Carl M Wentworth
Carl, a Scientist Emeritus with the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, is continuing a varied career that has included geologic mapping, geologic safety of nuclear power reactors, tectonic studies combining geology and geophysics, landslide hazards, and Quaternary stratigraphy and tectonics. He holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Earth Science from Stanford University.
Carl obtained a Ph.D. degree from Stanford University in 1967, having joined the U.S. Geological Survey full time in Menlo Park, CA, in 1963. He retired in 2004 and has continued in emeritus status in the Menlo Park, CA, office since. His work over the past 55 years, mostly in California, has involved geologic mapping; study of landslide, fault and earthquake hazards; management of a national research program on hazards to power reactors; investigation of crustal structure using deep reflection profiling; study of a deep Quaternary basin and its cyclic record of climate variation; and study of the Franciscan Complex and its tectonostratigraphic terranes.
Professional Experience
2004-present, Emeritus Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California
1979-2003, Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California
1974-1978, U.S. Geological Survey, Program Manager, Reactor Hazards Research Program
1963-1973, Research Geologist, US Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California
1963-field assistant to Director Tom Nolan, Eureka, Nevada, US Geological Survey
1961-1962, Teaching Assistant, Stanford University
1961-field assistant, Franciscan assemblage, California, U.S. Geological Survey
1960-Junior Geologist, Nevada, Shell Oil Company
1958-Junior Geologist, Socony Mobil Oil Company (Anaco, Venezuela)
1957-field assistant, South Dakota, U.S. Geological Survey
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Earth Science, Stanford University, 1967
M.S., Earth Science, Stanford University, 1960
B. A., Geology, Dartmouth College, 1958
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Geological Society of America (Fellow)
Science and Products
The geology and tectonic history of Santa Clara County
Maps of quaternary deposits and liquefaction susceptibility in the Central San Francisco Bay Region, California
Modeling and validation of a 3D velocity structure for the Santa Clara Valley, California, for seismic-wave simulations
Three-dimensional geologic map of the Hayward fault, northern California: Correlation of rock unites with variations in seismicity, creep rate, and fault dip
Cross-sections and maps showing double-difference relocated earthquakes from 1984-2000 along the Hayward and Calaveras faults, California
Mono Lake excursion recorded in sediment of the Santa Clara Valley, California
Crustal structure across the San Andreas Fault at the SAFOD site from potential field and geologic studies
Geologic, water-chemistry, and hydrologic data from multiple-well monitoring sites and selected water-supply wells in the Santa Clara Valley, California, 1999-2003
Chromium geochemistry of serpentinous sediment in the Willow core, Santa Clara County, California
Preliminary paleomagnetic results from the Coyote Creek Outdoor Classroom drill hole, Santa Clara Valley, California
Shaded relief, topographic slope, and land use planning in the Los Altos Hills area, California - an example of the use of elevation data
Comments on potential geologic and seismic hazards affecting Mare Island, Solano County, California
Science and Products
- Data
- Maps
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 69
The geology and tectonic history of Santa Clara County
No abstract available.AuthorsM. Clark Blake, C. M. WentworthMaps of quaternary deposits and liquefaction susceptibility in the Central San Francisco Bay Region, California
This report presents a map and database of Quaternary deposits and liquefaction susceptibility for the urban core of the San Francisco Bay region. It supercedes the equivalent area of U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-444 (Knudsen and others, 2000), which covers the larger 9-county San Francisco Bay region. The report consists of (1) a spatial database, (2) two small-scale colored maps (AuthorsRobert C. Witter, Keith L. Knudsen, Janet M. Sowers, Carl M. Wentworth, Richard D. Koehler, Carolyn E. Randolph, Suzanna K. Brooks, Kathleen D. GansModeling and validation of a 3D velocity structure for the Santa Clara Valley, California, for seismic-wave simulations
A 3D seismic velocity and attenuation model is developed for Santa Clara Valley, California, and its surrounding uplands to predict ground motions from scenario earthquakes. The model is developed using a variety of geologic and geophysical data. Our starting point is a 3D geologic model developed primarily from geologic mapping and gravity and magnetic surveys. An initial velocity model is constrAuthorsS. Hartzell, S. Harmsen, R. A. Williams, D. Carver, A. Frankel, G. Choy, P.-C. Liu, R.C. Jachens, T. M. Brocher, C. M. WentworthThree-dimensional geologic map of the Hayward fault, northern California: Correlation of rock unites with variations in seismicity, creep rate, and fault dip
In order to better understand mechanisms of active faults, we studied relationships between fault behavior and rock units along the Hayward fault using a three-dimensional geologic map. The three-dimensional map-constructed from hypocenters, potential field data, and surface map data-provided a geologic map of each fault surface, showing rock units on either side of the fault truncated by the faulAuthorsR. W. Graymer, D. A. Ponce, R.C. Jachens, R. W. Simpson, G. A. Phelps, C. M. WentworthCross-sections and maps showing double-difference relocated earthquakes from 1984-2000 along the Hayward and Calaveras faults, California
We present cross-section and map views of earthquakes that occurred from 1984 to 2000 in the vicinity of the Hayward and Calaveras faults in the San Francisco Bay region, California. These earthquakes came from a catalog of events relocated using the double-difference technique, which provides superior relative locations of nearby events. As a result, structures such as fault surfaces and alignmenAuthorsRobert W. Simpson, Russell W. Graymer, Robert C. Jachens, David A. Ponce, Carl M. WentworthMono Lake excursion recorded in sediment of the Santa Clara Valley, California
Two intervals recording anomalous paleomagnetic inclinations were encountered in the top 40 meters of research drill hole CCOC in the Santa Clara Valley, California. The younger of these two intervals has an age of 28,090 ± 330 radiocarbon years B.P. (calibrated age ∼32.8 ka). This age is in excellent agreement with the latest estimate for the Mono Lake excursion at the type locality and confirmsAuthorsEdward A. Mankinen, Carl M. WentworthCrustal structure across the San Andreas Fault at the SAFOD site from potential field and geologic studies
We present newly compiled magnetic, gravity, and geologic datasets from the Parkfield region around the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) pilot hole in order to help define the structure and geophysical setting of the San Andreas Fault (SAF). A 2‐D cross section of the SAF zone at SAFOD, based on new, tightly spaced magnetic and gravity observations and surface geology, shows that asAuthorsD.K. McPhee, R.C. Jachens, C. M. WentworthGeologic, water-chemistry, and hydrologic data from multiple-well monitoring sites and selected water-supply wells in the Santa Clara Valley, California, 1999-2003
To better identify the three-dimensional geohydrologic framework of the Santa Clara Valley, lithologic, geologic, geophysical, geomechanical, hydraulic, and water-chemistry data were collected from eight ground-water multiple-well monitoring sites constructed in Santa Clara County, California, as part of a series of cooperative studies between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Santa Clara ValleyAuthorsM.W. Newhouse, R. T. Hanson, C. M. Wentworth, Rhett R. Everett, C.F. Williams, J. C. Tinsley, T.E. Noce, B.A. CarkinChromium geochemistry of serpentinous sediment in the Willow core, Santa Clara County, California
A preliminary investigation of Cr geochemistry in serpentinous sediment completed for a multiple-aquifer ground-water monitoring well (Willow core of Santa Clara County, CA) determined sediment at depths >225 meters contains Cr concentrations ranging from 195 to 1155 mg/kg. Serpentinous sediment from this site is a potential source of non-anthropogenic Cr contamination. Chromium-bearing minerals sAuthorsChristopher J. Oze, Matthew J. LaForce, Carl M. Wentworth, Randall T. Hanson, Dennis K. Bird, Robert G. ColemanByEnergy and Minerals Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, California Water Science CenterPreliminary paleomagnetic results from the Coyote Creek Outdoor Classroom drill hole, Santa Clara Valley, California
Paleomagnetic samples were obtained from cores taken during the drilling of a research well along Coyote Creek in San Jose, California, in order to use the geomagnetic field behavior recorded in those samples to provide age constraints for the sediment encountered. The well reached a depth of 308 meters and material apparently was deposited largely (entirely?) during the Brunhes Normal Polarity ChAuthorsEdward A. Mankinen, Carl M. WentworthShaded relief, topographic slope, and land use planning in the Los Altos Hills area, California - an example of the use of elevation data
No abstract available.AuthorsSuzanna K. Brooks, Arthur H. Lachenbruch, Carl M. WentworthComments on potential geologic and seismic hazards affecting Mare Island, Solano County, California
This report was prepared in response to a written request from the City of Vallejo, California, to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). By letter of October 4, 2002, the City requested that the USGS "provide advice to the City’s LNG Health and Safety Committee on its review of a potential liquid natural gas project" on the southern portion of Mare Island. The City specifically requested that the USGAuthorsT.L. Holzer, C. M. Wentworth, W. H. Bakun, J. Boatwright, T.E. Brocher, M. Çelebi, W.L. Ellsworth, J.P.B. Fletcher, E.L. Geist, R. W. Graymer, R. E. Kayen, D. K. Keefer, D. H. Oppenheimer, W.U. Savage, D. P. Schwartz, R. W. Simpson
*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