I am a volcano seismologist with the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program. My research interest include earthquake location methods, seismic tomography, earthquake source mechanisms, volcano seismology, and eruption forecasting.
Professional Experience
Senior Geophysicist, Spectraseis Inc. (Denver, CO), March 2013 – June 2015
Assistant Scientist, University of Wisconsin-Madison, July 2011- February 2013
Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison, September 2009-June 2011
Geoscience Intern, ExxonMobil Exploration Company (Houston, TX), June 2005-August 2005
Staff Scientist, CBM Environmental Services (Charlotte, NC), August 2003-June 2004
Education and Certifications
PhD, Geophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, August 2009
MS, Geophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, August 2006
BS, Geology, cum laude, honors, University of North Carolina Wilmington, May 2003
BA, Physics, cum laude, University of North Carolina Wilmington, May 2003
Science and Products
Indicators of volcanic eruptions revealed by global M4+ earthquakes
Determining whether seismicity near volcanoes is due primarily to tectonic or magmatic processes is a challenging but critical endeavor for volcanic eruption forecasting and detection, especially at poorly monitored volcanoes. Global statistics on the occurrence and timing of earthquakes near volcanoes both within and outside of eruptive periods reveal patterns in eruptive seismicity that may impr
Relocated aftershocks and background seismicity in eastern Indonesia shed light on the 2018 Lombok and Palu earthquake sequences
High seismicity rates in eastern Indonesia occur due to the complex interaction of several tectonic plates which resulted in two deadly, destructive earthquake sequences that occurred in Lombok Island and the city of Palu, Sulawesi in 2018. The first sequence began in July with an Mw 6.4 event near Lombok, culminating in an Mw 7.0 event 8 d later. This was then followed by a nearby Mw 6.9 event 12
High rates of inflation during a noneruptive episode of seismic unrest at Semisopochnoi Volcano, Alaska in 2014–2015
Magma intrusion rate is a key parameter in eruption triggering but is poorly quantified in existing geodetic studies. Here we examine two episodes of rapid inflation in this context. Two noneruptive microseismic swarms were recorded at Semisopochnoi Volcano, Alaska in 2014–2015. We use differential SAR techniques and TerraSAR‐X images to document surface deformation from 2011 to 2015, which compri
The 2017-19 activity at Mount Agung in Bali (Indonesia): Intense unrest, monitoring, crisis response, evacuation, and eruption
After 53 years of quiescence, Mount Agung awoke in August 2017, with intense seismicity, measurable ground deformation, and thermal anomalies in the summit crater. Although the seismic unrest peaked in late September and early October, the volcano did not start erupting until 21 November. The most intense explosive eruptions with accompanying rapid lava effusion occurred between 25 and 29 November
Prevalence of seismic rate anomalies preceding volcanic eruptions in Alaska
Seismic rate increases often precede eruptions at volcanoes worldwide. However, many eruptions occur without such precursors. Additionally, identifying seismic rate increases near volcanoes with high levels of background seismicity is non-trivial and many periods of elevated seismicity occur without ensuing eruptions, limiting their usefulness for forecasting in some cases. Although these issues a
Hypocenter relocation along the Sunda arc in Indonesia, using a 3D seismic velocity model
The tectonics of the Sunda arc region is characterized by the junction of the Eurasian and Indo‐Australian tectonic plates, causing complex dynamics to take place. High‐seismicity rates in the Indonesian region occur due to the interaction between these tectonic plates. The availability of a denser network of seismometers after the earthquakes of Mw 9.1 in 2004 and Mw 8.6 in 2005 supports various
Dense surface seismic data confirm non-double-couple source mechanisms induced by hydraulic fracturing
We have determined source mechanisms for nine high-quality microseismic events induced during hydraulic fracturing of the Montney Shale in Canada. Seismic data were recorded using a dense regularly spaced grid of sensors at the surface. The design and geometry of the survey are such that the recorded P-wave amplitudes essentially map the upper focal hemisphere, allowing the source mechanism to be
Seismicity and seismic structure at Okmok Volcano, Alaska
Okmok volcano is an active volcanic caldera located on the northeastern portion of Umnak Island in the Aleutian arc, with recent eruptions in 1997 and 2008. The Okmok area had ~900 locatable earthquakes between 2003 and June 2008, and an additional ~600 earthquakes from the beginning of the 2008 eruption to mid 2009, providing an adequate dataset for seismic tomography. To image the seismic veloci
Determination and uncertainty of moment tensors for microearthquakes at Okmok Volcano, Alaska
Efforts to determine general moment tensors (MTs) for microearthquakes in volcanic areas are often hampered by small seismic networks, which can lead to poorly constrained hypocentres and inadequate modelling of seismic velocity heterogeneity. In addition, noisy seismic signals can make it difficult to identify phase arrivals correctly for small magnitude events. However, small volcanic earthquake
High precision relocation of earthquakes at Iliamna Volcano, Alaska
In August 1996, a period of elevated seismicity commenced beneath Iliamna Volcano, Alaska. This activity lasted until early 1997, consisted of over 3000 earthquakes, and was accompanied by elevated emissions of volcanic gases. No eruption occurred and seismicity returned to background levels where it has remained since. We use waveform alignment with bispectrum-verified cross-correlation and doubl
Three-dimensional P-wave velocity structure and precise earthquake relocation at Great Sitkin Volcano, Alaska
Waveform cross-correlation with bispectrum verification is combined with double-difference tomography to increase the precision of earthquake locations and constrain regional 3D P-wave velocity heterogeneity at Great Sitkin volcano, Alaska. From 1999 through 2005, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) recorded ∼1700 earthquakes in the vicinity of Great Sitkin, including two ML 4.3 earthquakes that
Pre-USGS Publications
Pesicek, J., D. Child, B. Artman, and K. Cieślik (2014), Picking versus stacking in a modern microearthquake location: Comparison of results from a surface passive seismic monitoring array in Oklahoma, Geophysics, 79 (6), KS61–KS68.
Pesicek, J. D., H. Zhang, and C. H. Thurber (2014), Multi-scale seismic tomography and earthquake relocation incorporating differential time data: application to the Maule subduction zone, Chile, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 104(2).
*Bisrat, S. T., H. R. DeShon, J. Pesicek, and C. Thurber (2014), High-resolution 3-D P wave attenuation structure of the New Madrid Seismic Zone using local earthquake tomography, Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, 119, 409–424. *student author
Pesicek, J. D., E. R. Engdahl, C. H. Thurber, H. R. DeShon, and D. Lange (2012), Mantle subducting slab structure in the region of the 2010 M 8.8 Maule earthquake (30 - 40°S), Chile, Geophysical Journal International, 191(1), 317-324.
Widiyantoro S., J. D. Pesicek, and C. H. Thurber (2011), Complex structure of the lithospheric slab beneath the Banda arc, eastern Indonesia depicted by a new tomographic model, Research in Geophysics 1(1e) 1-6.
Widiyantoro S., J. D. Pesicek, and C. H. Thurber (2011), Subducting slab structure below the eastern Sunda arc inferred from non-linear seismic tomographic imaging, R. Hall, M. Cottam, and M. Wilson (eds.), The SE Asian gateway: history and tectonics of Australia-Asia collision, Geological Society of London Special Publication, 355, 139-155.
Pesicek, J. D., C. H. Thurber, H. Zhang, H. R. DeShon, E. R. Engdahl, and S. Widiyantoro, (2010) Teleseismic double-difference relocation of earthquakes along the Sumatra-Andaman subduction zone using a three-dimensional model, Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, B10303, doi:10.1029/2010JB007443.
Pesicek, J. D., C. H. Thurber, S. Widiyantoro, H. R. DeShon, E. R. Engdahl, and H. Zhang (2010), Sharpening the tomographic image of the subducting slab below Sumatra, the Andaman Islands, and Burma, Geophysical Journal International, 181(4), doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2010.04630.x.
Pesicek, J., C. Thurber, S. Widiyantoro, E. R. Engdahl, and H. DeShon (2008), Complex slab subduction beneath northern Sumatra, Geophysical Research Letters, 35, L20303, doi:10.1029/2008GL035262.
Science and Products
- Publications
Indicators of volcanic eruptions revealed by global M4+ earthquakes
Determining whether seismicity near volcanoes is due primarily to tectonic or magmatic processes is a challenging but critical endeavor for volcanic eruption forecasting and detection, especially at poorly monitored volcanoes. Global statistics on the occurrence and timing of earthquakes near volcanoes both within and outside of eruptive periods reveal patterns in eruptive seismicity that may imprRelocated aftershocks and background seismicity in eastern Indonesia shed light on the 2018 Lombok and Palu earthquake sequences
High seismicity rates in eastern Indonesia occur due to the complex interaction of several tectonic plates which resulted in two deadly, destructive earthquake sequences that occurred in Lombok Island and the city of Palu, Sulawesi in 2018. The first sequence began in July with an Mw 6.4 event near Lombok, culminating in an Mw 7.0 event 8 d later. This was then followed by a nearby Mw 6.9 event 12High rates of inflation during a noneruptive episode of seismic unrest at Semisopochnoi Volcano, Alaska in 2014–2015
Magma intrusion rate is a key parameter in eruption triggering but is poorly quantified in existing geodetic studies. Here we examine two episodes of rapid inflation in this context. Two noneruptive microseismic swarms were recorded at Semisopochnoi Volcano, Alaska in 2014–2015. We use differential SAR techniques and TerraSAR‐X images to document surface deformation from 2011 to 2015, which compriThe 2017-19 activity at Mount Agung in Bali (Indonesia): Intense unrest, monitoring, crisis response, evacuation, and eruption
After 53 years of quiescence, Mount Agung awoke in August 2017, with intense seismicity, measurable ground deformation, and thermal anomalies in the summit crater. Although the seismic unrest peaked in late September and early October, the volcano did not start erupting until 21 November. The most intense explosive eruptions with accompanying rapid lava effusion occurred between 25 and 29 NovemberPrevalence of seismic rate anomalies preceding volcanic eruptions in Alaska
Seismic rate increases often precede eruptions at volcanoes worldwide. However, many eruptions occur without such precursors. Additionally, identifying seismic rate increases near volcanoes with high levels of background seismicity is non-trivial and many periods of elevated seismicity occur without ensuing eruptions, limiting their usefulness for forecasting in some cases. Although these issues aHypocenter relocation along the Sunda arc in Indonesia, using a 3D seismic velocity model
The tectonics of the Sunda arc region is characterized by the junction of the Eurasian and Indo‐Australian tectonic plates, causing complex dynamics to take place. High‐seismicity rates in the Indonesian region occur due to the interaction between these tectonic plates. The availability of a denser network of seismometers after the earthquakes of Mw 9.1 in 2004 and Mw 8.6 in 2005 supports variousDense surface seismic data confirm non-double-couple source mechanisms induced by hydraulic fracturing
We have determined source mechanisms for nine high-quality microseismic events induced during hydraulic fracturing of the Montney Shale in Canada. Seismic data were recorded using a dense regularly spaced grid of sensors at the surface. The design and geometry of the survey are such that the recorded P-wave amplitudes essentially map the upper focal hemisphere, allowing the source mechanism to beSeismicity and seismic structure at Okmok Volcano, Alaska
Okmok volcano is an active volcanic caldera located on the northeastern portion of Umnak Island in the Aleutian arc, with recent eruptions in 1997 and 2008. The Okmok area had ~900 locatable earthquakes between 2003 and June 2008, and an additional ~600 earthquakes from the beginning of the 2008 eruption to mid 2009, providing an adequate dataset for seismic tomography. To image the seismic velociDetermination and uncertainty of moment tensors for microearthquakes at Okmok Volcano, Alaska
Efforts to determine general moment tensors (MTs) for microearthquakes in volcanic areas are often hampered by small seismic networks, which can lead to poorly constrained hypocentres and inadequate modelling of seismic velocity heterogeneity. In addition, noisy seismic signals can make it difficult to identify phase arrivals correctly for small magnitude events. However, small volcanic earthquakeHigh precision relocation of earthquakes at Iliamna Volcano, Alaska
In August 1996, a period of elevated seismicity commenced beneath Iliamna Volcano, Alaska. This activity lasted until early 1997, consisted of over 3000 earthquakes, and was accompanied by elevated emissions of volcanic gases. No eruption occurred and seismicity returned to background levels where it has remained since. We use waveform alignment with bispectrum-verified cross-correlation and doublThree-dimensional P-wave velocity structure and precise earthquake relocation at Great Sitkin Volcano, Alaska
Waveform cross-correlation with bispectrum verification is combined with double-difference tomography to increase the precision of earthquake locations and constrain regional 3D P-wave velocity heterogeneity at Great Sitkin volcano, Alaska. From 1999 through 2005, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) recorded ∼1700 earthquakes in the vicinity of Great Sitkin, including two ML 4.3 earthquakes thatPre-USGS Publications
Pesicek, J., D. Child, B. Artman, and K. Cieślik (2014), Picking versus stacking in a modern microearthquake location: Comparison of results from a surface passive seismic monitoring array in Oklahoma, Geophysics, 79 (6), KS61–KS68.Pesicek, J. D., H. Zhang, and C. H. Thurber (2014), Multi-scale seismic tomography and earthquake relocation incorporating differential time data: application to the Maule subduction zone, Chile, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 104(2).*Bisrat, S. T., H. R. DeShon, J. Pesicek, and C. Thurber (2014), High-resolution 3-D P wave attenuation structure of the New Madrid Seismic Zone using local earthquake tomography, Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, 119, 409–424. *student authorPesicek, J. D., E. R. Engdahl, C. H. Thurber, H. R. DeShon, and D. Lange (2012), Mantle subducting slab structure in the region of the 2010 M 8.8 Maule earthquake (30 - 40°S), Chile, Geophysical Journal International, 191(1), 317-324.Widiyantoro S., J. D. Pesicek, and C. H. Thurber (2011), Complex structure of the lithospheric slab beneath the Banda arc, eastern Indonesia depicted by a new tomographic model, Research in Geophysics 1(1e) 1-6.Widiyantoro S., J. D. Pesicek, and C. H. Thurber (2011), Subducting slab structure below the eastern Sunda arc inferred from non-linear seismic tomographic imaging, R. Hall, M. Cottam, and M. Wilson (eds.), The SE Asian gateway: history and tectonics of Australia-Asia collision, Geological Society of London Special Publication, 355, 139-155.Pesicek, J. D., C. H. Thurber, H. Zhang, H. R. DeShon, E. R. Engdahl, and S. Widiyantoro, (2010) Teleseismic double-difference relocation of earthquakes along the Sumatra-Andaman subduction zone using a three-dimensional model, Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, B10303, doi:10.1029/2010JB007443.Pesicek, J. D., C. H. Thurber, S. Widiyantoro, H. R. DeShon, E. R. Engdahl, and H. Zhang (2010), Sharpening the tomographic image of the subducting slab below Sumatra, the Andaman Islands, and Burma, Geophysical Journal International, 181(4), doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2010.04630.x.Pesicek, J., C. Thurber, S. Widiyantoro, E. R. Engdahl, and H. DeShon (2008), Complex slab subduction beneath northern Sumatra, Geophysical Research Letters, 35, L20303, doi:10.1029/2008GL035262.