Publications
Educational Publications
Educational Publications
Selected publications about earthquakes In plain language.
Filter Total Items: 2821
Characterizing directivity in small (M 2.4-5) aftershocks of the Ridgecrest sequence Characterizing directivity in small (M 2.4-5) aftershocks of the Ridgecrest sequence
Directivity, or the focusing of energy along the direction of an earthquake rupture, is a common property of earthquakes of all sizes and can cause increased hazard due to azimuthally dependent ground‐motion amplification. For small earthquakes, the effects of directivity are generally less pronounced due to reduced rupture size, yet the directivity in small events can bias source...
Authors
Shanna Chu, Annemarie S. Baltay, Rachel E. Abercrombie
Global patterns of coseismic landslide runout mobility differ from aseismic landslide trends Global patterns of coseismic landslide runout mobility differ from aseismic landslide trends
Coseismic landslides significantly contribute to human and economic losses during and immediately following earthquakes, yet very little data on the runout of such landslides exist. While well-established behavior of aseismic (e.g., hydrologically triggered) landslide runout mobility suggests strong correlation between landslide size and mobility, limited studies of coseismic landslide...
Authors
Alex R. Grant, Natalie K. Culhane
Distinguishing natural sources from anthropogenic events in seismic data Distinguishing natural sources from anthropogenic events in seismic data
As seismic data are increasingly used to investigate a diverse range of subsurface phenomena beyond regular fast-rupturing earthquakes (Peng and Gomberg, 2010; Beroza and Ide, 2011), it is important to acknowledge that human-generated ground vibrations may be mistaken for naturally generated subsurface processes (Larose et al., 2015; Li et al., 2018). Correct discrimination of natural...
Authors
Sean Maher, Margaret Elizabeth Glasgow, Elizabeth S. Cochran, Zhigang Peng
Getting to the surface of the problem: A dynamic rupture benchmark for shallowly dipping faults near Earth’s surface Getting to the surface of the problem: A dynamic rupture benchmark for shallowly dipping faults near Earth’s surface
The Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC) Dynamic Rupture Group workshop “Getting to the Surface of the Problem: A Dynamic Rupture Benchmark for Shallowly-Dipping Faults Near Earth’s Surface” was convened virtually, in an online meeting on November 4, 2024. 52 people participated, including two who sent pre-recorded lightning talks earlier, but were unable to join us that day due...
Authors
Ruth A. Harris, Michael Barall
New developments at the Center for Engineering Strong-Motion Data (CESMD) New developments at the Center for Engineering Strong-Motion Data (CESMD)
The Center for Engineering Strong-Motion Data (CESMD), an internationally utilized joint center of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey (CGS), provides a single access point for earthquake strong-motion records and station metadata from the CGS California Strong-Motion Instrumentation Program (CSMIP), the USGS National Strong-Motion Project (NSMP), the...
Authors
Lijam Hagos, Hamid Haddadi, Lisa Sue Schleicher, Jamison Haase Steidl, Eric M. Thompson, Heather Crume, M. Dhar, N. Leue
Constraining large magnitude event source and path effects using ground motion simulations Constraining large magnitude event source and path effects using ground motion simulations
The purpose of this study is to use ground motion simulations to investigate ways in which source and path effects for large magnitude events can be represented in non-ergodic GMMs. While we initially developed computation techniques using CyberShake simulations, the range of magnitudes and source-site combinations is not adequate to replicate what is observed empirically. We therefore...
Authors
Xiaofeng Meng, Robert Graves, Christine A Goulet
Reconciling bias in moderate magnitude earthquake ground motions predicted by numerical simulations Reconciling bias in moderate magnitude earthquake ground motions predicted by numerical simulations
Recent studies found a significant underprediction in ground motion intensity measures for finite-fault simulations of moderate magnitude events in southern California relative to established ground motion models. This study aims to understand the source(s) of this bias by evaluating ground motion residuals. For this, simulations have been performed for a total of 27 well-recorded...
Authors
K. C. Sajan, Chukwuebuka C. Nweke, Jonathon P. Stewart, Robert Graves
International data gaps at the Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data International data gaps at the Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data
The Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data (CESMD) is utilized by seismologists, engineers, and disaster management professionals in the US and has historically achieved and distributed waveforms from across the globe for significant earthquakes. The increased access to the waveforms via Web API (Application Programming Interface) offers a unique opportunity to provide the community...
Authors
Han Shao, Jeff Brody, Lisa Sue Schleicher, Kristin Marano, Jamison Haase Steidl, Eric M. Thompson, Mike Hearne, James Luke Blair
A journey to the center of the USGS National Strong-motion Project processing and beyond A journey to the center of the USGS National Strong-motion Project processing and beyond
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Strong Motion Project (NSMP) has the primary U.S. government responsibility to acquire, process, and disseminate significant strong-motion earthquake ground motion records measured at surficial free-field stations, structures (buildings, dams, and bridges, and geotechnical arrays to the earthquake engineering community. As a result of...
Authors
Lisa Sue Schleicher, Jamison Haase Steidl, Eric M. Thompson, Alan K. Yong, Jeff Brody, James Luke Blair, Mike Hearne, Brad T. Aagaard, Susan E. Hough, Han Shao, Garet Huddleston, Keira Heilpern, Kristin Marano, Gabe Ferragut, B. Worden, David J. Wald, Jason De Cristofaro, Adria Ruth McClain, B. Dunham, D. Nget, J. Aragon, J. Gomez, V. Amador, V. Carrasco Rodriquez, E. E. Luna, D. Cembalski, D. Childs, J. Smith, D. Croker, L. Gee
U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program decadal science strategy, 2024–33 U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program decadal science strategy, 2024–33
Executive Summary Earthquakes represent one of our Nation’s most significant and costly natural hazards, with estimated annual loses from earthquakes close to $15 billion in 2023. Over the past two centuries, 37 U.S. States have experienced an earthquake exceeding a magnitude of 5, and 50 percent of States have a significant potential for future damaging shaking; these statistics speak...
Authors
Gavin P. Hayes, Annemarie S. Baltay, William D. Barnhart, Michael L. Blanpied, Lindsay A. Davis, Paul S. Earle, Edward H. Field, Jill M. Franks, Douglas D. Given, Ryan D. Gold, Christine A Goulet, Michelle M. Guy, Jeanne L. Hardebeck, Nico Luco, Frederick Pollitz, Adam T. Ringler, Katherine M. Scharer, Steven Sobieszczyk, Valerie I. Thomas, Cecily J. Wolfe
On algorithmically determined versus traditional macroseismic intensity assignments On algorithmically determined versus traditional macroseismic intensity assignments
The utility of macroseismic data, defined as the effects of earthquakes on humans and the built environment, has been increasingly recognized following the advent of online systems that now produce unprecedented volumes of macroseismic intensity information. Contributed reports from the U.S. Geological Survey “Did You Feel It?” (DYFI) system (Wald et al., 1999) are used to generate...
Authors
Susan E. Hough
Seismicity zoning at Coso geothermal field and stress changes from fluid production and migration Seismicity zoning at Coso geothermal field and stress changes from fluid production and migration
The Coso geothermal field is a major geothermal power production site in the western United States. It has been observed that low-magnitude seismic events (M 3.71) are unevenly distributed in three distinct zones, namely, nearfield ( 6 km) from the Coso geothermal plant. These zones exhibit distinct changes in earthquake location before and during geothermal production episodes that...
Authors
Sui Tung, Joern Ole Kaven, Manoochehr Shirzaei, Timothy Masterlark, Herbert F. Wang, Wei-Chung Huang, Kurt L. Feigl