Tom Parsons
I conduct research aimed at improving our ability to forecast hazardous events like earthquakes and tsunamis. Specifically, I study how earthquakes trigger others, how crustal movements cause earthquake stresses, and how to convert geologic observations of earthquake and tsunami processes into quantitative forecasts of use to planners, insurers, and builders.
Professional Experience
1994-Present: Research Geophysicist, U. S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
1992-1994: National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow
Education and Certifications
1992 – Ph.D. in Geophysics, Stanford University
1990 – M.S. in Geophysics, Stanford University
1988 – B.S. in Applied Geophysics, UCLA
Affiliations and Memberships*
Editor, AGU Advances, 2019-present
Editor in Chief, Journal of Geophysical Research, Solid Earth, 2009-2015
Editor in Chief, Tectonophysics, 2007-2009
Editorial Board, Tectonophysics, 2005-2007
Editorial Board, Geology, 1995-2000, 2005-2008
Member: Executive Committee, Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities 2005-present
Member: SCEC Planning Committee, 2007-2009
Honors and Awards
Senior Scientist (ST): 1/15
Fellow American Geophysical Union, Elected 1/12
Fulbright Mutual Educational Exchange Grant USA-Greece: 2007-2008
Alumni Pillar of Achievement: Golden West College Outstanding Alumni Award (10/07)
Fellow Geological Society of America, Elected 10/97
Shoemaker Communication Award (10/00)
National Association of Government Communicators Gold Screen Award (12/00)
National Research Council Post-Doctoral Fellow (8/92)
Science and Products
Tectonic stressing in California modeled from GPS observations
Probabilistic analysis of tsunami hazards
A new probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for greater Tokyo
Static stress change from the 8 October, 2005 M = 7.6 Kashmir earthquake
Earthquake and volcano clustering via stress transfer at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Correction to “A hypothesis for delayed dynamic earthquake triggering”
Triggering of tsunamigenic aftershocks from large strike‐slip earthquakes: Analysis of the November 2000 New Ireland earthquake sequence
[1] The November 2000 New Ireland earthquake sequence started with a Mw = 8.0 left‐lateral main shock on 16 November and was followed by a series of aftershocks with primarily thrust mechanisms. The earthquake sequence was associated with a locally damaging tsunami on the islands of New Ireland and nearby New Britain, Bougainville, and Buka. Results from numerical tsunami‐propagation models of the
Structure and mechanics of the San Andreas–San Gregorio fault junction, San Francisco, California
[1] The right‐lateral San Gregorio and San Andreas faults meet west of the Golden Gate near San Francisco. Coincident seismic reflection and refraction profiling across the San Gregorio and San Andreas faults south of their junction shows the crust between them to have formed shallow extensional basins that are dissected by parallel strike‐slip faults. We employ a regional finite element model to
Crustal structure of the Cascadia fore arc of Washington
A hypothesis for delayed dynamic earthquake triggering
Significance of stress transfer in time-dependent earthquake probability calculations
Recalculated probability of M ≥ 7 earthquakes beneath the Sea of Marmara, Turkey
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
Tectonic stressing in California modeled from GPS observations
Probabilistic analysis of tsunami hazards
A new probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for greater Tokyo
Static stress change from the 8 October, 2005 M = 7.6 Kashmir earthquake
Earthquake and volcano clustering via stress transfer at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Correction to “A hypothesis for delayed dynamic earthquake triggering”
Triggering of tsunamigenic aftershocks from large strike‐slip earthquakes: Analysis of the November 2000 New Ireland earthquake sequence
[1] The November 2000 New Ireland earthquake sequence started with a Mw = 8.0 left‐lateral main shock on 16 November and was followed by a series of aftershocks with primarily thrust mechanisms. The earthquake sequence was associated with a locally damaging tsunami on the islands of New Ireland and nearby New Britain, Bougainville, and Buka. Results from numerical tsunami‐propagation models of the
Structure and mechanics of the San Andreas–San Gregorio fault junction, San Francisco, California
[1] The right‐lateral San Gregorio and San Andreas faults meet west of the Golden Gate near San Francisco. Coincident seismic reflection and refraction profiling across the San Gregorio and San Andreas faults south of their junction shows the crust between them to have formed shallow extensional basins that are dissected by parallel strike‐slip faults. We employ a regional finite element model to
Crustal structure of the Cascadia fore arc of Washington
A hypothesis for delayed dynamic earthquake triggering
Significance of stress transfer in time-dependent earthquake probability calculations
Recalculated probability of M ≥ 7 earthquakes beneath the Sea of Marmara, Turkey
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.
*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