Ray Wells
Ray Wells is a research geologist in the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He is a structural geologist investigating the tectonic and volcanic evolution of the Pacific Northwest.
Ray Wells received his B.S. in Geological Science from Penn State, his M.S. from University of Oregon, and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has 45 years of field experience documenting the geologic structure and earthquake hazards of the Cascadia convergent margin in Oregon and Washington, focusing primarily on the Coast Range, Seattle - Portland urban corridor, and the Columbia River Gorge.
Professional Experience
2020-current, Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey
2017-Research Associate, Portland State University, Portland, OR
2016-Research Geologist Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey
1995-2013 Project Chief, Pacific Northwest Urban Corridor Geologic Mapping, USGS, Menlo Park, CA
1991-1996 Cascadia Regional Coordinator - USGS Deep Continental Surveys
1981-2016 Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey
1980 Geologist, Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources
1978-1980 Research Assistant, University of California, Santa Cruz
1976-1977 Teaching Assistant, University of California, Santa Cruz
1975-1976 Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey
1974 Geological Field Assistant, Mobil Oil Corp., Tyee Basin
1972-1974 Teaching Assistant, University of Oregon
1971 Geological Field Assistant, Johns-Mannville Ltd, Stillwater Complex
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Geology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1982
M.S., Geology, University of Oregon, 1975
B.S., Geology, Art, Pennsylvania State University, 1972
Affiliations and Memberships*
1977 - Current, American Geophysical Union
1974 - Current, Geological Society of America
1990 - Current, Seismological Society of America
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
Bureau of Reclamation
Portland State University
Honors and Awards
Distinguished Service Award of the Department of the Interior
2017 Geological Society of America’s Geologic Mapping Award in honor of Florence Bascom
Science and Products
Utility of aeromagnetic studies for mapping of potentially active faults in two forearc basins: Puget Sound, Washington, and Cook Inlet, Alaska
Crustal structure of the Cascadia fore arc of Washington
Subduction-zone magnetic anomalies and implications for hydrated forearc mantle
Paleomagnetic quantification of upper-plate deformation during Miocene detachment faulting in the Mohave Mountains, Arizona
Crustal structure and earthquake hazards of the subduction zone in southwestern British Columbia and western Washington
The Loma Prieta, California, Earthquake of October 17, 1989 - Geologic setting and crustal structure
Lifelines and Earthquake Hazards in the Interstate 5 Urban Corridor: Cottage Grove to Woodburn, Oregon
The Cottage Lake aeromagnetic lineament: A possible onshore extension of the southern Whidbey Island fault, Washington
Interpretation of the Seattle Uplift, Washington, as a passive-roof duplex
Evidence for Late Holocene earthquakes on the Utsalady Point fault, Northern Puget Lowland, Washington
Gravity study through the Tualatin Mountains, Oregon: Understanding crustal structure and earthquake hazards in the Portland urban area
Chimney damage in the greater Seattle area from the Nisqually earthquake of 28 February 2001
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 105
Utility of aeromagnetic studies for mapping of potentially active faults in two forearc basins: Puget Sound, Washington, and Cook Inlet, Alaska
High-resolution aeromagnetic surveys over forearc basins can detect faults and folds in weakly magnetized sediments, thus providing geologic constraints on tectonic evolution and improved understanding of seismic hazards in convergent-margin settings. Puget Sound, Washington, and Cook Inlet, Alaska, provide two case histories. In each lowland region, shallow-source magnetic anomalies are related tAuthorsRichard W. Saltus, Richard J. Blakely, Peter J. Haeussler, Ray WellsCrustal structure of the Cascadia fore arc of Washington
No abstract available.AuthorsTom Parsons, Richard J. Blakely, Thomas M. Brocher, Nikolas I. Christensen, Michael A. Fisher, Ernst Flueh, Fiona Kilbride, James H. Luetgert, Kate Miller, Uri S. ten Brink, Anne M. Tréhu, Ray E. WellsSubduction-zone magnetic anomalies and implications for hydrated forearc mantle
Continental mantle in subduction zones is hydrated by release of water from the underlying oceanic plate. Magnetite is a significant byproduct of mantle hydration, and forearc mantle, cooled by subduction, should contribute to long-wavelength magnetic anomalies above subduction zones. We test this hypothesis with a quantitative model of the Cascadia convergent margin, based on gravity and aeromagnAuthorsR. J. Blakely, T. M. Brocher, R. E. WellsPaleomagnetic quantification of upper-plate deformation during Miocene detachment faulting in the Mohave Mountains, Arizona
Paleomagnetic data from Miocene (???20 Ma) volcanic rocks and dikes of west central Arizona reveal the tilt history of Proterozoic crystalline rocks in the hanging wall of the Chemehuevi-Whipple Mountains detachment fault. We obtained magnetization data from dikes and flows in two structural blocks encompassing Crossman Peak and Standard Wash in the Mohave Mountains. In the Crossman block the dikeAuthorsV. Pease, J. W. Hillhouse, R. E. WellsCrustal structure and earthquake hazards of the subduction zone in southwestern British Columbia and western Washington
No abstract available.AuthorsMichael A. Fisher, Roy D. Hyndman, Samuel Y. Johnson, Thomas M. Brocher, Robert S. Crosson, Ray E. Wells, Andrew J. Calvert, Uri S. ten BrinkThe Loma Prieta, California, Earthquake of October 17, 1989 - Geologic setting and crustal structure
Although some scientists considered the Ms=7.1 Loma Prieta, Calif., earthquake of 1989 to be an anticipated event, some aspects of the earthquake were surprising. It occurred 17 km beneath the Santa Cruz Mountains along a left-stepping restraining bend in the San Andreas fault system. Rupture on the southwest-dipping fault plane consisted of subequal amounts of right-lateral and reverse motion butAuthorsRay E. WellsLifelines and Earthquake Hazards in the Interstate 5 Urban Corridor: Cottage Grove to Woodburn, Oregon
The Interstate 5 highway corridor, stretching from Mexico to Canada, is not only the economic artery of the Pacific Northwest, but is also home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems, such as railroads and electrical transmission lines, have major components in the I-5 corridor. The section of I-5 from Cottage Grove, Oregon,AuthorsE. A. Barnett, C. S. Weaver, K. L. Meagher, Z. Wang, I. P. Madin, M. Wang, R. A. Haugerud, R. E. Wells, D. B. Ballantyne, M. DarienzoThe Cottage Lake aeromagnetic lineament: A possible onshore extension of the southern Whidbey Island fault, Washington
The northwest-striking southern Whidbey Island fault zone (SWIF) was mapped previously using borehole data and potential-field anomalies on Whidbey Island and marine seismic surveys beneath surrounding waterways. Abrupt subsidence at a coastal marsh on south-central Whidbey Island suggests that the SWIF experienced a MW 6.5 to 7.0 earthquake about 3000 years ago. Southeast of Whidbey Island, a hypAuthorsRichard J. Blakely, Brian L. Sherrod, Ray E. Wells, Craig S. Weaver, David H. McCormack, Kathy G. Troost, Ralph A. HaugerudInterpretation of the Seattle Uplift, Washington, as a passive-roof duplex
We interpret seismic lines and a wide variety of other geological and geophysical data to suggest that the Seattle uplift is a passive-roof duplex. A passive-roof duplex is bounded top and bottom by thrust faults with opposite senses of vergence that form a triangle zone at the leading edge of the advancing thrust sheet. In passive-roof duplexes the roof thrust slips only when the floor thrust rupAuthorsThomas M. Brocher, Richard J. Blakely, Ray WellsEvidence for Late Holocene earthquakes on the Utsalady Point fault, Northern Puget Lowland, Washington
Trenches across the Utsalady Point fault in the northern Puget Lowland of Washington reveal evidence of at least one and probably two late Holocene earthquakes. The "Teeka" and "Duffers" trenches were located along a 1.4-km-long, 1-to 4-m-high, northwest-trending, southwest-facing, topographic scarp recognized from Airborne Laser Swath Mapping. Glaciomarine drift exposed in the trenches reveals evAuthorsS. Y. Johnson, A. R. Nelson, S. F. Personius, R. E. Wells, H.M. Kelsey, B.L. Sherrod, K. Okumura, R. Koehler, Robert C. Witter, L. A. Bradley, D.J. HardingGravity study through the Tualatin Mountains, Oregon: Understanding crustal structure and earthquake hazards in the Portland urban area
A high-resolution gravity survey through the Tualatin Mountains (Portland Nills) west of downtown Portland exhibits evidence of faults previously identified from surface geologic and aeromagnetic mapping. The gravity survey was conducted in 1996 along the 4.5-km length of a twin-bore tunnel, then under construction and now providing light-rail service between downtown Portland and communities westAuthorsR. J. Blakely, M.H. Beeson, K. Cruikshank, R. E. Wells, Aaron H. Johnson, K. WalshChimney damage in the greater Seattle area from the Nisqually earthquake of 28 February 2001
Unreinforced brick chimneys in the greater Seattle area were damaged repeatedly in the Benioff zone earthquakes of 1949, 1965, and 2001. A survey of visible chimney damage after the 28 February 2001 Nisqually earthquake evaluated approximately 60,000 chimneys through block-by-block coverage of about 50 km2, identifying a total of 1556 damaged chimneys. Chimney damage was strongly clustered in certAuthorsD. B. Booth, R. E. Wells, R. W. Givler - Science
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*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