Samuel Y Johnson
Seafloor Mapping - Geologic framework, hazards, and habitats
Sam Johnson is a Research Geologist in the U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC), an organization of about 100 research and support staff based in Santa Cruz and Menlo Park, CA. He served as PCMSC Center Director from 2003 to 2008. He currently designs, coordinates, and conducts research projects that focus on seafloor and benthic habitat mapping, coastal and marine geomorphology and geologic framework, coastal evolution, and coastal earthquake and tsunami hazards. He helped plan and is the USGS lead for the multi-agency California Seafloor Mapping Program. His present research is focused on active tectonics and hazards offshore central California (Santa Barbara Channel to Cape Mendocino).
Professional Experience
1982-1984 - Assistant Professor, Washington State University
1984 to 2003 - Research Geologist, USGS Energy and Earthquake Hazards Programs
2003 to 2008 - Center Director, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
2008 to 2019 - Research Geologist, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
2019 to present - Research Geologist Emeritus, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Education and Certifications
B.A. (1975) University of California, Santa Cruz (Earth Sciences)
M.S. (1978) University of Washington (Geological Sciences)
Ph.D. (1982) University of Washington Geological Sciences
Affiliations and Memberships*
Geological Society of America (Fellow)
American Geophysical Union
Society for Sedimentary Geology
Seismological Society of America
Honors and Awards
Department of Interior Distinguished Service Award (2019)
Science and Products
Active tectonics of the Devils Mountain Fault and related structures, northern Puget Lowland and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca region, Pacific Northwest
Geologic evidence of earthquakes at the Snohomish Delta, Washington, in the past 1200 yr
Neotectonics of the eastern Juan de Fuca Strait: A digital geological and geophysical atlas
Geology for a changing world; a science strategy for the Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2000-2010
Petroleum geology of the state of Washington
Age of the Lospe Formation (early Miocene) and origin of the Santa Maria Basin, California. Petroleum source potential and thermal maturity of the Lospe Formation (lower Miocene) near Point Sal, onshore Santa Maria Basin, California. Obispo Formation, Cal
The southern Whidbey Island fault: An active structure in the Puget Lowland, Washington
Origin and evolution of the Seattle Fault and Seattle Basin, Washington
Stratigraphy, sedimentology, and provenance of the Raging River Formation (early? and middle Eocene), King County, Washington
Sedimentology of the conglomeratic lower member of the Lospe Formation (lower Miocene), Santa Maria Basin, California. Provenance of sandstone clasts in the lower Miocene Lospe Formation near Point Sal, California
Pennsylvanian and Early Permian paleogeography of the Uinta-Piceance Basin region, northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah
Phanerozoic evolution of sedimentary basins in the Uinta-Piceance Basin region, northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 64
Active tectonics of the Devils Mountain Fault and related structures, northern Puget Lowland and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca region, Pacific Northwest
Information from marine high-resolution and conventional seismic-reflection surveys, aeromagnetic mapping, coastal exposures of Pleistocene strata, and lithologic logs of water wells is used to assess the active tectonics of the northern Puget Lowland and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca region of the Pacific Northwest. These data indicate that the Devils Mountain Fault and the newly recognized StraAuthorsSamuel Y. Johnson, Shawn V. Dadisman, David C. Mosher, Richard J. Blakely, Jonathan R. ChildsGeologic evidence of earthquakes at the Snohomish Delta, Washington, in the past 1200 yr
Exposed channel banks along distributaries of the lower Snohomish delta in the Puget Lowland of Washington reveal evidence of at least three episodes of liquefaction, at least one event of abrupt subsidence, and at least one tsunami since ca. A.D. 800. The 45 measured stratigraphic sections consist mostly of 2–4 m of olive- gray, intertidal mud containing abundant marsh plant rhizomes. The most diAuthorsJoanne Bourgeois, Samuel Y. JohnsonNeotectonics of the eastern Juan de Fuca Strait: A digital geological and geophysical atlas
No abstract available.Geology for a changing world; a science strategy for the Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2000-2010
This report describes seven science goals conceived to address pressing issues facing the Nation in the next decade. These goals focus on understanding human interaction with the natural environment and build upon long-term USGS investments in basic research.AuthorsSteven R. Bohlen, Robert B. Halley, Stephen H. Hickman, Samuel Y. Johnson, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Daniel R. Muhs, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, George A. Thompson, David L. Trauger, Mary Lou ZobackPetroleum geology of the state of Washington
This report describes the potential petroleum resources of Washington State as recently summarized in the 1995 U.S. Geological Survey National Assessment of Oil and Gas Resources. Eight conventional petroleum plays, three coal-bed gas plays, and two continuous-type gas plays are defined and characterized. Of these plays, the potential for significant petroleum accumulations appears greatest in theAuthorsSamuel Y. Johnson, Marilyn E. Tennyson, William S. Lingley, Ben E. LawAge of the Lospe Formation (early Miocene) and origin of the Santa Maria Basin, California. Petroleum source potential and thermal maturity of the Lospe Formation (lower Miocene) near Point Sal, onshore Santa Maria Basin, California. Obispo Formation, Cal
No abstract available.AuthorsRichard G. Stanley, Samuel Y. Johnson, Carl C. Swisher, Mark A. Mason, John D. Obradovich, Mary Lou Cotton, Mark V. Filewicz, David R. Vork, Mark J. Pawlewicz, Zenon C. Valin, Jean-Luc Schneider, Richard V. FisherThe southern Whidbey Island fault: An active structure in the Puget Lowland, Washington
Information from seismic-reflection profiles, outcrops, boreholes, and potential field surveys is used to interpret the structure and history of the southern Whidbey Island fault in the Puget Lowland of western Washington. This northwest-trending fault comprises a broad (as wide as 6–11 km), steep, northeast-dipping zone that includes several splays with inferred strike-slip, reverse, and thrust dAuthorsS. Y. Johnson, C. J. Potter, J.M. Armentrout, J. J. Miller, Carol A. Finn, C. S. WeaverOrigin and evolution of the Seattle Fault and Seattle Basin, Washington
Analysis of seismic reflection data reveals that the Seattle basin (Washington) is markedly asymmetric and consists of ∼9-10 km of Eocene and younger deposits. The basin began as a discrete geologic element in the late Eocene (∼40 Ma), the result of a reorganization in regional fault geometry and kinematics. In this reorganization, dextral offset on the Puget fault south- east of Seattle stepped eAuthorsS. Y. Johnson, C. J. Potter, J.M. ArmentroutStratigraphy, sedimentology, and provenance of the Raging River Formation (early? and middle Eocene), King County, Washington
No abstract available.AuthorsSamuel Y. Johnson, Joseph T. O'ConnorSedimentology of the conglomeratic lower member of the Lospe Formation (lower Miocene), Santa Maria Basin, California. Provenance of sandstone clasts in the lower Miocene Lospe Formation near Point Sal, California
No abstract available.AuthorsSamuel Y. Johnson, Richard G. Stanley, Hugh McLeanPennsylvanian and Early Permian paleogeography of the Uinta-Piceance Basin region, northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah
No abstract available.AuthorsSamuel Y. Johnson, Marjorie A. Chan, Edith A. KonopkaPhanerozoic evolution of sedimentary basins in the Uinta-Piceance Basin region, northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah
No abstract available.AuthorsSamuel Y. Johnson - News
*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