Full name: Annemarie Baltay Sundstrom
I study how physical measures of earthquakes and the earth control ground motions measured at distance, and how ground motion observations can be used to gain insight on the earthquake source and path. I am particularly interested in earthquake stress drop: how it is measured, what is the variability, and how that all relates to ground motion data and models. I am also focused on physical components and uncertainty of ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs), a critical building block in hazard maps. Reducing the variability and uncertainty in GMPEs is imperative to building better hazard maps, as well as for performing more accurate site-specific hazard studies for critical facilities. Currently, I am working towards physical explanations for variability in the source, site, and path components in ground motions. Ultimately we will develop models for predicting those effects from geophysical observables, such as stress drop (for source), site velocity profiles and attenuation (for site), and whole-path attenuation (for path). I am also involved in the USGS-led ShakeAlert earthquake early warning project, which aims to alert the U.S. West coast for earthquake ground motion before it arrives at a user's location; as part of that project, I work on the best ways to model ground motion and associated uncertainty in early warning, as well as chair the Ground Motion Working Group and collaborate on the PLUM algorithm development.
Professional Experience
2015 - present Research Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey, Moffett Field, Mountain View, CA
2013 - 2015 Mendenhall Postdoctoral Scholar, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park
2012 Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Geophysics, Stanford University
2012 Instructor, Understanding Natural Hazards, Quantifying Risk and Increasing Resilience in Highly Urbanized Regions, Department of Geology, Stanford University
2010 Summer Intern for Europe Earthquake Model Development, Risk Management Solutions, Newark, CA
2009 Graduate Student
Education and Certifications
2011 Ph.D. Geophysics, Department of Geophysics, Stanford University
2008 M.S. Geophysics, Department of Geophysics, Stanford University
2005 B.A. Applied Mathematics, Yale University
Science and Products
Shaking, Damage and Failure
Earthquake Early Warning – Fine-Tuning for Best Alerts
Science and Products
- Science
Shaking, Damage and Failure
Engineers require accurate estimates of strong ground motion in order to design structures to resist earthquake loads and reduce loss of life and property from damaging earthquakes. In addition, engineers need recordings of structural response to validate their design methodologies. In order to improve seismic hazard assessments, we need to advance our understanding of the physical processes that...Earthquake Early Warning – Fine-Tuning for Best Alerts
Release Date: OCTOBER 8, 2019 The goal of an earthquake early warning (EEW) system is to provide an alert to people and automatic systems after an earthquake begins but before the shaking reaches their location. As the USGS and its partners are developing an EEW system, called ShakeAlert®, for the West Coast, the benefits, costs, capabilities, and limitations are being investigated. Two recent... - Publications