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
Large-scale magnetic field perturbation arising from the 18 May 1980 eruption from Mount St. Helens, Washington
Review of magnetic and electric field effects near active faults and volcanoes in the U.S.A.
On the use of volumetric strain meters to infer additional characteristics of short-period seismic radiation
A broad-band, wide-dynamic range, strong-motion array near Parkheld, California, USA for measurement of acceleration and volumetric strain
The 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, California
Fault failure with moderate earthquakes
Seismomagnetic observation during the 8 July 1986 magnitude 5.9 North Palm Springs earthquake
Short-period strain (0.1–105 s): Near-source strain field for an earthquake (ML 3.2) near San Juan Bautista, California
Local magnetic fields, uplift, gravity, and dilational strain changes in Southern California ( USA).
A general earthquake-observation system (GEOS)
A mechanism to explain the generation of earthquake lights
Geomagnetic Workshop
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 63
Large-scale magnetic field perturbation arising from the 18 May 1980 eruption from Mount St. Helens, Washington
A traveling magnetic field disturbance generated by the 18 may 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens at 1532 UT was detected on an 800-km linear array of recording magnetometers installed along the San Andreas fault system in California, from San Francisco to the Salton Sea. Arrival times of the disturbance field, from the most northern of these 24 magnetometers (996 km south of the volcano) to the moAuthorsR.J. Mueller, M.J.S. JohnstonByReview of magnetic and electric field effects near active faults and volcanoes in the U.S.A.
Synchronized measurements of geomagnetic field have been recorded along 800 km of the San Andreas fault and in the Long Valley caldera since 1974, and during eruptions on Mount St. Helens since 1980. For shorter periods of time, continuous measurements of geoelectric field measurements have been made on Mount St. Helens and near the San Andreas fault where moderate seismicity and fault slip frequeAuthorsM.J.S. JohnstonOn the use of volumetric strain meters to infer additional characteristics of short-period seismic radiation
Volumetric strain meters (Sacks-Evertson design) are installed at 15 sites along the San Andreas fault system, to monitor long-term strain changes for earthquake prediction. Deployment of portable broadband, high-resolution digital recorders (GEOS) at several of the sites extends the detection band for volumetric strain to periods shorter than 5 × 10−2 sec and permits the simultaneous observationAuthorsR. D. Borcherdt, M.J.S. Johnston, G. GlassmoyerA broad-band, wide-dynamic range, strong-motion array near Parkheld, California, USA for measurement of acceleration and volumetric strain
No abstract available.AuthorsRoger D. Borcherdt, Malcolm J. S. Johnston, Thomas Noce, Gary Glassmoyer, Douglas MyrenThe 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, California
The Whittier Narrows earthquake sequence (local magnitude, ML=5.9), which caused over $358-million damage, indicates that assessments of earthquake hazards in the Los Angeles metropolitan area may be underestimated. The sequence ruptured a previously unidentified thrust fault that may be part of a large system of thrust faults that extends across the entire east-west length of the northern marginAuthorsE. Hauksson, L.M. Jones, T.L. Davis, L.K. Hutton, A. G. Brady, P.A. Reasenberg, A.J. Michael, R. F. Yerkes, Pat Williams, G. Reagor, C. W. Stover, A.L. Bent, A.K. Shakal, E. Etheredge, R. L. Porcella, C. G. Bufe, M.J.S. Johnston, E. CranswickFault failure with moderate earthquakes
High resolution strain and tilt recordings were made in the near-field of, and prior to, the May 1983 Coalinga earthquake (ML = 6.7, ?? = 51 km), the August 4, 1985, Kettleman Hills earthquake (ML = 5.5, ?? = 34 km), the April 1984 Morgan Hill earthquake (ML = 6.1, ?? = 55 km), the November 1984 Round Valley earthquake (ML = 5.8, ?? = 54 km), the January 14, 1978, Izu, Japan earthquake (ML = 7.0,AuthorsM.J.S. Johnston, A. T. Linde, M. T. Gladwin, R. D. BorcherdtSeismomagnetic observation during the 8 July 1986 magnitude 5.9 North Palm Springs earthquake
A differentially connected array of 24 proton magnetometers has operated along the San Andreas fault since 1976. Seismomagnetic offsets of 1.2 and 0.3 nanotesla were observed at epicentral distances of 3 and 9 kilometers, respectively, after the 8 July 1986 magnitude 5.9 North Palm Springs earthquake. These seismomagnetic observations are the first obtained of this elusive but long-anticipated effAuthorsM.J.S. Johnston, R.J. MuellerShort-period strain (0.1–105 s): Near-source strain field for an earthquake (ML 3.2) near San Juan Bautista, California
Measurements of dilational earth strain in the frequency band 25–10−5 Hz have been made on a deep borehole strainmeter installed near the San Andreas fault. These data are used to determine seismic radiation fields during nuclear explosions, teleseisms, local earthquakes, and ground noise during seismically quiet times. Strains of less than 10−10 on these instruments can be clearly resolved at shoAuthorsM.J.S. Johnston, Roger D. Borcherdt, A. T. LindeLocal magnetic fields, uplift, gravity, and dilational strain changes in Southern California ( USA).
Measurements of regional magnetic field near the San Andreas fault at Cajon, Palmdale and Tejon are strongly correlated with changes in gravity, areal strain, and uplift in these regions during the period 1977-1984. Because the inferred relationships between these parameters are in approximate agreement with those obtained from simple deformation models, the preferred explanation appeals to short-AuthorsM.J.S. JohnstonA general earthquake-observation system (GEOS)
Microprocessor technology has permitted the development of a General Earthquake-Observation System (GEOS) useful for most seismic applications. Central-processing-unit control via robust software of system functions that are isolated on hardware modules permits field adaptability of the system to a wide variety of active and passive seismic experiments and straightforward modification for incorporAuthorsR. D. Borcherdt, Joe B. Fletcher, E.G. Jensen, G.L. Maxwell, J.R. VanSchaack, R.E. Warrick, E. Cranswick, M.J.S. Johnston, R. McClearnA mechanism to explain the generation of earthquake lights
Explanations of how earthquake lights might arise have failed to show how large charge densities can be concentrated and sustained in a conductive Earth. A physical model is proposed, based on frictional heating of the fault, that solves this and related problems. ?? 1983 Nature Publishing Group.AuthorsD. A. Lockner, M.J.S. Johnston, J. D. ByerleeGeomagnetic Workshop
A workshop on geomagnetism, sponsored by the Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, was held in the Denver West Office Complex in Golden, Colorado, April 13–15, 1982. There were 90 registered participants from government agencies, academic institutions, and industry.This effort stemmed from the realization that geomagnetism, once a small but coherent discipline, has now expanded into numAuthorsJohn M. DeNoyer, J.C. Cain, S. Banerjee, E.R. Benton, Richard J. Blakely, Robert S. Coe, C.G.A. Harrison, Malcolm J. S. Johnston, R.D. Regan
*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