during USGS field activity 2019-024-FA High-resolution multichannel sparker seismic-reflection and chirp sub-bottom data acquired along the Cascadia margin during USGS field activity 2019-024-FA

High-resolution multichannel sparker seismic (MCS) data and chirp sub-bottom data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in collaboration with the University of Washington (UW) in the summer of 2019 along the Cascadia submarine forearc offshore Oregon and Washington. Data were acquired to characterize quaternary deformation and sediment dynamics along the central and northern...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reprocessed multichannel seismic reflection data acquired offshore Southern California during USGS field activity L-4-90-SC Reprocessed multichannel seismic reflection data acquired offshore Southern California during USGS field activity L-4-90-SC

Multichannel seismic (MCS) data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1990 in the California Continental Borderland (USGS field activity L490SC). In 2021, these data were reprocessed to improve accuracy and resolvability of geologic structures and fault systems of California's continental margin. MCS data were acquired to support the Southern California Earthquake...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Multichannel sparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected during USGS field activity 2018-658-FA between Cape Blanco and Cape Mendocino in October of 2018 Multichannel sparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected during USGS field activity 2018-658-FA between Cape Blanco and Cape Mendocino in October of 2018

This data release contains processed high-resolution multichannel sparker seismic-reflection (MCS) data and chirp sub-bottom data that were collected aboard Humboldt State University's R/V Coral Sea in October of 2018 on U.S. Geological Survey cruise 2018-658-FA on the shelf and slope between Cape Blanco, Oregon, and Cape Mendocino, California. MCS data were collected to characterize...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Multichannel sparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected offshore South East Alaska during USGS Field Activity 2017-621-FA Multichannel sparker and chirp seismic reflection data collected offshore South East Alaska during USGS Field Activity 2017-621-FA

High-resolution multichannel seismic reflection data and chirp sub-bottom data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in July and August 2017 offshore southeast Alaska to expand data coverage along the Queen Charlotte Fault system. Data were acquired to study earthquake hazards, fault mechanics and submarine mass wasting processes along the Queen Charlotte fault system, a 1200 km...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Geophysical and core sample data collected offshore central California, during field activity 2019-651-FA (ver 2.0, August 2023) Geophysical and core sample data collected offshore central California, during field activity 2019-651-FA (ver 2.0, August 2023)

This dataset includes sub-bottom seismic and sediment core data collected during USGS field activity 2019-651-FA. Data were collected aboard the M/V Bold Horizon in October 2019 offshore central California in the vicinity of Morro Bay. Sub-bottom data include multichannel sparker and CHIRP seismic in SEG-Y format with associated navigation tracklines. Core data include photo and computed
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reprocessed multichannel seismic reflection data acquired offshore Southern California during USGS field activity O-1-99-SC Reprocessed multichannel seismic reflection data acquired offshore Southern California during USGS field activity O-1-99-SC

Multichannel seismic (MCS) data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in June of 1999 in the coastal zone and continental shelf between Los Angeles and San Diego, offshore California (USGS field activity O-1-99-SC). In 2021 these data were reprocessed to improve accuracy and resolvability of geologic structures and fault systems of California's continental margin.
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Reprocessed legacy seismic-reflection data from USGS field activity B-1-72-SC collected offshore central and southern California Reprocessed legacy seismic-reflection data from USGS field activity B-1-72-SC collected offshore central and southern California

Seismic-reflection data were collected offshore central and southern California in 1972 aboard the USNS Bartlett (USGS Field Activity B-1-72-SC). In 2021 these legacy data were reprocessed to improve accuracy and geologic resolvability of Californias continental margin. The effort to rescue and reprocess these legacy seismic-reflection data profiles was supported by Pacific Gas and...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization

Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the northern part of the California Continental Borderland, southern California Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the northern part of the California Continental Borderland, southern California

The California Continental Borderland is the complex continental margin in southern California that extends from Point Conception southward into northern Baja California (Fisher and others, 2009). This colored shaded-relief bathymetry map of the northern continental borderland in southern California was generated primarily from multibeam-echosounder data collected by the University of...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the Inner Continental Borderland, southern California Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the Inner Continental Borderland, southern California

In late 2013, Scripps Institution of Oceanography collected multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data of the Inner Continental Borderland Region, Southern California. The U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center processed these data, and this report provides the data in a number of different formats in addition to a set of map sheets. The data catalog...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Widespread Abyssal Landslides Offer New Insights into Cascadia’s Earthquake Recurrence

Widespread Abyssal Landslides Offer New Insights into Cascadia’s Earthquake Recurrence

Far below the ocean surface off the Pacific Northwest coast, earthquake-triggered landslides record the powerful stirrings of the Cascadia Subduction...

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Haunted Seismic Data, Ghostbusted by Science

Haunted Seismic Data, Ghostbusted by Science

Removing ghostly artifacts from sparker seismic reflection data doesn’t require a phone call to a certain group of parapsychologists in matching...

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Uncovering 14,000 Years of Seismic Activity in Northern Cascadia

Uncovering 14,000 Years of Seismic Activity in Northern Cascadia

New USGS research documents a 14,000-year history of seismic activity preserved in the sediments of Ozette Lake, a ~100-meter (328-foot) deep coastal...

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Seafloor Imaging Reveals Nearly 1,500 Submarine Landslides Off Southern California Coast

Seafloor Imaging Reveals Nearly 1,500 Submarine Landslides Off Southern California Coast

In new research, scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have identified nearly 1,500 submarine landslide features off the coast of...

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Web Portal Offers Access to National Marine Seismic Surveys

Web Portal Offers Access to National Marine Seismic Surveys

In a significant stride towards fostering scientific exploration and understanding of the ocean floor and below, the United States Geological Survey...

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USGS-Led Study Reassesses Earthquake Hazard Potential for Central California’s Hosgri Fault

USGS-Led Study Reassesses Earthquake Hazard Potential for Central California’s Hosgri Fault

Assessing earthquake hazards demands a comprehensive understanding of active faults, including their location, length, connectivity, slip rate, and...

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Methane Seep Distribution in the Cascadia Subduction Zone

Methane Seep Distribution in the Cascadia Subduction Zone

Beneath the seafloor lie vast stores of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—produced by the degradation of organic material, either by the earth’s heat or...

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Giant grooves discovered on an earthquake fault offshore Costa Rica

Giant grooves discovered on an earthquake fault offshore Costa Rica

Imagine dragging your outstretched fingers through wet beach sand, leaving long grooves behind. Scientists recently discovered enormous grooves buried...

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Expedition along a Hazardous, Fast-Moving Fault off Southeast Alaska—the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault

Expedition along a Hazardous, Fast-Moving Fault off Southeast Alaska—the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault

USGS scientists hope to learn more about the earthquake hazards that this large, fast-moving fault poses to communities and tourists in Alaska and...

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*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

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