Janet Watt
My research focuses on characterizing onshore/offshore geologic structure, deformation, and active tectonics to address problems focused on geologic hazards and framework geologic processes. My recent work involves the development and application of integrative geophysical approaches to 3D characterization of faults and fault interactions.
I received my M.S. in Marine Science (Geological Oceanography) from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories while working at the USGS in Menlo Park, CA. As part of the Geophysical Unit of Menlo Park (GUMP), I used potential-field methods (gravity and magnetics) and 3D geologic mapping to understand earthquake and volcano hazards, and mineral and water resources in the western U.S. In 2010, I returned to my marine geology roots and joined the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, CA where I currently work as a Research Geophysicist.
Selected Media and Public Outreach
November 18, 2016, CBS This Morning "California prepares for next big earthquake"
October 19, 2016, Popular Mechanics "Two dangerous Fault Lines Under San Francisco Are Connected, Study Finds"
February 1, 2016, Temblor.net Earthquake News & Blog, "Why don't the earthquakes line up with the San Andreas fault?"
January 2, 2016, CBS NEWS, "Alarming Discovery Shows Bay Area’s 2 Most Dangerous Earthquake Faults May Be Connected"
December 31, 2015, San Francisco Chronicle, "New data on 2 Bay Area faults cause worry about next big quake"
November 20, 2014, KQED Science "Using 3D Visualization, Geologists Explore the Complex Areas Where Faults Join and Split"
Science and Products
Magnetic map of the Irish Hills and surrounding areas, San Luis Obispo County, central California
Influence of fault trend, bends, and convergence on shallow structure and geomorphology of the Hosgri strike-slip fault, offshore central California
Preliminary isostatic residual gravity anomaly map of Paso Robles 30 x 60 minute quadrangle, California
Isostatic gravity map of the Point Sur 30' x 60' quadrangle and adjacent areas, California
Geophysical setting of the February 21, 2008 Mw 6 Wells earthquake, Nevada, and implications for earthquake hazards
Geophysical setting of the blue mountain geothermal area, North-Central Nevada and its relationship to a crustal-scale fracture associated with the inception of the Yellowstone hotspot
The Mt. Lewis fault zone: Tectonic implications for eastern San Francisco Bay
Geophysical Studies in the Vicinity of the Warner Mountains and Surprise Valley, Northeast California, Northwest Nevada, and Southern Oregon
High-Resolution Seismic-Reflection and Marine Magnetic Data Along the Hosgri Fault Zone, Central California
Physical-Property Measurements on Core samples from Drill-Holes DB-1 and DB-2, Blue Mountain Geothermal Prospect, North-Central Nevada
Three-dimensional geologic model of the northern Nevada rift and the Beowawe geothermal system, north-central Nevada
Preliminary Isostatic Gravity Map of Joshua Tree National Park and Vicinity, Southern California
Science and Products
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Magnetic map of the Irish Hills and surrounding areas, San Luis Obispo County, central California
A magnetic map of the Irish Hills and surrounding areas was created as part of a cooperative research and development agreement with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and is intended to promote further understanding of the areal geology and structure by serving as a basis for geophysical interpretations and by supporting geological mapping, mineral and water resource investigations, and other tAuthorsV. E. Langenheim, J. T. Watt, K.M. DentonInfluence of fault trend, bends, and convergence on shallow structure and geomorphology of the Hosgri strike-slip fault, offshore central California
We mapped an ∼94-km-long portion of the right-lateral Hosgri fault zone in offshore central California using a dense network of high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, marine magnetic data, and multibeam bathymetry. These data document the location, length, and continuity of multiple fault strands, highlight fault-zone heterogeneity, and demonstrate the importance of fault trend, fault bends,AuthorsSamuel Y. Johnson, Janet Tilden WattPreliminary isostatic residual gravity anomaly map of Paso Robles 30 x 60 minute quadrangle, California
This isostatic residual gravity map is part of an effort to map the three-dimensional distribution of rocks in the central California Coast Ranges and will serve as a basis for modeling the shape of basins and for determining the location and geometry of faults within the Paso Robles quadrangle. Local spatial variations in the Earth\'s gravity field, after accounting for variations caused by elevaAuthorsD.K. McPhee, V. E. Langenheim, J. T. WattIsostatic gravity map of the Point Sur 30' x 60' quadrangle and adjacent areas, California
This isostatic residual gravity map is part of a regional effort to investigate the tectonics and water resources of the central Coast Range. This map serves as a basis for modeling the shape of basins and for determining the location and geometry of faults in the area. Local spatial variations in the Earth's gravity field (after removing variations caused by instrument drift, earth-tides, latitudAuthorsJ. T. Watt, R. L. Morin, V. E. LangenheimGeophysical setting of the February 21, 2008 Mw 6 Wells earthquake, Nevada, and implications for earthquake hazards
We utilize gravity and magnetic methods to investigate the regional geophysical setting of the Wells earthquake. In particular, we delineate major crustal structures that may have played a role in the location of the earthquake and discuss the geometry of a nearby sedimentary basin that may have contributed to observed ground shaking. The February 21, 2008 Mw 6.0 Wells earthquake, centered about 1AuthorsDavid A. Ponce, Janet T. Watt, C. BouligandGeophysical setting of the blue mountain geothermal area, North-Central Nevada and its relationship to a crustal-scale fracture associated with the inception of the Yellowstone hotspot
No abstract available.AuthorsDavid A. Ponce, Jonathan M.G. Glen, Janet Watt, John CasteelThe Mt. Lewis fault zone: Tectonic implications for eastern San Francisco Bay
No abstract availableAuthorsJanet Watt, David A. Ponce, Robert W. Simpson, Russell W. Graymer, Robert C. Jachens, Carl M. WentworthGeophysical Studies in the Vicinity of the Warner Mountains and Surprise Valley, Northeast California, Northwest Nevada, and Southern Oregon
From May 2006 to August 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected 793 gravity stations, about 102 line-kilometers of truck-towed and ground magnetometer data, and about 325 physical-property measurements in northeastern California, northwestern Nevada, and southern Oregon. Gravity, magnetic, and physical-property data were collected to study regional crustal structures and geology as an aiAuthorsDavid A. Ponce, Jonathan M. G. Glen, Anne E. Egger, Claire Bouligand, Janet T. Watt, Robert L. MorinHigh-Resolution Seismic-Reflection and Marine Magnetic Data Along the Hosgri Fault Zone, Central California
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected high-resolution shallow seismic-reflection and marine magnetic data in June 2008 in the offshore areas between the towns of Cayucos and Pismo Beach, Calif., from the nearshore (~6-m depth) to just west of the Hosgri Fault Zone (~200-m depth). These data are in support of the California State Waters Mapping Program and the Cooperative Research and DevelopAuthorsRay W. Sliter, Peter J. Triezenberg, Patrick E. Hart, Janet T. Watt, Samuel Y. Johnson, Daniel S. ScheirerPhysical-Property Measurements on Core samples from Drill-Holes DB-1 and DB-2, Blue Mountain Geothermal Prospect, North-Central Nevada
From May to June 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected and measured physical properties on 36 core samples from drill-hole Deep Blue No. 1 (DB-1) and 46 samples from drill-hole Deep Blue No. 2 (DB-2) along the west side of Blue Mountain about 40 km west of Winnemucca, Nev. These data were collected as part of an effort to determine the geophysical setting of the Blue Mountain geothermaAuthorsDavid A. Ponce, Janet T. Watt, John Casteel, Grant LogsdonThree-dimensional geologic model of the northern Nevada rift and the Beowawe geothermal system, north-central Nevada
A three-dimensional (3D) geologic model of part of the northern Nevada rift encompassing the Beowawe geothermal system was developed from a series of two-dimensional (2D) geologic and geophysical models. The 3D model was constrained by local geophysical, geologic, and drill-hole information and integrates geologic and tectonic interpretations for the region. It places important geologic constraintAuthorsJanet Watt, Jonathan M.G. Glen, David John, David A. PoncePreliminary Isostatic Gravity Map of Joshua Tree National Park and Vicinity, Southern California
This isostatic residual gravity map is part of an effort to map the three-dimensional distribution of rocks in Joshua Tree National Park, southern California. This map will serve as a basis for modeling the shape of basins beneath the Park and in adjacent valleys and also for determining the location and geometry of faults within the area. Local spatial variations in the Earth's gravity field,AuthorsV. E. Langenheim, Shawn Biehler, D.K. McPhee, C.A. McCabe, J. T. Watt, M.L. Anderson, B. A. Chuchel, P. Stoffer - News