USGS installed an array of seismometers in a field in Gaziantep, Turkiye in order to record ambient noise and earthquakes, including the aftershocks of the devastating earthquakes of 2023. Robert Sickler of the USGS in the foreground and an AFAD employee in the background.
Rufus D Catchings, PhD
Rufus Catchings is a seismologist working on
• Earthquake hazards
• Hydrogeology
• Regional imaging of resources
• Induced seismicity
Dr. Catchings’ scientific interests include seismic evaluation of the subsurface, particularly as it relates to earthquake and other hazards, groundwater and other resources, and tectonics. Catchings also develops seismic methodologies. He has conducted numerous studies and served as advisor for more than 60 local, state, federal, and international government agencies, and private organizations. He has served as research advisor for 15 M.S. and Ph.D. students. Catchings has more than 430 published works, including journal articles, reports, conference papers, and abstracts.
Dr. Catchings has been a Research Geophysicst at USGS since 1981. He served as Chief Scientist for the Earthquake Hazards Team, 2005–2008.
Awards
- Bromery Award, Geological Society of America, 2018
- Superior Service Award, U.S. Department of the Interior, 2000
- Special Act Award, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1990, 2006
- Fellow, Geological Society of America, 1997
Education
- Stanford University, PhD Geophysics, 1987
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, MS Geophysics, 1983
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Geophysics, 1980
- Appalachian State University, BS Geophysics, 1979
External Research Database
ResearchGate
Science and Products
Crustal Characterization
High-resolution seismic data acquired at two seismic recording stations (BK.LIND and BK.KARE) in San Joaquin Valley, California
High-resolution active-source seismic data acquired near strong-motion recording stations (NSMP 1849 and NSMP 1870) at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Menlo Park, San Mateo County, California
Nodal Seismometer Recordings of Aftershocks of the 5 December 2024 M 7.0 Offshore Cape Mendocino, California Earthquake
High-resolution seismic data from the Frijoles Fault of the San Gregorio Fault zone, Año Nuevo, California
Three-component nodal recordings of aftershocks from the 15 May 2020 Mw 6.5 Monte Cristo, Nevada earthquake
High-resolution seismic imaging data acquired in 2021 across a trace of the San Andreas Fault at Mee Ranch, Monterey County, California
High-resolution seismic imaging data acquired in 2021 across the West Winters Fault, Great Valley Fault System at Bigelow Hills, Yolo County, California
High-resolution seismic data acquired near seismic station CE.57213 in Fremont, California
High-resolution seismic data acquired at northern Ano Nuevo, California
High-resolution seismic data acquired at six Southern California Seismic Network (SCSN) recording stations in 2017
High-resolution seismic data acquired at six seismic network recording stations in San Bernardino County, California in 2019
Data Release for a 2020 High-Resolution Seismic Survey across Northeastern Edwards Air Force Base, Kern County, California
USGS installed an array of seismometers in a field in Gaziantep, Turkiye in order to record ambient noise and earthquakes, including the aftershocks of the devastating earthquakes of 2023. Robert Sickler of the USGS in the foreground and an AFAD employee in the background.
USGS geophysicist Dr. Rufus Catchings, brings insights to the importance of diversity and perseverance in the earth science field.
USGS geophysicist Dr. Rufus Catchings, brings insights to the importance of diversity and perseverance in the earth science field.
Upper crustal seismic velocity structure of the Hayward fault zone, San Francisco Bay, California, USA: Results from the 2016 East Bay Seismic Experiment (EBSI-16)
Evaluation of 2-D shear-wave velocity models and VS30at six strong-motion recording stations in southern California using multichannel analysis of surface waves and refraction tomography
Seismic images and subsurface structures of northeastern Edwards Air Force Base, Kern County, California
Evidence of active Quaternary deformation on the Great Valley fault system near Winters, northern California
Detailed traveltime tomography and seismic catalog around the 2019 Mw7.1 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake using dense rapid-response seismic data
Nodal seismograph recordings of the 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
San Andreas fault exploration using refraction tomography and S-wave-type and Fϕ-mode guided waves
2018 U.S. Geological Survey–California Geological Survey fault-imaging surveys across the Hollywood and Santa Monica Faults, Los Angeles County, California
Science plan for improving three-dimensional seismic velocity models in the San Francisco Bay region, 2019–24
Mechanics of near-field deformation during co- and post-seismic shallow fault slip
Rupture branching structure of the 2014 Mw 6.0 South Napa, California earthquake inferred from explosion-generated fault-zone trapped waves
Two-dimensional seismic velocities and structural variations at three British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) dam sites, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Crustal Characterization
High-resolution seismic data acquired at two seismic recording stations (BK.LIND and BK.KARE) in San Joaquin Valley, California
High-resolution active-source seismic data acquired near strong-motion recording stations (NSMP 1849 and NSMP 1870) at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Menlo Park, San Mateo County, California
Nodal Seismometer Recordings of Aftershocks of the 5 December 2024 M 7.0 Offshore Cape Mendocino, California Earthquake
High-resolution seismic data from the Frijoles Fault of the San Gregorio Fault zone, Año Nuevo, California
Three-component nodal recordings of aftershocks from the 15 May 2020 Mw 6.5 Monte Cristo, Nevada earthquake
High-resolution seismic imaging data acquired in 2021 across a trace of the San Andreas Fault at Mee Ranch, Monterey County, California
High-resolution seismic imaging data acquired in 2021 across the West Winters Fault, Great Valley Fault System at Bigelow Hills, Yolo County, California
High-resolution seismic data acquired near seismic station CE.57213 in Fremont, California
High-resolution seismic data acquired at northern Ano Nuevo, California
High-resolution seismic data acquired at six Southern California Seismic Network (SCSN) recording stations in 2017
High-resolution seismic data acquired at six seismic network recording stations in San Bernardino County, California in 2019
Data Release for a 2020 High-Resolution Seismic Survey across Northeastern Edwards Air Force Base, Kern County, California
USGS installed an array of seismometers in a field in Gaziantep, Turkiye in order to record ambient noise and earthquakes, including the aftershocks of the devastating earthquakes of 2023. Robert Sickler of the USGS in the foreground and an AFAD employee in the background.
USGS installed an array of seismometers in a field in Gaziantep, Turkiye in order to record ambient noise and earthquakes, including the aftershocks of the devastating earthquakes of 2023. Robert Sickler of the USGS in the foreground and an AFAD employee in the background.
USGS geophysicist Dr. Rufus Catchings, brings insights to the importance of diversity and perseverance in the earth science field.
USGS geophysicist Dr. Rufus Catchings, brings insights to the importance of diversity and perseverance in the earth science field.
Upper crustal seismic velocity structure of the Hayward fault zone, San Francisco Bay, California, USA: Results from the 2016 East Bay Seismic Experiment (EBSI-16)
Evaluation of 2-D shear-wave velocity models and VS30at six strong-motion recording stations in southern California using multichannel analysis of surface waves and refraction tomography
Seismic images and subsurface structures of northeastern Edwards Air Force Base, Kern County, California
Evidence of active Quaternary deformation on the Great Valley fault system near Winters, northern California
Detailed traveltime tomography and seismic catalog around the 2019 Mw7.1 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake using dense rapid-response seismic data
Nodal seismograph recordings of the 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
San Andreas fault exploration using refraction tomography and S-wave-type and Fϕ-mode guided waves
2018 U.S. Geological Survey–California Geological Survey fault-imaging surveys across the Hollywood and Santa Monica Faults, Los Angeles County, California
Science plan for improving three-dimensional seismic velocity models in the San Francisco Bay region, 2019–24
Mechanics of near-field deformation during co- and post-seismic shallow fault slip
Rupture branching structure of the 2014 Mw 6.0 South Napa, California earthquake inferred from explosion-generated fault-zone trapped waves
Two-dimensional seismic velocities and structural variations at three British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) dam sites, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.