Christine Goulet is the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Science Center. Her work and research interests are in the field of applied seismology with an aim to improve hazard assessment and positively impact societal resilience.
Dr. Goulet studied Geological Engineering in Canada and obtained her Ms. and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering from UCLA where she developed a graduate course on ground-motion characterization for engineers. She then worked as a consultant for several engineering and seismology projects. She joined the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research center (PEER) in 2010 where she co-led the NGA-East Program, the largest ground-motion modeling project conducted in the U.S. to date. Joining the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) in 2015, she led the science and integrative activities for large-scale collaborative projects involving diverse disciplines that feed into earthquake hazard and that make extensive use of high-performance computing. Dr. Goulet served on several professional committees and boards, including for the Seismological Society of America and its Eastern Section.
Science and Products
Validating predicted site response in sedimentary basins from 3D ground motion simulations
We introduce procedures to validate site response in sedimentary basins as predicted using ground motion simulations. These procedures aim to isolate contributions of site response to computed intensity measures relative to those from seismic source and path effects. In one of the validation procedures, simulated motions are analyzed in the same manner as earthquake recordings to derive non-ergodi
Authors
Chukwuebuka C Nweke, Jonathan P. Stewart, Robert Graves, Christine A. Goulet, Scott J Brandenberg
NGA-East Ground-Motion Characterization model part I: Summary of products and model development
In this article, we present an overview of the research project NGA-East, Next Generation Attenuation for Central and Eastern North America (CENA), and summarize the key methodology and products. The project was tasked with developing a new ground motion characterization (GMC) model for CENA. The final NGA-East GMC model includes a set of 17 median ground motion models (GMMs) for peak ground accel
Authors
Christine A. Goulet, Yousef Bozorgnia, Nicolas Kuehn, Linda Al Atik, Robert Youngs, Robert Graves, Gail M. Atkinson
Selection of random vibration theory procedures for the NGA-East project and ground-motion modeling
Traditional ground-motion models (GMMs) are used to compute pseudo-spectral acceleration (PSA) from future earthquakes and are generally developed by regression of PSA using a physics-based functional form. PSA is a relatively simple metric that correlates well with the response of several engineering systems and is a metric commonly used in engineering evaluations; however, characteristics of the
Authors
Albert R. Kottke, Norman A. Abrahamson, David Boore, Yousef Bozorgina, Christine A. Goulet, Justin Hollenback, Tadahiro Kishida, Olga-Joan Ktenidou, Ellen M. Rathje, Walt Silva, Eric M. Thompson, Xiaoyue Wang
NGA-East ground-motion characterization model Part II: Implementation and hazard implications
As a companion article to Goulet et al., we describe implementation of the NGA-East ground motion characterization (GMC) model in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) for sites in the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS). We present extensions to the EPRI/DOE/NRC seismic source characterization (SSC) model for the CEUS needed for full implementation of NGA-East. Comparisons are present
Authors
Robert Youngs, Christine A. Goulet, Yousef Bozorgnia, Nicolas Kuehn, Linda Al Atik, Robert Graves, Gail M. Atkinson
Toward physics-based nonergodic PSHA: A prototype fully-deterministic seismic hazard model for southern California
We present a nonergodic framework for probabilistic seismic‐hazard analysis (PSHA) that is constructed entirely of deterministic, physical models. The use of deterministic ground‐motion simulations in PSHA calculations is not new (e.g., CyberShake), but prior studies relied on kinematic rupture generators to extend empirical earthquake rupture forecasts. Fully dynamic models, which simulate ruptur
Authors
Kevin R. Milner, Bruce E. Shaw, Christine A. Goulet, Keith B. Richards-Dinger, Scott Callaghan, Thomas H. Jordan, James H. Dieterich, Edward H. Field
A subset of CyberShake ground-motion time series for response-history analysis
This manuscript describes a subset of CyberShake numerically simulated ground motions that were selected and vetted for use in engineering response-history analyses. Ground motions were selected that have seismological properties and response spectra representative of conditions in the Los Angeles area, based on disaggregation of seismic hazard. Ground motions were selected from millions of availa
Authors
Jack W. Baker, Sanaz Rezaeian, Christine A. Goulet, Nicolas Luco, Ganyu Teng
Evaluation of seismic hazard models with fragile geologic features
We provide an overview of a 2019 workshop on the use of fragile geologic features (FGFs) to evaluate seismic hazard models. FGFs have been scarcely utilized in the evaluation of seismic hazard models, despite nearly 30 yr having passed since the first recognition of their potential value. Recently, several studies have begun to focus on the implementation of FGFs in seismic hazard modeling. The wo
Authors
Mark W. Stirling, Mike Oskin, J. Ramon Arrowsmith, Anna H. Rood, Christine A. Goulet, Lisa Grant Ludwig, Tamarah King, Albert Kottke, Julian C. Lozos, Chris L M Madugo, Devin McPhillips, Dylan Rood, Norman Sleep, Christine Wittich
Airborne lidar and electro-optical imagery along surface ruptures of the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence, Southern California
Surface rupture from the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence, initially associated with the M 6.4 foreshock, occurred on July 4 on a ~17 km long, northeast-southwest oriented, left-lateral zone of faulting. Following the M 7.1 mainshock on July 5 (local time), extensive northwest-southeast-oriented, right-lateral faulting was then also mapped along a ~50 km long zone of faults, including sub-paral
Authors
Kenneth W. Hudnut, Benjamin A. Brooks, Katherine M. Scharer, Janis L. Hernandez, Timothy E. Dawson, Michael E. Oskin, J. Ramon Arrowsmith, Christine A. Goulet, Kelly Blake, Matthew A. Boggie, Stephan Bork, Craig L. Glennie, J.C. Fernandez-Diaz, Abhinav Singhania, Darren Hauser, Sven Sorhus
Science plan for improving three-dimensional seismic velocity models in the San Francisco Bay region, 2019–24
This five-year science plan outlines short-term and long-term goals for improving three-dimensional seismic velocity models in the greater San Francisco Bay region as well as how to foster a community effort in reaching those goals. The short-term goals focus on improving the current U.S. Geological Survey San Francisco Bay region geologic and seismic velocity model using existing data. The long-t
Authors
Brad T. Aagaard, Russell W. Graymer, Clifford H. Thurber, Arthur J. Rodgers, Taka'aki Taira, Rufus D. Catchings, Christine A. Goulet, Andreas Plesch
The science, engineering applications, and policy implications of simulation-based PSHA
We summarize scientific methods for developing probabilistic seismic hazard assessments from 3-D earthquake ground motion simulations, describe current use of simulated ground motions for engineering applications, and discuss on-going efforts to incorporate these effects in the U.S. national seismic hazard model. The 3-D simulations provide important, additional information about earthquake ground
Authors
Morgan P. Moschetti, Sandra P. Chang, C.B Crouse, Arthur Frankel, Robert Graves, H Puangnak, Nicolas Luco, Christine A. Goulet, Sanaz Rezaeian, Allison Shumway, Peter M. Powers, Mark D. Petersen, Scott Callaghan, T.H. Jordan, Kevin R. Milner
2016 Eastern Section SSA Annual Meeting Report
Report on the Eastern Section Seismological Society of America Meeting.
Authors
Thomas L. Pratt, Christine A. Goulet, Oliver S. Boyd
Validation of the SCEC broadband platform V14.3 simulation methods using pseudo spectral acceleration data
This paper summarizes the evaluation of ground motion simulation methods implemented on the SCEC Broadband Platform (BBP), version 14.3 (as of March 2014). A seven-member panel, the authorship of this article, was formed to evaluate those methods for the prediction of pseudo-‐spectral accelerations (PSAs) of ground motion. The panel’s mandate was to evaluate the methods using tools developed thro
Authors
Douglas S. Dreger, Gregory C. Beroza, Steven M. Day, Christine A. Goulet, Thomas H Jordan, Paul A. Spudich, Jonathan P. Stewart
Directions
Information to help you plan your visit to the Earthquake Science Center.
Science and Products
- Publications
Validating predicted site response in sedimentary basins from 3D ground motion simulations
We introduce procedures to validate site response in sedimentary basins as predicted using ground motion simulations. These procedures aim to isolate contributions of site response to computed intensity measures relative to those from seismic source and path effects. In one of the validation procedures, simulated motions are analyzed in the same manner as earthquake recordings to derive non-ergodiAuthorsChukwuebuka C Nweke, Jonathan P. Stewart, Robert Graves, Christine A. Goulet, Scott J BrandenbergNGA-East Ground-Motion Characterization model part I: Summary of products and model development
In this article, we present an overview of the research project NGA-East, Next Generation Attenuation for Central and Eastern North America (CENA), and summarize the key methodology and products. The project was tasked with developing a new ground motion characterization (GMC) model for CENA. The final NGA-East GMC model includes a set of 17 median ground motion models (GMMs) for peak ground accelAuthorsChristine A. Goulet, Yousef Bozorgnia, Nicolas Kuehn, Linda Al Atik, Robert Youngs, Robert Graves, Gail M. AtkinsonSelection of random vibration theory procedures for the NGA-East project and ground-motion modeling
Traditional ground-motion models (GMMs) are used to compute pseudo-spectral acceleration (PSA) from future earthquakes and are generally developed by regression of PSA using a physics-based functional form. PSA is a relatively simple metric that correlates well with the response of several engineering systems and is a metric commonly used in engineering evaluations; however, characteristics of theAuthorsAlbert R. Kottke, Norman A. Abrahamson, David Boore, Yousef Bozorgina, Christine A. Goulet, Justin Hollenback, Tadahiro Kishida, Olga-Joan Ktenidou, Ellen M. Rathje, Walt Silva, Eric M. Thompson, Xiaoyue WangNGA-East ground-motion characterization model Part II: Implementation and hazard implications
As a companion article to Goulet et al., we describe implementation of the NGA-East ground motion characterization (GMC) model in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) for sites in the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS). We present extensions to the EPRI/DOE/NRC seismic source characterization (SSC) model for the CEUS needed for full implementation of NGA-East. Comparisons are presentAuthorsRobert Youngs, Christine A. Goulet, Yousef Bozorgnia, Nicolas Kuehn, Linda Al Atik, Robert Graves, Gail M. AtkinsonToward physics-based nonergodic PSHA: A prototype fully-deterministic seismic hazard model for southern California
We present a nonergodic framework for probabilistic seismic‐hazard analysis (PSHA) that is constructed entirely of deterministic, physical models. The use of deterministic ground‐motion simulations in PSHA calculations is not new (e.g., CyberShake), but prior studies relied on kinematic rupture generators to extend empirical earthquake rupture forecasts. Fully dynamic models, which simulate rupturAuthorsKevin R. Milner, Bruce E. Shaw, Christine A. Goulet, Keith B. Richards-Dinger, Scott Callaghan, Thomas H. Jordan, James H. Dieterich, Edward H. FieldA subset of CyberShake ground-motion time series for response-history analysis
This manuscript describes a subset of CyberShake numerically simulated ground motions that were selected and vetted for use in engineering response-history analyses. Ground motions were selected that have seismological properties and response spectra representative of conditions in the Los Angeles area, based on disaggregation of seismic hazard. Ground motions were selected from millions of availaAuthorsJack W. Baker, Sanaz Rezaeian, Christine A. Goulet, Nicolas Luco, Ganyu TengEvaluation of seismic hazard models with fragile geologic features
We provide an overview of a 2019 workshop on the use of fragile geologic features (FGFs) to evaluate seismic hazard models. FGFs have been scarcely utilized in the evaluation of seismic hazard models, despite nearly 30 yr having passed since the first recognition of their potential value. Recently, several studies have begun to focus on the implementation of FGFs in seismic hazard modeling. The woAuthorsMark W. Stirling, Mike Oskin, J. Ramon Arrowsmith, Anna H. Rood, Christine A. Goulet, Lisa Grant Ludwig, Tamarah King, Albert Kottke, Julian C. Lozos, Chris L M Madugo, Devin McPhillips, Dylan Rood, Norman Sleep, Christine WittichAirborne lidar and electro-optical imagery along surface ruptures of the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence, Southern California
Surface rupture from the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence, initially associated with the M 6.4 foreshock, occurred on July 4 on a ~17 km long, northeast-southwest oriented, left-lateral zone of faulting. Following the M 7.1 mainshock on July 5 (local time), extensive northwest-southeast-oriented, right-lateral faulting was then also mapped along a ~50 km long zone of faults, including sub-paralAuthorsKenneth W. Hudnut, Benjamin A. Brooks, Katherine M. Scharer, Janis L. Hernandez, Timothy E. Dawson, Michael E. Oskin, J. Ramon Arrowsmith, Christine A. Goulet, Kelly Blake, Matthew A. Boggie, Stephan Bork, Craig L. Glennie, J.C. Fernandez-Diaz, Abhinav Singhania, Darren Hauser, Sven SorhusScience plan for improving three-dimensional seismic velocity models in the San Francisco Bay region, 2019–24
This five-year science plan outlines short-term and long-term goals for improving three-dimensional seismic velocity models in the greater San Francisco Bay region as well as how to foster a community effort in reaching those goals. The short-term goals focus on improving the current U.S. Geological Survey San Francisco Bay region geologic and seismic velocity model using existing data. The long-tAuthorsBrad T. Aagaard, Russell W. Graymer, Clifford H. Thurber, Arthur J. Rodgers, Taka'aki Taira, Rufus D. Catchings, Christine A. Goulet, Andreas PleschThe science, engineering applications, and policy implications of simulation-based PSHA
We summarize scientific methods for developing probabilistic seismic hazard assessments from 3-D earthquake ground motion simulations, describe current use of simulated ground motions for engineering applications, and discuss on-going efforts to incorporate these effects in the U.S. national seismic hazard model. The 3-D simulations provide important, additional information about earthquake groundAuthorsMorgan P. Moschetti, Sandra P. Chang, C.B Crouse, Arthur Frankel, Robert Graves, H Puangnak, Nicolas Luco, Christine A. Goulet, Sanaz Rezaeian, Allison Shumway, Peter M. Powers, Mark D. Petersen, Scott Callaghan, T.H. Jordan, Kevin R. Milner2016 Eastern Section SSA Annual Meeting Report
Report on the Eastern Section Seismological Society of America Meeting.AuthorsThomas L. Pratt, Christine A. Goulet, Oliver S. BoydValidation of the SCEC broadband platform V14.3 simulation methods using pseudo spectral acceleration data
This paper summarizes the evaluation of ground motion simulation methods implemented on the SCEC Broadband Platform (BBP), version 14.3 (as of March 2014). A seven-member panel, the authorship of this article, was formed to evaluate those methods for the prediction of pseudo-‐spectral accelerations (PSAs) of ground motion. The panel’s mandate was to evaluate the methods using tools developed throAuthorsDouglas S. Dreger, Gregory C. Beroza, Steven M. Day, Christine A. Goulet, Thomas H Jordan, Paul A. Spudich, Jonathan P. Stewart - Science
Directions
Information to help you plan your visit to the Earthquake Science Center.