Scott is a Research Geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He works for the Pacific Northwest Geologic Mapping and Urban Hazards Project and the Lower Colorado River System Project in the GMEG Science Center. His research is focused on geologic mapping, structural geology, neotectonics, and geomorphology of these and other regions of western North America.
Scott Bennett is a Research geologist who combines geologic mapping, structural geology, basin analysis, and geochronology to investigate the timing and rates of crustal deformation. His interdisciplinary and collaborative research focuses on quantifying surface and crustal processes that yield insight into lithospheric-scale plate tectonic systems.
Scott studies the deformation and evolving landscape of continents, collecting data that allows him to reconstruct tectonic movements over a large range of temporal and spatial scales, from earthquakes to orogenies and from faults to plate boundaries. Scott has experience conducting research in the Cascadia subduction zone of the Pacific Northwest (USA and Canada), on both margins of the Gulf of California oblique rift, along the San Andreas fault system, within the Walker Lane, and across the Basin and Range including the Rio Grande Rift.
Professional Experience
Research Geologist -- Tectonics and Geologic Mapping -- USGS Menlo Park, CA; 2017-present
Research Geologist -- Tectonics, Paleoseismology, and Geologic Mapping -- USGS Seattle, WA; 2015-2017
Mendenhall Post-doc -- Paleoseismology and Earthquake Hazards -- USGS Golden, CO; 2013-2015
Graduate Student Researcher -- Tectonics, Neotectonics, and Geologic Mapping
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Geology, University of California, Davis; 2013
M.S., Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill; 2009
B.S., Geological Sciences, California State University, Northridge; 2004
Minor in Geography, California State University, Northridge; 2004
Science and Products
Pacific Northwest Geologic Mapping: Northern Pacific Border, Cascades and Columbia
New Methods for Dating and Sequencing Ancient Earthquakes Along the Wasatch Fault Zone
How Big and How Frequent Are Earthquakes on the Wasatch Fault?
Digital database for the geologic map of the Vidal, California, and Parker SW, California-Arizona quadrangles
Digital database for the geologic map of the Parker NW, Parker, and parts of the Whipple Mountains SW and Whipple Wash quadrangles, California and Arizona
Digital data documenting the evolution of Miocene normal and dextral faulting in the lower Colorado River region near Blythe, California, USA
Digital database of geologic units, contacts, and faults for Mineral Resource Potential Map of the Turtle Mountains Wilderness Study Area, San Bernardino County, California (U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1713-B, 1988, Plate 1)
Evolution of Miocene normal and dextral faulting in the lower Colorado River region near Blythe, California, USA
The Mount Hood fault zone, active faulting at the crest of the dynamic Cascade Range, north-central Oregon, USA
Arc versus river: The geology of the Columbia River Gorge
Tectonostratigraphic record of late Miocene–early Pliocene transtensional faulting in the Eastern California shear zone, southwestern USA
Paleoseismic trenching reveals late quaternary kinematics of the Leech River Fault: Implications for forearc strain accumulation in Northern Cascadia
Oases: Finding hidden biodiversity gems in the southern Sonoran Desert
Fault trace mapping and surface-fault-rupture special study zone delineation of the Wasatch Fault Zone, Utah and Idaho
6&6: A transdisciplinary approach to art-science collaboration
Documentation of Surface Fault Rupture and Ground‐Deformation Features Produced by the 4 and 5 July 2019 Mw 6.4 and Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
Evidence of previous faulting along the 2019 Ridgecrest, California earthquake ruptures
Surface displacement distributions for the July 2019 Ridgecrest, California earthquake ruptures
Global physical controls on estuarine habitat distribution during sea levelchange: Consequences for genetic diversification through time
Science and Products
- Science
Pacific Northwest Geologic Mapping: Northern Pacific Border, Cascades and Columbia
The Pacific Northwest is an area created by active and complex geological processes. On its path to the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River slices through a chain of active volcanoes located along the western margin of the U.S. in Washington, Oregon, and northern California. These volcanoes rest above the active Cascadia subduction zone, which is the boundary where the oceanic tectonic plate dives...New Methods for Dating and Sequencing Ancient Earthquakes Along the Wasatch Fault Zone
Release Date: OCTOBER 12, 2018 Complex geologic sites, like those between the fault segments along the Wasatch fault zone in Utah, make the dating and ordering past earthquakes a difficult task. Two new methods were used to make this task easier and to get better results.How Big and How Frequent Are Earthquakes on the Wasatch Fault?
Release Date: FEBRUARY 1, 2015 Paleoseismology along the Wasatch Fault in Utah is helping to estimate the shaking risk to nearby towns. - Data
Digital database for the geologic map of the Vidal, California, and Parker SW, California-Arizona quadrangles
This geologic database is a digitized version of the original 1:24,000-scale analog geologic map titled "Geologic map of the Vidal, California, and Parker SW, California-Arizona quadrangles", published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1980. The map area straddles the Arizona-California border, and is located approximately 9.0 km (5.6 mi) west-southwest of Parker, CA, immediately south of thDigital database for the geologic map of the Parker NW, Parker, and parts of the Whipple Mountains SW and Whipple Wash quadrangles, California and Arizona
This geologic database is a digitized version of the 1:24,000-scale original analog geologic map titled "Geologic map of the Parker NW, Parker, and parts of the Whipple Mountains SW and Whipple Wash quadrangles, California and Arizona", published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1980. The map area straddles the Arizona-California border and includes the community of Parker, AZ, and the soutDigital data documenting the evolution of Miocene normal and dextral faulting in the lower Colorado River region near Blythe, California, USA
These datasets provide the measurements and analytical data used to describe the evolution of Neogene faulting near Blythe, California. The data include structural measurements and results from Ar-Ar and U-Pb geochronology that address the research questions of the associated publication. Structural measurement datasets provide fault surface kinematic measurements and tabulations of structural datDigital database of geologic units, contacts, and faults for Mineral Resource Potential Map of the Turtle Mountains Wilderness Study Area, San Bernardino County, California (U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1713-B, 1988, Plate 1)
This map geodatabase digitally represents the general distribution of bedrock geologic map units in the Turtle Mountains area, California, as portrayed in Plate 1 of USGS Bulletin 1713-B, Mineral resources of the Turtle Mountains Wilderness Study Area, San Bernardino County, California (1988), https://doi.org/10.3133/b1713B. The map covers parts of the Rice, Turtle Mountains, and Savahia Peak 15’ - Publications
Filter Total Items: 25
Evolution of Miocene normal and dextral faulting in the lower Colorado River region near Blythe, California, USA
The evolution of strain in nascent continental plate boundaries commonly involves distributed deformation and transitions between different styles of deformation as the plate boundary matures. Distributed NW-striking faults, many with km-scale right-lateral separation, are prevalent near Blythe, California, and have been variably interpreted to have accommodated either Middle Miocene NE-SW extensiAuthorsSkyler Pendleton Mavor, Scott E. K. Bennett, Ryan S. Crow, John S. Singleton, Victoria Langenheim, Daniel F. Stockli, Mark E. Stelten, Timothy Brickey Sr., Paul J. Umhoefer, L. Sue BeardThe Mount Hood fault zone, active faulting at the crest of the dynamic Cascade Range, north-central Oregon, USA
The Mount Hood fault zone is a N-trending, ~55-km-long zone of active faulting along the western margin of the Hood River graben in north-central Oregon. The Mount Hood fault zone occurs along the crest of the Cascade Range and consists of multiple active fault segments. It is presently unclear how much Hood River graben extension is actively accommodated on the fault zone, and how Cascade intra-aAuthorsIan Madin, Ashley R. Streig, Scott E. K. BennettArc versus river: The geology of the Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is the Columbia River’s long-held yet evolving passage through the volcanic arc of the Cascade Range. The globally unique setting of a continental-scale river bisecting an active volcanic arc at the leading edge of a major plate boundary creates a remarkable setting where dynamic volcanic and tectonic processes interact with diverse and energetic fluvial processes. This thAuthorsJim E. O'Connor, Ray Wells, Scott E. K. Bennett, Charles M. Cannon, Lydia M. Staisch, James L Anderson, Anthony Francis Pivarunas, Gabriel Wells Gordon, Richard J. Blakely, Mark E. Stelten, Russell C. EvartsTectonostratigraphic record of late Miocene–early Pliocene transtensional faulting in the Eastern California shear zone, southwestern USA
The Eastern California shear zone (ECSZ; southwestern USA) accommodates ~20%–25% of Pacific–North America relative plate motion east of the San Andreas fault, yet little is known about its early tectonic evolution. This paper presents a detailed stratigraphic and structural analysis of the uppermost Miocene to lower Pliocene Bouse Formation in the southern Blythe Basin, lower Colorado River valleyAuthorsRebecca J. Dorsey, Brennan O'Connell, Kevin Gardner, Mindy B. Homan, Scott E. K. Bennett, Jacob Thacker, Michael H. DarinPaleoseismic trenching reveals late quaternary kinematics of the Leech River Fault: Implications for forearc strain accumulation in Northern Cascadia
New paleoseismic trenching indicates late Quaternary oblique right‐lateral slip on the Leech River fault, southern Vancouver Island, Canada, and constrains permanent forearc deformation in northern Cascadia. A south‐to‐north reduction in northward Global Navigation Satellite System velocities and seismicity across the Olympic Mountains, Strait of Juan de Fuca (JDF), and the southern Strait of GeorAuthorsNicolas Harrichhausen, Kristin D. Morell, Christine Regalla, Scott E. K. Bennett, Lucinda J. Leonard, Emerson M. Lynch, Edwin NissenOases: Finding hidden biodiversity gems in the southern Sonoran Desert
In the arid southern Sonoran Desert, the rugged canyons of the Sierra El Aguaje contain numerous freshwater oases. These habitats are supported by small springs which are usually located along geologic faults in volcanic and granitic bedrock. Genetic evidence from freshwater-obligate species (e.g., fish and frogs) suggests these or similar spring-fed habitats have persisted for thousands to millioAuthorsMichael T. Bogan, Carlos Ballesteros-Córdova, S. Bennett, Michael H. Darin, Lloyd T. Findley, Alejandro Varela-RomeroFault trace mapping and surface-fault-rupture special study zone delineation of the Wasatch Fault Zone, Utah and Idaho
The Wasatch fault zone (WFZ) is a 220-mile-long (350-km) fault zone divided into 10 structural segments extending from southeastern Idaho to central Utah. The central five segments of the WFZ underlie the densely populated Wasatch Front region, where the majority of Utah’s population and economy are proximal to the fault zone. The West Valley fault zone (WVFZ) is an antithetic structure related toAuthorsGreg N. McDonald, Emily J. Kleber, Adam I. Hiscock, S. Bennett, Steve D. Bowman6&6: A transdisciplinary approach to art-science collaboration
Despite an historical connection between the arts and sciences, in the past century, the two disciplines have been greatly siloed. However, there is a renewed interest in collaboration across the arts and sciences to support conservation practice by understanding and communicating complex environmental, social, and cultural challenges in novel ways. 6&6 was created as a transdisciplinary art–scienAuthorsSara Clark, Eric Magrane, Thomas Baumgartner, Scott E. K. Bennett, Micahel Bogan, Taylor Edwards, Mark A. Dimmitt, Heather Green, Charles Hedgcock, Bemjamin M. Johnson, Maria R. Johnson, Kathleen Velo, Benjamin T. WilderDocumentation of Surface Fault Rupture and Ground‐Deformation Features Produced by the 4 and 5 July 2019 Mw 6.4 and Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
The MwMw 6.4 and MwMw 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence occurred on 4 and 5 July 2019 within the eastern California shear zone of southern California. Both events produced extensive surface faulting and ground deformation within Indian Wells Valley and Searles Valley. In the weeks following the earthquakes, more than six dozen scientists from government, academia, and the private sector carefullyAuthorsDaniel J. Ponti, James Luke Blair, Rosa Carla M, Kate Thomas, Alexandra Pickering, Sinan Akciz, Stephen J. Angster, Jean-Philipe Avouac, Jeffrey Bachhuber, Steven Bacon, Nicolas C. Barth, S. Bennett, Kelly Blake, Stephan Bork, Benjamin A. Brooks, Thomas Bullard, Paul A. Burgess, Colin Chupik, Timothy E. Dawson, Michael DeFrisco, Jaime E. Delano, Stephen B. DeLong, James D. Dolan, Andrea Donnellan, Christopher DuRoss, Todd Ericksen, Erik Frost, Gareth J. Funning, Ryan D. Gold, Nicholas A Graehl, Carlos Gutierrez, Elizabeth Haddon, Alexandra Elise Hatem, John Helms, Janis Hernandez, Christopher S. Hitchcock, Peter Holland, Kenneth W. Hudnut, Katherine J. Kendrick, Richard D Koehler, Ozgur Kozaci, Tyler C. Ladinsky, Robert Leeper, Christopher Madugo, Maxime Mareschal, James McDonald, Devin McPhillips, Christopher Milliner, Daniel Mongovin, Alexander Morelan, Stephanie Nale, Johanna Nevitt, Matt O'Neal, Brian J. Olsen, Michael Oskin, Salena Padilla, Jason Patton, Belle E. Philibosian, Ian Pierce, Cynthia Pridmore, Nathaniel Roth, David Sandwell, Katherine Scharer, Gordon G. Seitz, Drake Singleton, Bridget Smith-Konter, Eleanor Spangler, Brian J. Swanson, Jessica Thompson Jobe, Jerome Treiman, Francesca Valencia, Joshua Vanderwal, Alana Williams, Xiaohua Xu, Judith Zachariasen, Jade Zimmerman, Robert ZinkeEvidence of previous faulting along the 2019 Ridgecrest, California earthquake ruptures
The July 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence in southeastern California was characterized as surprising because only ~35% of the rupture occurred on previously mapped faults. Employing more detailed inspection of pre-event high-resolution topography and imagery in combination with field observations, we document evidence of active faulting in the landscape along the entire fault system. Scarps, deAuthorsJessica Thompson Jobe, Belle E. Philibosian, Colin Chupik, Timothy E. Dawson, Scott E. K. Bennett, Ryan D. Gold, Christopher DuRoss, Tyler C. Ladinsky, Katherine J. Kendrick, Elizabeth Haddon, Ian Pierce, Brian J. Swanson, Gordon G. SeitzSurface displacement distributions for the July 2019 Ridgecrest, California earthquake ruptures
Surface rupture in the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence occurred along two orthogonal cross faults and includes dominantly left‐lateral and northeast‐striking rupture in the Mw 6.4 foreshock and dominantly right‐lateral and northwest‐striking rupture in the Mw 7.1 mainshock. We present >650 field‐based, surface‐displacement observations for these ruptures and synthesize our resultsAuthorsChristopher DuRoss, Ryan D. Gold, Timothy E. Dawson, Katherine Scharer, Katherine J. Kendrick, Sinan Akciz, Stephen J. Angster, Jeffery Bachhuber, Steven Bacon, Scott E. K. Bennett, Luke Blair, Benjamin A. Brooks, Thomas Bullard, W. Paul Burgess, Colin Chupik, Michael DeFrisco, Jaime Delano, James D. Dolan, Erik Frost, Nick Graehl, Elizabeth Haddon, Alexandra Elise Hatem, Janis Hernandez, Christopher S. Hitchcock, Kennth Hudnut, Jessica Thompson Jobe, Richard D Koehler, Ozgur Kozaci, Tyler C. Ladinsky, Christopher Madugo, Devin McPhillips, Christopher Milliner, Alexander Morelan, Brian Olson, Jason Patton, Belle E. Philibosian, Alexandra J. Pickering, Ian Pierce, Daniel J. Ponti, Gordon G. Seitz, Eleanor Spangler, Brian J. Swanson, Kate Thomas, Jerome Treiman, Francesca Valencia, Alana Williams, Robert ZinkeGlobal physical controls on estuarine habitat distribution during sea levelchange: Consequences for genetic diversification through time
Determining the extrinsic (physical) factors controlling speciation and diversification of species through time is of key interest in paleontology and evolutionary biology. The role of sea-level change in shaping species richness patterns of marginal marine species has received much attention, but with variable conclusions. Recent work combining genetic data and Geographical Information Systems (GAuthorsGreer A. Dolby, Arturo M. Bedolla, S. Bennett, David K. Jacobs