Ryan Gold is the Director of the Geologic Hazards Science Center (GHSC) of the USGS.
In this position, he oversees GHSC’s efforts focused on earthquake, landslide, and geomagnetic hazards research and monitoring. Gold joined the USGS in 2009 after receiving a doctoral degree in geology from the University of California, Davis and a bachelor’s degree from Whitman College. He joined the USGS as a Mendenhall post-doctoral scholar and was hired permanently in 2011 as a Research Geologist within the Earthquake Geology Project at GHSC.
Gold’s research background focuses on active tectonics and natural hazards, with an emphasis on long-standing problems related to 1) earthquake recurrence and magnitude, 2) fault slip rate, and 3) patterns of surface displacement associated with modern earthquakes by applying a combination of field-based methods (e.g., paleoseismic trenching, neotectonic mapping) and remote sensing (e.g., lidar, satellite imagery, etc.). He has conducted field-based and remotely sensed earthquake studies across the United States, the Caribbean, the Indo-Asia Collision, central Europe, Pakistan, and Australia. He has played a key role in USGS field-based response to significant earthquakes, including the 2010 Haiti, 2013 Balochistan (Pakistan), and 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence. Gold has more than 60 publications in the areas of neotectonics, Quaternary geochronology, seismic imaging, and natural hazards.
Professional Experience
2021-present Director, Geologic Hazards Science Center, USGS
2011-2021 Research Geologist, USGS
2009-2011 Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow, USGS
Education and Certifications
Ryan Gold (Ph.D., University of California, Davis 2009)
Science and Products
External Grants - Overview
Geologic Cracks Record Earthquakes on the Reelfoot Fault in Central U.S.
Fault Rupture Mapping of the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, Earthquake Sequence from Satellite Data
Geochronological Data for the Deep Creek paleoseismic site, Wasatch fault zone, Utah
Western U.S. geologic deformation model for use in the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model 2023, version 1.0
Data to accompany the study Quaternary Reelfoot fault deformation in the Obion River valley, Tennessee, USA by Delano et al. (2021)
Strike-slip in transtension: Complex crustal architecture of the Warm Springs Valley fault zone, northern Walker Lane
Compilation of offset measurements and fault data for global strike-slip faults with multiple earthquakes
Earthquake geology inputs for the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) 2023 (western US) (ver. 2.0, February 2022)
Summary of proposed changes to geologic inputs for the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) 2023, version 1.0
Displacement and strain field from the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes derived from analysis of WorldView optical satellite imagery (ver. 2.0, May 2021)
Coseismic surface displacement and fault zone width measurements in the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes from WorldView optical image correlation
Earthquake geology inputs for the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) 2023, version 1.0
Seismic reflection imaging of the low-angle Panamint normal fault system, eastern California, 2018
Climatic influence on the expression of strike-slip faulting
Off-fault deformation in regions of complex fault geometries: the 2013, Mw7.7, Baluchistan rupture (Pakistan)
Western U.S. geologic deformation model for use in the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model 2023
Simplifying complex fault data for systems-level analysis: Earthquake geology inputs for U.S. NSHM 2023
Luminescence sediment tracing reveals the complex dynamics of colluvial wedge formation
A geomorphic-process-based cellular automata model of colluvial wedge morphology and stratigraphy
How similar was the 1983 Mw 6.9 Borah Peak earthquake rupture to its surface-faulting predecessors along the northern Lost River fault zone (Idaho, USA)?
Portable optically stimulated luminescence age map of a paleoseismic exposure
STEPS: Slip time earthquake path simulations applied to the San Andreas and Toe Jam Hill Faults to redefine geologic slip rate uncertainty
Geophysical constraints on the crustal architecture of the transtensional Warm Springs Valley fault zone, northern Walker Lane, western Nevada, USA
Diffuse deformation and surface faulting distribution from sub-metric image correlation along the 2019 Ridgecrest ruptures (California, USA)
Quaternary reelfoot fault deformation in the Obion River Valley, Tennessee, USA
STEPS: Slip Time Earthquake Path Simulations applied to the San Andreas and Toe Jam Hill faults to redefine geologic slip rate uncertainty (Matlab code)
Science and Products
- Science
External Grants - Overview
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides support for research that will assist in achieving the goals of the Earthquake Hazards Program. The goal is to mitigate earthquake losses that can occur in many parts of the nation by providing earth science data and assessments essential for land-use planning, engineering design, and emergency preparedness decisions.Geologic Cracks Record Earthquakes on the Reelfoot Fault in Central U.S.
Release Date: APRIL 25, 2019 New high-resolution lidar data reveals cracks produced from strong shaking in past earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone. - Data
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Fault Rupture Mapping of the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, Earthquake Sequence from Satellite Data
This data release contains two datasets that depict fault rupture on the East Anatolian and Çardak faults resulting from the Mw7.8 and Mw7.5 earthquakes in Turkey (Türkiye). It contains two additional datasets that describe satellite imagery coverage and observation gaps. The 6 February 2023 earthquake sequence caused >500 km of combined surface rupture on the primarily left-lateral strike-slip EaGeochronological Data for the Deep Creek paleoseismic site, Wasatch fault zone, Utah
This data release includes geochronological data for a natural exposure of the Wasatch fault, Utah at the Deep Creek site (39.507462?, -111.861790?). Laboratory data include 11 optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages for quartz, 23 charcoal radiocarbon ages, and 342 portable OSL (bulk luminescence) measurements. The radiocarbon and luminescence samples were collected November 2019 and OctoberWestern U.S. geologic deformation model for use in the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model 2023, version 1.0
The U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) relies on deformation models to assign slip rates along active faults used in the earthquake rupture forecast. Here, we present the geologic deformation model results in tabular form. We provide model outputs in multiple file formats, as well as the polygons used in analyses throughout the geologic deformation model process.The data presented herein arData to accompany the study Quaternary Reelfoot fault deformation in the Obion River valley, Tennessee, USA by Delano et al. (2021)
This data release contains machine-readable files accompanying the study Quaternary Reelfoot fault deformation in the Obion River valley, Tennessee, USA published by Delano et al. (2021) in Tectonics. The data release includes grain size analyses from three auger sites (TableS1_WilsonLoop_grainsize.txt, TableS2_Lanesferry_grainsize.txt, TableS3_BiggsFarm_grainsize.txt) and unit descriptions from tStrike-slip in transtension: Complex crustal architecture of the Warm Springs Valley fault zone, northern Walker Lane
This data release contains field data for two P-wave seismic reflection profiles acquired across the Warm Springs Valley fault zone, part of the Northern Walker Lane, NV. The dataset consists of high-resolution seismic reflection field records in .segy format, shot coordinates in .csv format, and observers? logs in .pdf format. The high-resolution seismic profiles are approximately 4 km long. TheCompilation of offset measurements and fault data for global strike-slip faults with multiple earthquakes
This Data Release provides the compilation of offset measurement datasets and associated fault data to accompany the manuscript "Climatic influence on the expression of strike-slip faulting" by Reitman et al. In addition to a ReadMe file, it includes two tabular datasets, one code, and one text file. The datasets are a compilation of offset measurement data ("data_multiple_eq_offsets.xlsx") from 3Earthquake geology inputs for the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) 2023 (western US) (ver. 2.0, February 2022)
This Data Release contains preliminary versions of two related databases: 1) A fault sections database ('NSHM23_FSD_v2'), which depicts the geometry of faults capable of hosting independent earthquakes, and 2) An earthquake geology site information database ('NSHM23_EQGeoDB_v2'), which contains fault slip-rate constraints at points. These databases were prepared in anticipation of updates to the NSummary of proposed changes to geologic inputs for the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) 2023, version 1.0
This data release documents proposed updates to geologic inputs (faults) for the upcoming 2023 National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM). This version (1.0) conveys differences between 2014 NSHM fault sources and those recently released in the earthquake geology inputs for the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) 2023, version 1.0 data release by Hatem et al. (2021). A notable difference between tDisplacement and strain field from the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes derived from analysis of WorldView optical satellite imagery (ver. 2.0, May 2021)
This Data Release contains co-seismic horizontal and vertical displacements of the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes derived from sub-pixel cross correlation of WorldView satellite optical imagery. Additionally, the dataset contains the 2-dimensionsal (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) surface strain fields, inverted from the surface displacements. Associated publication: Barnhart, W.D., Gold, R.D., HollingswCoseismic surface displacement and fault zone width measurements in the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes from WorldView optical image correlation
(1) Lateral displacement measurements made based on optical image correlation results from WorldView satellite images along with (2) local and regional rupture width measurements for the 2019 Mw6.4 and Mw7.1 Ridgecrest earthquakes, CA. These datasets are associated with the publication: Gold, R. D., DuRoss, C. B., & Barnhart, W. D., 2021, Coseismic surface displacement in the 2019 Ridgecrest earEarthquake geology inputs for the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) 2023, version 1.0
This Data Release contains preliminary versions of two related databases: 1) A fault sections database ("NSHM2023_FaultSections_v1"), which depicts the geometry of faults capable of hosting independent earthquakes, and 2) An earthquake geology site information database ("NSHM2023_EQGeoDB_v1"), which contains fault slip-rate constraints at points. These databases were prepared in anticipation of upSeismic reflection imaging of the low-angle Panamint normal fault system, eastern California, 2018
A fundamental question in seismic hazard analysis is whether - Multimedia
- Publications
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Climatic influence on the expression of strike-slip faulting
Earthquakes on strike-slip faults are preserved in the geomorphic record by offset landforms that span a range of displacements, from small offsets created in the most recent earthquake (MRE) to large offsets that record cumulative slip from multiple prior events. An exponential decay in the number of large cumulative offsets has been observed on many faults, and a leading hypothesis is that climaAuthorsNadine G. Reitman, Yann Klinger, Richard W. Briggs, Ryan D. GoldOff-fault deformation in regions of complex fault geometries: the 2013, Mw7.7, Baluchistan rupture (Pakistan)
Observations of recent earthquake surface ruptures show that ground deformations include a localized component occurring on faults, and an off-fault component affecting the surrounding medium. This second component is also referred to as off-fault deformation (OFD). The localized component generally occurs on complex networks of faults that connect at depth onto a unique fault plane, whereas OFD cAuthorsSolene Antoine, Yann Klinger, Arthur Delorme, Ryan D. GoldWestern U.S. geologic deformation model for use in the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model 2023
Fault geometry and slip rates are key input data for geologic deformation models, which are a fundamental component of probabilistic seismic hazard analyses (PSHAs). However, geologic sources for PSHA have traditionally been limited to faults with field‐based slip rate constraints, which results in underrepresentation of known, but partially characterized, active faults. Here, we evaluate fault geAuthorsAlexandra Elise Hatem, Nadine G. Reitman, Richard W. Briggs, Ryan D. Gold, Jessica Ann Thompson Jobe, Reed J. BurgetteSimplifying complex fault data for systems-level analysis: Earthquake geology inputs for U.S. NSHM 2023
As part of the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) update planned for 2023, two databases were prepared to more completely represent Quaternary-active faulting across the western United States: the NSHM23 fault sections database (FSD) and earthquake geology database (EQGeoDB). In prior iterations of NSHM, fault sections were included only if a field-measurement-derived slip rate was estimateAuthorsAlexandra Elise Hatem, Camille Marie Collett, Richard W. Briggs, Ryan D. Gold, Stephen J. Angster, Edward H. Field, Peter M. PowersLuminescence sediment tracing reveals the complex dynamics of colluvial wedge formation
Paleoearthquake studies that inform seismic hazard rely on assumptions of sediment transport that remain largely untested. Here, we test a widespread conceptual model and a new numerical model on the formation of colluvial wedges, a key deposit used to constrain the timing of paleoearthquakes. We perform this test by applying luminescence, a sunlight-sensitive sediment tracer, at a field site dispAuthorsHarrison J. Gray, Christopher DuRoss, Sylvia Nicovich, Ryan D. GoldA geomorphic-process-based cellular automata model of colluvial wedge morphology and stratigraphy
The development of colluvial wedges at the base of fault scarps following normal-faulting earthquakes serves as a sedimentary record of paleoearthquakes and is thus crucial in assessing seismic hazard. Although there is a large body of observations of colluvial wedge development, connecting this knowledge to the physics of sediment transport can open new frontiers in our understanding. To exploreAuthorsHarrison J. Gray, Christopher DuRoss, Sylvia Nicovich, Ryan D. GoldHow similar was the 1983 Mw 6.9 Borah Peak earthquake rupture to its surface-faulting predecessors along the northern Lost River fault zone (Idaho, USA)?
We excavated trenches at two paleoseismic sites bounding a trans-basin bedrock ridge (the Willow Creek Hills) along the northern Lost River fault zone to explore the uniqueness of the 1983 Mw 6.9 Borah Peak earthquake compared to its prehistoric predecessors. At the Sheep Creek site on the southernmost Warm Springs section, two earthquakes occurred at 9.8−14.0 ka (95% confidence) and 6.5−7.1 ka; eAuthorsChristopher DuRoss, Richard W. Briggs, Ryan D. Gold, Alexandra Elise Hatem, Austin John Elliott, Jaime Delano, Ivan Medina-Cascales, Harrison J. Gray, Shannon A. Mahan, Sylvia Nicovich, Zachery Lifton, Emily J. Kleber, Greg N. McDonald, Adam Hiscock, Mike Bunds, Nadine G. ReitmanPortable optically stimulated luminescence age map of a paleoseismic exposure
The quality and quantity of geochronologic data used to constrain the history of major earthquakes in a region exerts a first-order control on the accuracy of seismic hazard assessments that affect millions of people. However, evaluations of geochronological data are limited by uncertainties related to inherently complex depositional processes that may vary spatially and temporally. To improve conAuthorsChristopher DuRoss, Ryan D. Gold, Harrison J. Gray, Sylvia R. NicovichSTEPS: Slip time earthquake path simulations applied to the San Andreas and Toe Jam Hill Faults to redefine geologic slip rate uncertainty
Geologic slip rates are a time-averaged measurement of fault displacement calculated over hundreds to million-year time scales and are a primary input for probabilistic seismic hazard analyses, which forecast expected ground shaking in future earthquakes. Despite their utility for seismic hazard calculations, longer-term geologic slip rates represent a time-averaged measure of the tempo of strainAuthorsAlexandra Elise Hatem, Ryan D. Gold, Richard W. Briggs, Katherine Scharer, Edward H. FieldGeophysical constraints on the crustal architecture of the transtensional Warm Springs Valley fault zone, northern Walker Lane, western Nevada, USA
The Walker Lane is a zone of distributed transtension where normal faults are overprinted by strike-slip motion. We use two newly-acquired high-resolution seismic reflection profiles and a reprocessed Consortium for Continental Reflection Profiling (COCORP) deep crustal reflection profile to assess the subsurface geometry of the Holocene-active, transtensional Warm Springs Valley fault zone (WSVFZAuthorsRichard W. Briggs, William J. Stephenson, J.H. McBride, Jackson K. Odum, Nadine G. Reitman, Ryan D. GoldDiffuse deformation and surface faulting distribution from sub-metric image correlation along the 2019 Ridgecrest ruptures (California, USA)
The 2019 Mw 6.4 and 7.1 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence (July 2019) ruptured consecutively a system of high‐angle strike‐slip cross faults (northeast‐ and northwest‐trending) within 34 hr. The complex rupture mechanism was illuminated by seismological and geodetic data, bringing forward the issue of the interdependency of the two fault systems both at depth and at the surface, and of iAuthorsSolène L. Antoine, Yann Klinger, Arthur Delorme, Kang Wang, Roland Burgmann, Ryan D. GoldQuaternary reelfoot fault deformation in the Obion River Valley, Tennessee, USA
Blind reverse faults are challenging to detect, and earthquake records can be elusive because deep fault slip does not break the surface along readily recognized scarps. The blind Reelfoot fault in the New Madrid seismic zone in the central United States has been the subject of extensive prior investigation; however, the extent of slip at the southern portion of the fault remains unconstrained. InAuthorsJaime Delano, Richard W. Briggs, Jessica Ann Thompson Jobe, Ryan D. Gold, Simon E. Engelhart - Software
STEPS: Slip Time Earthquake Path Simulations applied to the San Andreas and Toe Jam Hill faults to redefine geologic slip rate uncertainty (Matlab code)
Geologic slip rates are a time-averaged measurement of fault displacement calculated over 100s- to 1,000,000-year time scales and are a primary input for probabilistic seismic hazard analyses (PSHA), which forecast expected ground shaking in future earthquakes. Despite their utility for seismic hazard calculations, longer-term geologic slip rates represent a time-averaged measure of the tempo of s