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
A general earthquake-observation system (GEOS)
A mechanism to explain the generation of earthquake lights
Geomagnetic Workshop
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
A general earthquake-observation system (GEOS)
A mechanism to explain the generation of earthquake lights
Geomagnetic Workshop
*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