Malcolm J. S. Johnston
The focus of my research has been on the mechanics of failure of active faults and volcanoes.
My research focuses on the physical processes occurring prior to, during, and following earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and their implications in observations of ground displacement, strain, tilt, electric and magnetic fields using data from state-of-the-art borehole instrumentation. These data show the details of aseismic fault failure, preseismic, coseismic and postseismic deformation, earthquake nucleation, volcanic deformation and volcanic processes. Theoretical modeling of these processes suggests testable physical explanations in term of physics of failure, the role of fluids in the crust, strain redistribution, and likely properties of fault zone materials. Very near-field data on slow slip, earthquakes and dynamic rupture were obtained in fault zones at 3.6 km depth in South Africa, a few 10’s of meters from earthquakes from M=-4.5 to M=2.
Professional Experience
Research Geophysicist Emeritus - U.S. Geological Survey
1970-1972: Assistant Professor, Dept. Geology and Mineralogy, University of Michigan
1972: Visiting Lecturer (Assist Prof.), Department of Physics, University of Newcastle, England
1991-1996: Consulting Professor, Dept. of Geophysics, Stanford University
1983-Visiting Professor, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
1972-2013: Project Chief/Research Geophysicist U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
1979–1999: Visiting Scientist, US/China Exchange Program, Continuous Magnetic Field and Geodetic Arrays Along Active Faults in Yunnan and Near Beijing, China
2002: Visiting Scientist, Hawaii Volcano Observatory
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. (1970) Geophysics/Physics, University of Queensland, Australia
B.Sc(Hons) (1967) Physics/Geophysics, University of Queensland, Australia
B.Sc. (1965) Physics, University of Queensland, Australia
Affiliations and Memberships*
2001-present: Co-chairman and Executive Committee of International Union of Geology and Geophysics (IUGG) Working Group on Electromagnetic Studies of Earthquakes and Volcanoes (EMSEV)
1996 - Fellow, Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS), University of Tokyo
Science and Products
Recordings of the 2004 Parkfield earthquake on the General Earthquake Observation System array: Implications for earthquake precursors, fault rupture, and coseismic strain changes
Direct test of static stress versus dynamic stress triggering of aftershocks
Continuous borehole strain and pore pressure in the near field of the 28 September 2004 M 6.0 Parkfield, California, earthquake: Implications for nucleation, fault response, earthquake prediction and tremor
Seismomagnetic effects from the long-awaited 28 September 2004 M 6.0 parkfield earthquake
Implications for prediction and hazard assessment from the 2004 Parkfield earthquake
Preliminary report on the 28 September 2004, M 6.0 Parkfield, California earthquake
Triggered deformation and seismic activity under Mammoth Mountain in Long Valley caldera by the 3 November 2002 Mw 7.9 Denali fault earthquake
Remotely triggered seismicity on the United States west coast following the Mw 7.9 Denali fault earthquake
Groundwater level changes in a deep well in response to a magma intrusion event on Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i
36 - Implications of crustal strain during conventional, slow, and silent earthquakes
38 - Electromagnetic fields generated by earthquakes
Very-long-period volcanic earthquakes beneath Mammoth Mountain, California
Science and Products
Recordings of the 2004 Parkfield earthquake on the General Earthquake Observation System array: Implications for earthquake precursors, fault rupture, and coseismic strain changes
Direct test of static stress versus dynamic stress triggering of aftershocks
Continuous borehole strain and pore pressure in the near field of the 28 September 2004 M 6.0 Parkfield, California, earthquake: Implications for nucleation, fault response, earthquake prediction and tremor
Seismomagnetic effects from the long-awaited 28 September 2004 M 6.0 parkfield earthquake
Implications for prediction and hazard assessment from the 2004 Parkfield earthquake
Preliminary report on the 28 September 2004, M 6.0 Parkfield, California earthquake
Triggered deformation and seismic activity under Mammoth Mountain in Long Valley caldera by the 3 November 2002 Mw 7.9 Denali fault earthquake
Remotely triggered seismicity on the United States west coast following the Mw 7.9 Denali fault earthquake
Groundwater level changes in a deep well in response to a magma intrusion event on Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i
36 - Implications of crustal strain during conventional, slow, and silent earthquakes
38 - Electromagnetic fields generated by earthquakes
Very-long-period volcanic earthquakes beneath Mammoth Mountain, California
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government