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
Filter Total Items: 24
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Filter Total Items: 82
High-resolution seismic images and seismic velocities of the San Andreas fault zone at Burro Flats, Southern California High-resolution seismic images and seismic velocities of the San Andreas fault zone at Burro Flats, Southern California
To better understand the structure of the San Andreas fault (SAF) at Burro Flats in southern California, we acquired a three-dimensional combined set of seismic reflection and refraction profiles centered on the main active trace at Burro Flats. In this article, we discuss the variation in shallow-depth velocities along each seismic profile, with special emphasis on the 1500 m/sec P-wave...
Authors
C. C. Tsai, Rufus D. Catchings, Mark R. Goldman, Michael J. Rymer, P. Schnurle, H. W. Chen
Structure of the San Bernardino Basin along two seismic transects: Rialto-Colton Fault to the San Andreas Fault and along the I-215 Freeway (I-10 to SR30) Structure of the San Bernardino Basin along two seismic transects: Rialto-Colton Fault to the San Andreas Fault and along the I-215 Freeway (I-10 to SR30)
In this report, we present seismic data and acquisition parameters for two seismic profiles acquired in the San Bernardino, California area in May and October 2003. We refer to these seismic profiles as the San Bernardino Regional (SBR) and San Bernardino High-Resolution (SBHR) seismic profiles. We present both un-interpreted and interpreted seismic images so that the structure of the...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, M. J. Rymer, M. R. Goldman, G. Gandhok, C. E. Steedman
Near-surface location, geometry, and velocities of the Santa Monica Fault Zone, Los Angeles, California Near-surface location, geometry, and velocities of the Santa Monica Fault Zone, Los Angeles, California
High-resolution seismic-reflection and seismic-refraction imaging, combined with existing borehole, earthquake, and paleoseismic trenching data, suggest that the Santa Monica fault zone in Los Angeles consists of multiple strands from several kilometers depth to the near surface. We interpret our seismic data as showing two shallow-depth low-angle fault strands and multiple near-vertical...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, G. Gandhok, M. R. Goldman, D. Okaya, M. J. Rymer, G.W. Bawden
Anatomy of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure revealed by seismic imaging, Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia, USA Anatomy of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure revealed by seismic imaging, Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia, USA
A 30-km-long, radial seismic reflection and refraction survey completed across the northern part of the late Eocene Chesapeake Bay impact structure (CBIS) on the Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia, USA, confirms that the CBIS is a complex central-peak crater. We used a tomographic P wave velocity model and low-fold reflection images, constrained by data from two deep boreholes located on the...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, D.S. Powars, G. S. Gohn, J. Wright Horton, M. R. Goldman, J.A. Hole
Q for P waves in the sediments of the Virginia Coastal Plain Q for P waves in the sediments of the Virginia Coastal Plain
The seismic quality factor Q for P waves in Atlantic Coastal Plain sediments is estimated using data from the 2004 U.S. Geological Survey seismic survey in eastern Virginia. The estimates are based on spectral ratios derived from reflections and sediment-guided P waves in Late Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments within the annular trough of the Late Eocene Chesapeake Bay impact structure...
Authors
M.C. Chapman, J.N. Beale, R. D. Catchings
Seismic-reflection images of the crust beneath the 2001 M = 7.7 Kutch (Bhuj) epicentral region, western India Seismic-reflection images of the crust beneath the 2001 M = 7.7 Kutch (Bhuj) epicentral region, western India
Three short (∼35 km) seismic-reflection profiles are presented from the region of the 2001 Mw = 7.7 Bhuj (western India) earthquake. These profiles image a 35–45-km-thick crust with strong, near-horizontal reflections at all depths. The thickness of the crust increases by 10 km over a distance of ∼50 km from the northern margin of the Gulf of Kutch to the earthquake epicenter...
Authors
Dipankar Sarkar, K. Sain, P.R. Reddy, Rufus D. Catchings, Walter D. Mooney
Structure and Velocities of the Northeastern Santa Cruz Mountains and the Western Santa Clara Valley, California, from the SCSI-LR Seismic Survey Structure and Velocities of the Northeastern Santa Cruz Mountains and the Western Santa Clara Valley, California, from the SCSI-LR Seismic Survey
Introduction: The Santa Clara Valley is located in the southern San Francisco Bay area of California and generally includes the area south of the San Francisco Bay between the Santa Cruz Mountains on the southwest and the Diablo Ranges on the northeast. The area has a population of approximately 1.7 million including the city of San Jose, numerous smaller cities, and much of the high...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, M. R. Goldman, G. Gandhok
High-resolution seismic-reflection image of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia High-resolution seismic-reflection image of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
A 1-kilometer-long (0.62-mile-long) seismic reflection and refraction profile collected at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., provides a detailed image of part of the annular trough of the buried, 35-million-year-old Chesapeake Bay impact structure. This profile passes within 5 meters (m; 16.4 feet (ft)) of a 635.1-m-deep (2...
Authors
Rufus D. Catchings, David S. Powars, Gregory Gohn, Mark R. Goldman
Using twelve years of USGS refraction lines to calibrate the Brocher and others (1997) 3D velocity model of the Bay Area Using twelve years of USGS refraction lines to calibrate the Brocher and others (1997) 3D velocity model of the Bay Area
Campbell (1983) demonstrated that site amplification correlates with depths to the 1.0, 1.5, and 2.5 km/s S-wave velocity horizons. To estimate these depths for the Bay Area stations in the PEER/NGA database, we compare the depths to the 3.2 and 4.4 km/s P-wave velocities in the Brocher and others (1997) 3D velocity model with the depths to these horizons determined from 6 refraction...
Authors
John Boatwright, Luke Blair, Rufus Catchings, Mark Goldman, Fabio Perosi, Clare Steedman
Velocity models, first-arrival travel times, and geometries of 1991 and 1993 USGS land-based controlled-source seismic investigations in the San Francisco Bay area, California: In-line shots Velocity models, first-arrival travel times, and geometries of 1991 and 1993 USGS land-based controlled-source seismic investigations in the San Francisco Bay area, California: In-line shots
No abstract available.
Authors
R. D. Catchings, M. R. Goldman, C. E. Steedman, G. Gandhok
Data report for the main line of the PSINE seismic survey across the San Andreas Fault and SAFOD Site near Parkfield, California Data report for the main line of the PSINE seismic survey across the San Andreas Fault and SAFOD Site near Parkfield, California
In October and November 1998, the U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Stanford University, and Geometrics Corporation jointly acquired a highresolution seismic reflection/refraction profile across the San Andreas Fault Zone (SAFZ) and the proposed San-Andreas-Fault-Observatory-at-Depth (SAFOD) drill site located near Parkfield, California (Fig. 1a). We refer to this...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, M. R. Goldman, M. J. Rymer, G. Gandhok, G. S. Fuis
A Look Inside the San Andreas fault at Parkfield Through Vertical Seismic Profiling A Look Inside the San Andreas fault at Parkfield Through Vertical Seismic Profiling
The San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth pilot hole is located on the southwestern side of the Parkfield San Andreas fault. This observatory includes a vertical seismic profiling (VSP) array. VSP seismograms from nearby micro-earthquakes contain signals between the P and S waves. These signals may be P and S waves scattered by the local geologic structure. The collected scattering...
Authors
J.A. Chavarria, P. Malin, R. D. Catchings, E. Shalev
Non-USGS Publications**
Catchings, R.D., and Mooney, W.D., 1988, Crustal structure of the Columbia Plateau: Evidence for continental rifting: Journal of Geophysical Research , v. 93, p. 459–474, doi.org/10.1029/JB093iB01p00459.
Catchings, R., Jarchow, C., Holbrook, S., Benz, H., Hawman, R., Thompson, G., Mooney, W., Smith, R., Priestley, K., Cipar, J., Borcherdt, R., Whitman, D., Smithson, S., Walker, D., Johnson, R., Karl, J., Jefferson, T., Clement, B., Dietel, C., Wu, F., and Harder, S., 1988, The 1986 PASSCAL Basin and Range Lithospheric Seismic Experiment, Eos Trans. AGU, 69( 20), 593– 598, doi:10.1029/88EO00174.
Zucca, J.J., Fuis, G.S., Milkereit, B., Mooney, W.D., and Catchings, R.D., 1986, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 91, p. 7859-7382, doi.org/10.1029/JB091iB07p07359.
**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
Filter Total Items: 24
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 82
High-resolution seismic images and seismic velocities of the San Andreas fault zone at Burro Flats, Southern California High-resolution seismic images and seismic velocities of the San Andreas fault zone at Burro Flats, Southern California
To better understand the structure of the San Andreas fault (SAF) at Burro Flats in southern California, we acquired a three-dimensional combined set of seismic reflection and refraction profiles centered on the main active trace at Burro Flats. In this article, we discuss the variation in shallow-depth velocities along each seismic profile, with special emphasis on the 1500 m/sec P-wave...
Authors
C. C. Tsai, Rufus D. Catchings, Mark R. Goldman, Michael J. Rymer, P. Schnurle, H. W. Chen
Structure of the San Bernardino Basin along two seismic transects: Rialto-Colton Fault to the San Andreas Fault and along the I-215 Freeway (I-10 to SR30) Structure of the San Bernardino Basin along two seismic transects: Rialto-Colton Fault to the San Andreas Fault and along the I-215 Freeway (I-10 to SR30)
In this report, we present seismic data and acquisition parameters for two seismic profiles acquired in the San Bernardino, California area in May and October 2003. We refer to these seismic profiles as the San Bernardino Regional (SBR) and San Bernardino High-Resolution (SBHR) seismic profiles. We present both un-interpreted and interpreted seismic images so that the structure of the...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, M. J. Rymer, M. R. Goldman, G. Gandhok, C. E. Steedman
Near-surface location, geometry, and velocities of the Santa Monica Fault Zone, Los Angeles, California Near-surface location, geometry, and velocities of the Santa Monica Fault Zone, Los Angeles, California
High-resolution seismic-reflection and seismic-refraction imaging, combined with existing borehole, earthquake, and paleoseismic trenching data, suggest that the Santa Monica fault zone in Los Angeles consists of multiple strands from several kilometers depth to the near surface. We interpret our seismic data as showing two shallow-depth low-angle fault strands and multiple near-vertical...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, G. Gandhok, M. R. Goldman, D. Okaya, M. J. Rymer, G.W. Bawden
Anatomy of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure revealed by seismic imaging, Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia, USA Anatomy of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure revealed by seismic imaging, Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia, USA
A 30-km-long, radial seismic reflection and refraction survey completed across the northern part of the late Eocene Chesapeake Bay impact structure (CBIS) on the Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia, USA, confirms that the CBIS is a complex central-peak crater. We used a tomographic P wave velocity model and low-fold reflection images, constrained by data from two deep boreholes located on the...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, D.S. Powars, G. S. Gohn, J. Wright Horton, M. R. Goldman, J.A. Hole
Q for P waves in the sediments of the Virginia Coastal Plain Q for P waves in the sediments of the Virginia Coastal Plain
The seismic quality factor Q for P waves in Atlantic Coastal Plain sediments is estimated using data from the 2004 U.S. Geological Survey seismic survey in eastern Virginia. The estimates are based on spectral ratios derived from reflections and sediment-guided P waves in Late Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments within the annular trough of the Late Eocene Chesapeake Bay impact structure...
Authors
M.C. Chapman, J.N. Beale, R. D. Catchings
Seismic-reflection images of the crust beneath the 2001 M = 7.7 Kutch (Bhuj) epicentral region, western India Seismic-reflection images of the crust beneath the 2001 M = 7.7 Kutch (Bhuj) epicentral region, western India
Three short (∼35 km) seismic-reflection profiles are presented from the region of the 2001 Mw = 7.7 Bhuj (western India) earthquake. These profiles image a 35–45-km-thick crust with strong, near-horizontal reflections at all depths. The thickness of the crust increases by 10 km over a distance of ∼50 km from the northern margin of the Gulf of Kutch to the earthquake epicenter...
Authors
Dipankar Sarkar, K. Sain, P.R. Reddy, Rufus D. Catchings, Walter D. Mooney
Structure and Velocities of the Northeastern Santa Cruz Mountains and the Western Santa Clara Valley, California, from the SCSI-LR Seismic Survey Structure and Velocities of the Northeastern Santa Cruz Mountains and the Western Santa Clara Valley, California, from the SCSI-LR Seismic Survey
Introduction: The Santa Clara Valley is located in the southern San Francisco Bay area of California and generally includes the area south of the San Francisco Bay between the Santa Cruz Mountains on the southwest and the Diablo Ranges on the northeast. The area has a population of approximately 1.7 million including the city of San Jose, numerous smaller cities, and much of the high...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, M. R. Goldman, G. Gandhok
High-resolution seismic-reflection image of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia High-resolution seismic-reflection image of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
A 1-kilometer-long (0.62-mile-long) seismic reflection and refraction profile collected at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., provides a detailed image of part of the annular trough of the buried, 35-million-year-old Chesapeake Bay impact structure. This profile passes within 5 meters (m; 16.4 feet (ft)) of a 635.1-m-deep (2...
Authors
Rufus D. Catchings, David S. Powars, Gregory Gohn, Mark R. Goldman
Using twelve years of USGS refraction lines to calibrate the Brocher and others (1997) 3D velocity model of the Bay Area Using twelve years of USGS refraction lines to calibrate the Brocher and others (1997) 3D velocity model of the Bay Area
Campbell (1983) demonstrated that site amplification correlates with depths to the 1.0, 1.5, and 2.5 km/s S-wave velocity horizons. To estimate these depths for the Bay Area stations in the PEER/NGA database, we compare the depths to the 3.2 and 4.4 km/s P-wave velocities in the Brocher and others (1997) 3D velocity model with the depths to these horizons determined from 6 refraction...
Authors
John Boatwright, Luke Blair, Rufus Catchings, Mark Goldman, Fabio Perosi, Clare Steedman
Velocity models, first-arrival travel times, and geometries of 1991 and 1993 USGS land-based controlled-source seismic investigations in the San Francisco Bay area, California: In-line shots Velocity models, first-arrival travel times, and geometries of 1991 and 1993 USGS land-based controlled-source seismic investigations in the San Francisco Bay area, California: In-line shots
No abstract available.
Authors
R. D. Catchings, M. R. Goldman, C. E. Steedman, G. Gandhok
Data report for the main line of the PSINE seismic survey across the San Andreas Fault and SAFOD Site near Parkfield, California Data report for the main line of the PSINE seismic survey across the San Andreas Fault and SAFOD Site near Parkfield, California
In October and November 1998, the U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Stanford University, and Geometrics Corporation jointly acquired a highresolution seismic reflection/refraction profile across the San Andreas Fault Zone (SAFZ) and the proposed San-Andreas-Fault-Observatory-at-Depth (SAFOD) drill site located near Parkfield, California (Fig. 1a). We refer to this...
Authors
R. D. Catchings, M. R. Goldman, M. J. Rymer, G. Gandhok, G. S. Fuis
A Look Inside the San Andreas fault at Parkfield Through Vertical Seismic Profiling A Look Inside the San Andreas fault at Parkfield Through Vertical Seismic Profiling
The San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth pilot hole is located on the southwestern side of the Parkfield San Andreas fault. This observatory includes a vertical seismic profiling (VSP) array. VSP seismograms from nearby micro-earthquakes contain signals between the P and S waves. These signals may be P and S waves scattered by the local geologic structure. The collected scattering...
Authors
J.A. Chavarria, P. Malin, R. D. Catchings, E. Shalev
Non-USGS Publications**
Catchings, R.D., and Mooney, W.D., 1988, Crustal structure of the Columbia Plateau: Evidence for continental rifting: Journal of Geophysical Research , v. 93, p. 459–474, doi.org/10.1029/JB093iB01p00459.
Catchings, R., Jarchow, C., Holbrook, S., Benz, H., Hawman, R., Thompson, G., Mooney, W., Smith, R., Priestley, K., Cipar, J., Borcherdt, R., Whitman, D., Smithson, S., Walker, D., Johnson, R., Karl, J., Jefferson, T., Clement, B., Dietel, C., Wu, F., and Harder, S., 1988, The 1986 PASSCAL Basin and Range Lithospheric Seismic Experiment, Eos Trans. AGU, 69( 20), 593– 598, doi:10.1029/88EO00174.
Zucca, J.J., Fuis, G.S., Milkereit, B., Mooney, W.D., and Catchings, R.D., 1986, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 91, p. 7859-7382, doi.org/10.1029/JB091iB07p07359.
**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.