Jefferson C Chang, Ph.D.
Jefferson is a Geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey—Volcano Hazard Programs, at the Volcano Science Center's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Education
- Ph.D. in Geophysics: University of Oklahoma (2017)
- M.S. in Geology: University of Texas at El Paso (2008)
- B.S. in Geology: Northern Arizona University (2005)
- A.A. in Liberal Arts: University of Hawaii—Leeward Community College (2001)
Appointments
- Geophysicist: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (2018-present)
- Geophysical Operations Manager: Oklahoma Geological Survey (2016-2018)
- State Seismologist (Interim): Oklahoma Geological Survey (2015-2016)
- Research Associate: Oklahoma Geological Survey (2014-2015)
- Field Technician: University of Oklahoma (2008-2012)
- GIS Analyst: UTEP Regional Geospatial Service Center (2007)
- Digital Cartographer: Northern Arizona University (2005)
- Seismic Technician/Analyst: Arizona Earthquake Information Center (2005)
Science and Products
Olivine diffusion constrains months-scale magma transport within Kīlauea volcano’s summit reservoir system prior to the 2020 eruption
The unprecedented 2018 summit collapse at Kīlauea and subsequent 2020–2021 eruption within the newly deepened Halema‘uma‘u Crater provide an unparalleled opportunity to understand how collapse events impact a volcano’s shallow reservoir system and magmatic processes. Glass and olivine from tephra ejected by lava fountains and several explosions on 20–21 December, within a few hours of the 2020 eru
Authors
Kendra J. Lynn, Patricia Nadeau, Dawn Catherine Sweeney Ruth, Jefferson Chang, Peter Dotray, Ingrid Johanson
Neotectonic and paleoseismic analysis of the northwest extent of Holocene surface deformation along the Meers Fault, Oklahoma
TheMeers fault (Oklahoma) is one of fewseismogenic structures with evidence for Holocene
surface rupture in the stable continental region of North America. The 37-kilometer-long
southeast section of the full 54-kilometer-long Meers fault is interpreted to be Holocene
active. The 17-kilometer-long northwest section is considered Quaternary active, but not
Holocene active.We reevaluate surface expre
Authors
Kristofer T. Hornsby, Ashley R. Streig, S. Bennett, Jefferson C. Chang, Shannon A. Mahan
The susceptibility of Oklahoma’s basement to seismic reactivation
Recent widespread seismicity in Oklahoma is attributed to the reactivation of pre-existing, critically stressed and seismically unstable faults due to decades of wastewater injection. However, the structure and properties of the reactivated faults remain concealed by the sedimentary cover. Here, we explore the major ingredients needed to induce earthquakes in Oklahoma by characterizing basement fa
Authors
Folarin Kolawole, C.S. Johnston, C.B. Morgan, Jefferson Chang, K Marfurt, David A. Lockner, Ze'ev Reches, B M Carpenter
The 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kilauea Volcano
In 2018, Kīlauea Volcano experienced its largest lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption and caldera collapse in at least 200 years. After collapse of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō vent on 30 April, magma propagated downrift. Eruptive fissures opened in the LERZ on 3 May, eventually extending ~6.8 km. A 4 May earthquake (M6.9) produced ~5 m of fault slip. Lava erupted at rates exceeding 100 m3/s, eventually coveri
Authors
Christina A. Neal, Steven Brantley, Loren Antolik, Janet Babb, Matthew K. Burgess, Michael Cappos, Jefferson Chang, Sarah Conway, Liliana G. Desmither, Peter Dotray, Tamar Elias, Pauline Fukunaga, Steven Fuke, Ingrid Johanson, Kevan Kamibayashi, James P. Kauahikaua, R. Lopaka Lee, S. Pekalib, Asta Miklius, Brian Shiro, Don Swanson, Patricia Nadeau, Michael H. Zoeller, P. Okubo, Carolyn Parcheta, Matthew R. Patrick, William Tollett, Frank A. Trusdell, Edward F. Younger, Emily Montgomery-Brown, Kyle R. Anderson, Michael P. Poland, Jessica L. Ball, Joseph A. Bard, Michelle L. Coombs, Hannah R. Dietterich, Christoph Kern, Weston Thelen, Peter Cervelli, Tim R. Orr, Bruce F. Houghton, Cheryl Gansecki, Richard Hazlett, Paul Lundgren, Angela K. Diefenbach, Allan Lerner, Greg Waite, Peter J. Kelly, Laura E. Clor, Cynthia Werner, Katherine Mulliken, Gary B. Fisher, David Damby
Non-USGS Publications**
Walter, J.I., Ogwari, P., Thiel, A., Ferrer, F., Woelfel, I., Chang, J.C., Darold, A.P., and Holland, A.A., 2020, The Oklahoma Geological Survey Statewide Seismic Network: Seismological Research Letters, v. 91, p. 611-621, doi: 10.1785/0220190211.
Kolawole, F., Johnston, C.S., Morgan, C.B., Chang, J.C., Marfurt, K.J., Lockner, D.A., Reches, Z., and Carpenter, B.M., 2019, The Susceptibility of Oklahoma’s Basement to Seismic Reactivation: Nature Geoscience, v. 12, p. 839-844, doi: 10.1038/s41561-019-0440-5.
Chen, X., Haffener, J., Goebel, T., Meng, X., Peng, Z., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Temporal Correlation Between Seismic Moment and Injection Volume for an Induced Earthquake Sequence in Central Oklahoma: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, v. 123, p. 3047-3064, doi: 10.1002/2017jb014694.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation and Thickness of the Ordovician Sylvan Shale in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 05-2018, 3 plates with supplement, 2 p. text.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation and Thickness of the Ordovician Viola Limestone in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 04-2018, 3 plates with supplement, 4 p. text.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation and Thickness of the Ordovician Simpson Group in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-2018, 3 plates with supplement, 4 p. text.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation and Thickness of the Ordovician Arbuckle Group in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-2018, 3 plates with supplement, 3 p. text.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation Map of the Top of the Crystalline Basement in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-2018, 1 plate with supplement, 3 p. text.
Pritchett, B.N., Chang, J.C., Chang, J.M., Suneson, N.H., and Walter, J.I., 2017, Preliminary Soil Amplification Map of Oklahoma: Oklahoma Geological Survey Geologic Map Series GM-41, scale 1:500,000.
Chen, X., Nakata, N., Pennington, C., Haffener, J., Chang, J.C., He, X., Zhan, Z., Ni, S., and Walter, J.I., 2017, The Pawnee Earthquake as a Result of Interplay Among Injection, Faults and Foreshocks: Scientific Reports, v. 7, doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-04992-z.
Walter, J.I., Chang, J.C., and Dotray, P.J., 2017, Foreshock Seismicity Suggests Gradual Stress Increase in the Months Prior to the 3 September 2016 Mw 5.8 Pawnee Earthquake: Seismological Research Letters, v. 88, p. 1032-1039, doi: 10.1785/0220170007.
Fielding, E.J., Sangha, S.S., Bekaert, D.P.S., Samsonov, S.V., and Chang, J.C., 2017, Surface Deformation of North-Central Oklahoma Before, During, and After the 2016 Mw 5.8 Pawnee Earthquake from SAR Interferometry Time Series: Seismological Research Letters, v. 88, p. 971-982, doi: 10.1785/0220170010.
Liao, Z., Chang, J.C., and Reches, Z., 2014, Fault Strength Evolution During High Velocity Friction Experiments with Slip-Pulse and Constant-Velocity Loading: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 406, p. 93-101, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2014.09.010.
Boneh, Y., Chang, J.C., Lockner, D.A., and Reches, Z., 2014, Evolution of Wear and Friction Along Experimental Faults: Pure and Applied Geophysics, v. 171, p. 3125-3141, doi: 10.1007/s00024-014-0801-3.
Chang, J.C., Lockner, D.A., and Reches, Z., 2012, Rapid Acceleration Leads to Rapid Weakening in Earthquake-Like Laboratory Experiments: Science, v. 338, p. 101-105, doi: 10.1126/science.1221195.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Olivine diffusion constrains months-scale magma transport within Kīlauea volcano’s summit reservoir system prior to the 2020 eruption
The unprecedented 2018 summit collapse at Kīlauea and subsequent 2020–2021 eruption within the newly deepened Halema‘uma‘u Crater provide an unparalleled opportunity to understand how collapse events impact a volcano’s shallow reservoir system and magmatic processes. Glass and olivine from tephra ejected by lava fountains and several explosions on 20–21 December, within a few hours of the 2020 eru
Authors
Kendra J. Lynn, Patricia Nadeau, Dawn Catherine Sweeney Ruth, Jefferson Chang, Peter Dotray, Ingrid Johanson
Neotectonic and paleoseismic analysis of the northwest extent of Holocene surface deformation along the Meers Fault, Oklahoma
TheMeers fault (Oklahoma) is one of fewseismogenic structures with evidence for Holocene
surface rupture in the stable continental region of North America. The 37-kilometer-long
southeast section of the full 54-kilometer-long Meers fault is interpreted to be Holocene
active. The 17-kilometer-long northwest section is considered Quaternary active, but not
Holocene active.We reevaluate surface expre
Authors
Kristofer T. Hornsby, Ashley R. Streig, S. Bennett, Jefferson C. Chang, Shannon A. Mahan
The susceptibility of Oklahoma’s basement to seismic reactivation
Recent widespread seismicity in Oklahoma is attributed to the reactivation of pre-existing, critically stressed and seismically unstable faults due to decades of wastewater injection. However, the structure and properties of the reactivated faults remain concealed by the sedimentary cover. Here, we explore the major ingredients needed to induce earthquakes in Oklahoma by characterizing basement fa
Authors
Folarin Kolawole, C.S. Johnston, C.B. Morgan, Jefferson Chang, K Marfurt, David A. Lockner, Ze'ev Reches, B M Carpenter
The 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kilauea Volcano
In 2018, Kīlauea Volcano experienced its largest lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption and caldera collapse in at least 200 years. After collapse of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō vent on 30 April, magma propagated downrift. Eruptive fissures opened in the LERZ on 3 May, eventually extending ~6.8 km. A 4 May earthquake (M6.9) produced ~5 m of fault slip. Lava erupted at rates exceeding 100 m3/s, eventually coveri
Authors
Christina A. Neal, Steven Brantley, Loren Antolik, Janet Babb, Matthew K. Burgess, Michael Cappos, Jefferson Chang, Sarah Conway, Liliana G. Desmither, Peter Dotray, Tamar Elias, Pauline Fukunaga, Steven Fuke, Ingrid Johanson, Kevan Kamibayashi, James P. Kauahikaua, R. Lopaka Lee, S. Pekalib, Asta Miklius, Brian Shiro, Don Swanson, Patricia Nadeau, Michael H. Zoeller, P. Okubo, Carolyn Parcheta, Matthew R. Patrick, William Tollett, Frank A. Trusdell, Edward F. Younger, Emily Montgomery-Brown, Kyle R. Anderson, Michael P. Poland, Jessica L. Ball, Joseph A. Bard, Michelle L. Coombs, Hannah R. Dietterich, Christoph Kern, Weston Thelen, Peter Cervelli, Tim R. Orr, Bruce F. Houghton, Cheryl Gansecki, Richard Hazlett, Paul Lundgren, Angela K. Diefenbach, Allan Lerner, Greg Waite, Peter J. Kelly, Laura E. Clor, Cynthia Werner, Katherine Mulliken, Gary B. Fisher, David Damby
Non-USGS Publications**
Walter, J.I., Ogwari, P., Thiel, A., Ferrer, F., Woelfel, I., Chang, J.C., Darold, A.P., and Holland, A.A., 2020, The Oklahoma Geological Survey Statewide Seismic Network: Seismological Research Letters, v. 91, p. 611-621, doi: 10.1785/0220190211.
Kolawole, F., Johnston, C.S., Morgan, C.B., Chang, J.C., Marfurt, K.J., Lockner, D.A., Reches, Z., and Carpenter, B.M., 2019, The Susceptibility of Oklahoma’s Basement to Seismic Reactivation: Nature Geoscience, v. 12, p. 839-844, doi: 10.1038/s41561-019-0440-5.
Chen, X., Haffener, J., Goebel, T., Meng, X., Peng, Z., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Temporal Correlation Between Seismic Moment and Injection Volume for an Induced Earthquake Sequence in Central Oklahoma: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, v. 123, p. 3047-3064, doi: 10.1002/2017jb014694.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation and Thickness of the Ordovician Sylvan Shale in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 05-2018, 3 plates with supplement, 2 p. text.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation and Thickness of the Ordovician Viola Limestone in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 04-2018, 3 plates with supplement, 4 p. text.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation and Thickness of the Ordovician Simpson Group in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-2018, 3 plates with supplement, 4 p. text.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation and Thickness of the Ordovician Arbuckle Group in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-2018, 3 plates with supplement, 3 p. text.
Crain, K.D., and Chang, J.C., 2018, Elevation Map of the Top of the Crystalline Basement in Oklahoma and Surrounding States: Oklahoma Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-2018, 1 plate with supplement, 3 p. text.
Pritchett, B.N., Chang, J.C., Chang, J.M., Suneson, N.H., and Walter, J.I., 2017, Preliminary Soil Amplification Map of Oklahoma: Oklahoma Geological Survey Geologic Map Series GM-41, scale 1:500,000.
Chen, X., Nakata, N., Pennington, C., Haffener, J., Chang, J.C., He, X., Zhan, Z., Ni, S., and Walter, J.I., 2017, The Pawnee Earthquake as a Result of Interplay Among Injection, Faults and Foreshocks: Scientific Reports, v. 7, doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-04992-z.
Walter, J.I., Chang, J.C., and Dotray, P.J., 2017, Foreshock Seismicity Suggests Gradual Stress Increase in the Months Prior to the 3 September 2016 Mw 5.8 Pawnee Earthquake: Seismological Research Letters, v. 88, p. 1032-1039, doi: 10.1785/0220170007.
Fielding, E.J., Sangha, S.S., Bekaert, D.P.S., Samsonov, S.V., and Chang, J.C., 2017, Surface Deformation of North-Central Oklahoma Before, During, and After the 2016 Mw 5.8 Pawnee Earthquake from SAR Interferometry Time Series: Seismological Research Letters, v. 88, p. 971-982, doi: 10.1785/0220170010.
Liao, Z., Chang, J.C., and Reches, Z., 2014, Fault Strength Evolution During High Velocity Friction Experiments with Slip-Pulse and Constant-Velocity Loading: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 406, p. 93-101, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2014.09.010.
Boneh, Y., Chang, J.C., Lockner, D.A., and Reches, Z., 2014, Evolution of Wear and Friction Along Experimental Faults: Pure and Applied Geophysics, v. 171, p. 3125-3141, doi: 10.1007/s00024-014-0801-3.
Chang, J.C., Lockner, D.A., and Reches, Z., 2012, Rapid Acceleration Leads to Rapid Weakening in Earthquake-Like Laboratory Experiments: Science, v. 338, p. 101-105, doi: 10.1126/science.1221195.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.