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
U.S. Geological Survey magnetometer network and measurement techniques in Western U.S.A.
Local magnetic field measurements and fault creep observations on the San Andreas fault
Dislocation modeling of creep-related tilt changes
Preliminary results from comparisons of redundant tiltmeters at three sites in central california
Preliminary summary of tiltmeter data from selected tiltmeter sites along the San Andreas Fault, California
Catalog of locations of U.S.G.S. instruments recording low-frequency data in California
Local magnetic field measurements, fault creep observations and local earthquakes on the San Andreas fault
Continuous tilt, strain, and magnetic field measurements near four earthquakes (ML = 3.6 to 3.8) on the San Andreas fault, California
A multi-channel digital telemetry system for low frequency geophysical data
USGS tiltmeter networks: operation and maintenance
A magnetic method for determining the geometry of hydraulic fractures
On simultaneous tilt and creep observations on the San Andreas Fault
Science and Products
U.S. Geological Survey magnetometer network and measurement techniques in Western U.S.A.
Local magnetic field measurements and fault creep observations on the San Andreas fault
Dislocation modeling of creep-related tilt changes
Preliminary results from comparisons of redundant tiltmeters at three sites in central california
Preliminary summary of tiltmeter data from selected tiltmeter sites along the San Andreas Fault, California
Catalog of locations of U.S.G.S. instruments recording low-frequency data in California
Local magnetic field measurements, fault creep observations and local earthquakes on the San Andreas fault
Continuous tilt, strain, and magnetic field measurements near four earthquakes (ML = 3.6 to 3.8) on the San Andreas fault, California
A multi-channel digital telemetry system for low frequency geophysical data
USGS tiltmeter networks: operation and maintenance
A magnetic method for determining the geometry of hydraulic fractures
On simultaneous tilt and creep observations on the San Andreas Fault
*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