Devin McPhillips, PhD
As an earthquake geologist, I investigate fault systems, fault activity, and ground shaking intensity. I am particularly interested in records of past earthquakes that are preserved in the landscape. My research methods include field observation, geochronology, and quantitative analysis. My goals are to quantify seismic hazard and reduce risk.
Professional Experience
Research Geologist: USGS-ESC, 2023-present
Geologist: USGS-ESC, 2016-2023
Research Associate: Syracuse University, 2013-2105
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow: University of Vermont, 2011-2013
Education and Certifications
PhD: Yale University, 2011
BA: Carleton College, 2003
Science and Products
Beryllium-10 concentrations in depth profiles and surface clasts from terrace surfaces near Littlerock Creek, California Beryllium-10 concentrations in depth profiles and surface clasts from terrace surfaces near Littlerock Creek, California
This report summarizes the age-dating results from four terrace surfaces of the Littlerock Creek (map units T3g, T3c, T2, and T1c) that record cumulative strike-slip displacements ranging from 470 to 1080 meters along the Mojave section of the San Andreas Fault. Within this report are detailed the methodology used to collect samples of rock and sediment, determine concentrations of...
Remote survey of fragile geologic features for use as earthquake ground motion constraints, Oregon and Washington, USA Remote survey of fragile geologic features for use as earthquake ground motion constraints, Oregon and Washington, USA
Fragile geologic features (FGFs) are elements of the landscape that are vulnerable to destruction during sufficiently strong earthquake ground shaking. As result, the observation of extant FGFs on the landscape may constrain the maximum intensity of past earthquake shaking. McPhillips and Scharer (2022, Survey of fragile geologic features and their quasi-static earthquake ground motion...
Data release for spatial and temporal analysis of geologically derived fault slip rates, Cucamonga Fault, California, USA Data release for spatial and temporal analysis of geologically derived fault slip rates, Cucamonga Fault, California, USA
This report summarizes the age-dating results from two alluvial fan surfaces (map units Qyf2 and Qyf3) that are broken by strands of the Cucamonga Fault, in southern California, at Day Canyon and Etiwanda Canyon. Within this report are detailed the methodology used to collect samples of rock and sediment, determine concentrations of cosmogenic beryllium-10 in purified quartz isolated...
Updated Compilation of VS30 Data for the United States Updated Compilation of VS30 Data for the United States
VS30, the time-averaged shear-wave velocity (VS) to a depth of 30 meters, is a key index adopted by the earthquake engineering community to account for seismic site conditions. VS30 is typically based on geophysical measurements of VS derived from invasive and noninvasive techniques at sites of interest. Owing to cost considerations, as well as logistical and environmental concerns, VS30...
Filter Total Items: 24
The USGS 2023 Conterminous U.S. time‐independent earthquake rupture forecast The USGS 2023 Conterminous U.S. time‐independent earthquake rupture forecast
We present the 2023 U.S. Geological Survey time‐independent earthquake rupture forecast for the conterminous United States, which gives authoritative estimates of the magnitude, location, and time‐averaged frequency of potentially damaging earthquakes throughout the region. In addition to updating virtually all model components, a major focus has been to provide a better representation...
Authors
Edward Field, Kevin Milner, Alexandra Hatem, Peter Powers, Frederick Pollitz, Andrea Llenos, Yuehua Zeng, Kaj Johnson, Bruce Shaw, Devin McPhillips, Jessica Jobe, Allison Shumway, Andrew Michael, Zheng-Kang Shen, Eileen L. Evans, Elizabeth Hearn, Charles Mueller, Arthur Frankel, Mark Petersen, Christopher DuRoss, Richard Briggs, Morgan Page, Justin Rubinstein, Julie Herrick
The Mojave section of the San Andreas fault (California), 1: Shaping the terrace stratigraphy of Littlerock Creek through the competition between rapid strike-slip faulting and lateral stream erosion over the last 40ka. The Mojave section of the San Andreas fault (California), 1: Shaping the terrace stratigraphy of Littlerock Creek through the competition between rapid strike-slip faulting and lateral stream erosion over the last 40ka.
To determine the post-40 ka slip-rate along the Mojave section of the San Andreas Fault (MSAF) we re-analyze the sedimentary record preserved where Little Rock (LR) Creek flows across the fault. At this location, interaction between the northeast-flowing stream and right-lateral fault has resulted in the abandonment and preservation of 11 strath terraces and one paleo-floodplain in the...
Authors
Adrien Moulin, Eric Cowgill, Katherine M. Scharer, Devin McPhillips, Arjun Heimsath
Spatial and temporal analysis of geologic slip rates, Cucamonga Fault, California, USA: Implications for along-strike applications and multi-fault rupture Spatial and temporal analysis of geologic slip rates, Cucamonga Fault, California, USA: Implications for along-strike applications and multi-fault rupture
To constrain fault processes and hazard, fault slip rates may be extrapolated over different fault lengths or time intervals. Here, we investigate slip rates for the Cucamonga Fault (CF). The CF is located at the junction of the Transverse Range fault system with the San Andreas and San Jacinto Faults, and it is hypothesized to connect with these faults, promoting the propagation of...
Authors
Devin McPhillips, Katherine M. Scharer
Survey of fragile geologic features and their quasi-static earthquake ground-motion constraints, southern Oregon Survey of fragile geologic features and their quasi-static earthquake ground-motion constraints, southern Oregon
Fragile geologic features (FGFs), which are extant on the landscape but vulnerable to earthquake ground shaking, may provide geological constraints on the intensity of prior shaking. These empirical constraints are particularly important in regions such as the Pacific Northwest that have not experienced a megathrust earthquake in written history. Here, we describe our field survey of...
Authors
Devin McPhillips, Katherine M. Scharer
Revised earthquake recurrence intervals in California, USA: New paleoseismic sites and application of event likelihoods Revised earthquake recurrence intervals in California, USA: New paleoseismic sites and application of event likelihoods
Recurrence intervals for ground rupturing earthquakes are critical data for assessing seismic hazard. Recurrence intervals are presented here for 38 paleoseismic sites in California. Eleven of these include new or updated data; the remainder use data previously included in the Unified California Earthquake Rupture Forecast Version 3 (UCERF3). The methods and results are consistent with...
Authors
Devin McPhillips
Toppling of a Trona Pinnacles Spire following the M5.5 RidgecrestaAftershock of June 2020 Toppling of a Trona Pinnacles Spire following the M5.5 RidgecrestaAftershock of June 2020
The 2019 Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest California earthquake rupture passed within 4 km of the Trona Pinnacles, a large group of tufa rock pillars. Reconnaissance following the Ridgecrest mainshock documented fresh damage to several of the Pinnacles. Repeated aerial photogrammetric surveys also documented damage during subsequent aftershocks. Here, we describe the photogrammetric data with emphasis...
Authors
Andrea Donnellan, Joaquin Garcia-Suarez, Devin McPhillips, Domniki Asimaki, Christine Goulet, Xiaofeng Meng, Savannah Devine, Gregory Lyzanga
Science and Products
Beryllium-10 concentrations in depth profiles and surface clasts from terrace surfaces near Littlerock Creek, California Beryllium-10 concentrations in depth profiles and surface clasts from terrace surfaces near Littlerock Creek, California
This report summarizes the age-dating results from four terrace surfaces of the Littlerock Creek (map units T3g, T3c, T2, and T1c) that record cumulative strike-slip displacements ranging from 470 to 1080 meters along the Mojave section of the San Andreas Fault. Within this report are detailed the methodology used to collect samples of rock and sediment, determine concentrations of...
Remote survey of fragile geologic features for use as earthquake ground motion constraints, Oregon and Washington, USA Remote survey of fragile geologic features for use as earthquake ground motion constraints, Oregon and Washington, USA
Fragile geologic features (FGFs) are elements of the landscape that are vulnerable to destruction during sufficiently strong earthquake ground shaking. As result, the observation of extant FGFs on the landscape may constrain the maximum intensity of past earthquake shaking. McPhillips and Scharer (2022, Survey of fragile geologic features and their quasi-static earthquake ground motion...
Data release for spatial and temporal analysis of geologically derived fault slip rates, Cucamonga Fault, California, USA Data release for spatial and temporal analysis of geologically derived fault slip rates, Cucamonga Fault, California, USA
This report summarizes the age-dating results from two alluvial fan surfaces (map units Qyf2 and Qyf3) that are broken by strands of the Cucamonga Fault, in southern California, at Day Canyon and Etiwanda Canyon. Within this report are detailed the methodology used to collect samples of rock and sediment, determine concentrations of cosmogenic beryllium-10 in purified quartz isolated...
Updated Compilation of VS30 Data for the United States Updated Compilation of VS30 Data for the United States
VS30, the time-averaged shear-wave velocity (VS) to a depth of 30 meters, is a key index adopted by the earthquake engineering community to account for seismic site conditions. VS30 is typically based on geophysical measurements of VS derived from invasive and noninvasive techniques at sites of interest. Owing to cost considerations, as well as logistical and environmental concerns, VS30...
Filter Total Items: 24
The USGS 2023 Conterminous U.S. time‐independent earthquake rupture forecast The USGS 2023 Conterminous U.S. time‐independent earthquake rupture forecast
We present the 2023 U.S. Geological Survey time‐independent earthquake rupture forecast for the conterminous United States, which gives authoritative estimates of the magnitude, location, and time‐averaged frequency of potentially damaging earthquakes throughout the region. In addition to updating virtually all model components, a major focus has been to provide a better representation...
Authors
Edward Field, Kevin Milner, Alexandra Hatem, Peter Powers, Frederick Pollitz, Andrea Llenos, Yuehua Zeng, Kaj Johnson, Bruce Shaw, Devin McPhillips, Jessica Jobe, Allison Shumway, Andrew Michael, Zheng-Kang Shen, Eileen L. Evans, Elizabeth Hearn, Charles Mueller, Arthur Frankel, Mark Petersen, Christopher DuRoss, Richard Briggs, Morgan Page, Justin Rubinstein, Julie Herrick
The Mojave section of the San Andreas fault (California), 1: Shaping the terrace stratigraphy of Littlerock Creek through the competition between rapid strike-slip faulting and lateral stream erosion over the last 40ka. The Mojave section of the San Andreas fault (California), 1: Shaping the terrace stratigraphy of Littlerock Creek through the competition between rapid strike-slip faulting and lateral stream erosion over the last 40ka.
To determine the post-40 ka slip-rate along the Mojave section of the San Andreas Fault (MSAF) we re-analyze the sedimentary record preserved where Little Rock (LR) Creek flows across the fault. At this location, interaction between the northeast-flowing stream and right-lateral fault has resulted in the abandonment and preservation of 11 strath terraces and one paleo-floodplain in the...
Authors
Adrien Moulin, Eric Cowgill, Katherine M. Scharer, Devin McPhillips, Arjun Heimsath
Spatial and temporal analysis of geologic slip rates, Cucamonga Fault, California, USA: Implications for along-strike applications and multi-fault rupture Spatial and temporal analysis of geologic slip rates, Cucamonga Fault, California, USA: Implications for along-strike applications and multi-fault rupture
To constrain fault processes and hazard, fault slip rates may be extrapolated over different fault lengths or time intervals. Here, we investigate slip rates for the Cucamonga Fault (CF). The CF is located at the junction of the Transverse Range fault system with the San Andreas and San Jacinto Faults, and it is hypothesized to connect with these faults, promoting the propagation of...
Authors
Devin McPhillips, Katherine M. Scharer
Survey of fragile geologic features and their quasi-static earthquake ground-motion constraints, southern Oregon Survey of fragile geologic features and their quasi-static earthquake ground-motion constraints, southern Oregon
Fragile geologic features (FGFs), which are extant on the landscape but vulnerable to earthquake ground shaking, may provide geological constraints on the intensity of prior shaking. These empirical constraints are particularly important in regions such as the Pacific Northwest that have not experienced a megathrust earthquake in written history. Here, we describe our field survey of...
Authors
Devin McPhillips, Katherine M. Scharer
Revised earthquake recurrence intervals in California, USA: New paleoseismic sites and application of event likelihoods Revised earthquake recurrence intervals in California, USA: New paleoseismic sites and application of event likelihoods
Recurrence intervals for ground rupturing earthquakes are critical data for assessing seismic hazard. Recurrence intervals are presented here for 38 paleoseismic sites in California. Eleven of these include new or updated data; the remainder use data previously included in the Unified California Earthquake Rupture Forecast Version 3 (UCERF3). The methods and results are consistent with...
Authors
Devin McPhillips
Toppling of a Trona Pinnacles Spire following the M5.5 RidgecrestaAftershock of June 2020 Toppling of a Trona Pinnacles Spire following the M5.5 RidgecrestaAftershock of June 2020
The 2019 Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest California earthquake rupture passed within 4 km of the Trona Pinnacles, a large group of tufa rock pillars. Reconnaissance following the Ridgecrest mainshock documented fresh damage to several of the Pinnacles. Repeated aerial photogrammetric surveys also documented damage during subsequent aftershocks. Here, we describe the photogrammetric data with emphasis...
Authors
Andrea Donnellan, Joaquin Garcia-Suarez, Devin McPhillips, Domniki Asimaki, Christine Goulet, Xiaofeng Meng, Savannah Devine, Gregory Lyzanga