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
Hydrogeology of the Columbia River Basalt Group in the northern Willamette Valley
Geologic Map of the Carlton Quadrangle, Yamhill County, Oregon
The Columbia River Basalt Group: from the gorge to the sea
The Portland Basin: A (big) river runs through it
Paleomagnetism of Miocene volcanic rocks in the Newberry Mountains, California: Vertical-axis rotation and a polarity transition
Fault locking, block rotation and crustal deformation in the Pacific Northwest
Oregon geology — Parent of the soil, foundation for the vine
Map showing features and displacements of the Scenic Drive landslide, La Honda, California, during the period March 31, 2005–November 5, 2006
Linking middle-school teachers to Earthscope
Lifelines and earthquake hazards along the Interstate 5 Urban Corridor: Woodburn, Oregon to Centralia, Washington
Holocene fault scarps and shallow magnetic anomalies along the southern Whidbey Island fault zone near Woodinville, Washington
Map showing features and displacements of the Scenic Drive landslide, La Honda, California, during the period March 31-May 7, 2005
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 105
Hydrogeology of the Columbia River Basalt Group in the northern Willamette Valley
No abstract available.AuthorsW Burt, Terrence D. Conlon, T.L. Tolan, R. E. Wells, J MeladyGeologic Map of the Carlton Quadrangle, Yamhill County, Oregon
The Carlton, Oregon, 7.5-minute quadrangle is located in northwestern Oregon, about 35 miles (57 km) southwest of Portland. It encompasses the towns of Yamhill and Carlton in the northwestern Willamette Valley and extends into the eastern flank of the Oregon Coast Range. The Carlton quadrangle is one of several dozen quadrangles being mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Oregon DepaAuthorsKaren L. Wheeler, Ray E. Wells, Joseph M. Minervini, Jessica L. BlockThe Columbia River Basalt Group: from the gorge to the sea
Miocene flood basalts of the Columbia River Basalt Group inundated eastern Washington, Oregon, and adjacent Idaho between 17 and 6 Ma. Some of the more voluminous flows followed the ancestral Columbia River across the Cascade arc, Puget-Willamette trough, and the Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean. We have used field mapping, chemistry, and paleomagnetic directions to trace individual flows and flowAuthorsRay E. Wells, Alan R. Niem, Russell C. Evarts, Jonathan T. HagstrumThe Portland Basin: A (big) river runs through it
Metropolitan Portland, Oregon, USA, lies within a small Neogene to Holocene basin in the forearc of the Cascadia subduction system. Although the basin owes its existence and structural development to its convergent-margin tectonic setting, the stratigraphic architecture of basin-fill deposits chiefly reflects its physiographic position along the lower reaches of the continental-scale Columbia RiveAuthorsRussell C. Evarts, Jim E. O'Connor, Ray E. Wells, Ian P. MadinByEnergy and Minerals Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Oregon Water Science CenterPaleomagnetism of Miocene volcanic rocks in the Newberry Mountains, California: Vertical-axis rotation and a polarity transition
No abstract available.AuthorsJ. W. Hillhouse, R. E. Wells, B. F. CoxFault locking, block rotation and crustal deformation in the Pacific Northwest
We interpret Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements in the northwestern United States and adjacent parts of western Canada to describe relative motions of crustal blocks, locking on faults and permanent deformation associated with convergence between the Juan de Fuca and North American plates. To estimate angular velocities of the oceanic Juan de Fuca and Explorer plates and several continenAuthorsRobert McCaffrey, Anthony I. Qamar, Robert W. King, Ray E. Wells, G. Khazaradze, C.A. Williams, C.W. Stevens, J.J. Vollick, P.C. ZwickOregon geology — Parent of the soil, foundation for the vine
This presentation describes USGS geologic mapping in western Oregon, geologic map products, a thumbnail sketch of geologic history, a discussion of new mapping in progress in northwest Oregon, a tour of northwest Oregon geologic units, their relation to new American Viticultural Areas, and online sources of information.AuthorsRay WellsMap showing features and displacements of the Scenic Drive landslide, La Honda, California, during the period March 31, 2005–November 5, 2006
The Scenic Drive landslide in La Honda, San Mateo County, California began movement during the El Niño winter of 1997-98. Recurrent motion occurred during the mild El Niño winter of 2004-2005 and again during the winter of 2005-06. This report documents the changing geometry and motion of the Scenic Drive landslide in 2005-2006, and it documents changes and persistent features that we interpret toAuthorsRay E. Wells, Michael J. Rymer, Carol S. Prentice, Karen L. WheelerLinking middle-school teachers to Earthscope
EarthScope is a multidisciplinary geophysical investigation of the structure and deformation of the North American continent. Components include a transportable array of digital seismometers (USArray) that will image the continental crust and underlying mantle, and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and strainmeters (Plate Boundary Observatory, PBO) that will measure tectonic and volcanic dAuthorsR. Butler, E. Bishop, C. Ault, B. Atwater, B. Magura, C. Hedeen, R. Blakely, Ray E. Wells, K. Shay, R. Wagner, T. Southworth-Neumeyer, D. ConnorLifelines and earthquake hazards along the Interstate 5 Urban Corridor: Woodburn, Oregon to Centralia, Washington
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, R. J. Blakely, D. B. Ballantyne, M. DarienzoHolocene fault scarps and shallow magnetic anomalies along the southern Whidbey Island fault zone near Woodinville, Washington
No abstract available.AuthorsBrian L. Sherrod, Richard J. Blakely, Craig Weaver, Harvey Kelsey, Elizabeth Barnett, Ray WellsMap showing features and displacements of the Scenic Drive landslide, La Honda, California, during the period March 31-May 7, 2005
No abstract available.AuthorsRay E. Wells, Michael J. Rymer, Carol S. Prentice, Karen L. Wheeler - 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