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William Leith

Dr. Leith is the former Senior Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards. From 2012 to 2019, he served as Program Coordinator for the Earthquake Hazards Program, the Global Seismographic Network Program, and the Geomagnetism Program. 

Dr. Leith is the former Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards at the U. S. Geological Survey. Before retiring in 2019, he oversaw the Earthquake Hazards, Geomagnetism and Global Seismographic Network Programs. Bill joined the USGS in 1986, after receiving a doctoral degree in seismology and geology from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He served USGS as Chief of the USGS Special Geologic Studies Group from 1990-2001, as Senior Technical Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance from 2001-2003, as the Coordinator of the Advanced National Seismic System from 2003-2012, and as USGS Acting Associate Director in 2010-2011 and 2017. Bill has over 100 publications in the areas of seismology, geology, engineering geology, tectonics, and the applications of these subjects to earthquake safety, response and engineering, as well as to nuclear weapons testing and test monitoring, treaty verification and compliance.

Career Experience:

  • 2012-2019: Senior Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards of the U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
  • 2003-2012: Associate Program Coordinator for Earthquake Hazards, Global Seismographic Network & Geomagnetism Programs; Coordinator of the Advanced National Seismic System, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
  • 2001-2003: Special Assistance to the Assistant Secretary for Verification and Compliance, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC.
  • 1989 - 2001: Chief, Special Geologic Studies Group, U.S. Geological Survey.  Manage a group of scientists engaged in research on foreign countries and sites of interest on behalf of the U.S. defense and intelligence communities. Assisted in the drafting of revised protocols to the Threshold Test Ban Treaty and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions Treaty and, most recently, in formulating options for the negotiation of a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban. Numerous working visits abroad. 
  • 1986 - 1989: Geologist, Geologic Division, Military Geology Project, U.S. Geological Survey. Research on the geology and geophysics of foreign countries, primarily the former Soviet Union, and nuclear test sites and other critical military facilities, worldwide. Analyzed data from published reports on the geology, hydrology, and physical properties of test site areas; interpreted satellite images in light of this information; proposed and evaluated analogues for such areas. 
  • 1984 - 1989: Associate Research Scientist; Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Columbia University. Collaborated on the development of a program of field research on the geology, seismicity, and tectonics of sites in Soviet Central Asia, working in cooperation with both American and foreign scientists to analyze seismological and geological data.
  • 1984 - 1984: Visiting Lecturer; Department of Geology, University of California, B

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 22

Now trending … Earthquake information

The U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program has overall successfully fulfilled its mission of providing timely earthquake information via web applications and other methods. Imagine a single month of earthquake data delivery, serving 3.6 billion total data requests, including 29 million pageviews by 7.1 million users, 606 million automated data feeds, and 45 million catalog downloads. Ye
Authors
William S. Leith, Jeremy Fee, Eric M. Martinez, Lynda A. Lastowka
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Leveraging geodetic data to reduce losses from earthquakes

Seismic hazard assessments that are based on a variety of data and the best available science, coupled with rapid synthesis of real-time information from continuous monitoring networks to guide post-earthquake response, form a solid foundation for effective earthquake loss reduction. With this in mind, the Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Natural Hazards Missio
Authors
Jessica R. Murray, Evelyn A. Roeloffs, Benjamin A. Brooks, John O. Langbein, William S. Leith, Sarah E. Minson, Jerry L. Svarc, Wayne R. Thatcher
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

NEHRP turns 40

This year, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) turns 40, four decades since the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 was enacted establishing the Program, spurring numerous federal, state, and community actions to reduce earthquake losses in the U.S.A. and its territories and setting a standard for earthquake loss‐reduction projects internationally. Four agencies are part
Authors
William S. Leith
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Reducing risk where tectonic plates collide—U.S. Geological Survey subduction zone science plan

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information and tools to build resilience in communities exposed to subduction zone earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions. Improving the application of USGS science to successfully reduce risk from these events relies on whole community efforts, with continuing partnerships among scientists and
Authors
Joan S. Gomberg, K. A. Ludwig, Barbara Bekins, Thomas M. Brocher, John Brock, Daniel S. Brothers, Jason D. Chaytor, Arthur Frankel, Eric L. Geist, Matthew M. Haney, Stephen H. Hickman, William S. Leith, Evelyn A. Roeloffs, William H. Schulz, Thomas W. Sisson, Kristi L. Wallace, Janet Watt, Anne M. Wein
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Reducing Risk, Subduction Zone Science

Earthquake shaking hazard estimates and exposure changes in the conterminous United States

A large portion of the population of the United States lives in areas vulnerable to earthquake hazards. This investigation aims to quantify population and infrastructure exposure within the conterminous U.S. that are subjected to varying levels of earthquake ground motions by systematically analyzing the last four cycles of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Seismic Hazard Models (publis
Authors
Kishor S. Jaiswal, Mark D. Petersen, Kenneth S. Rukstales, William S. Leith
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Geophysical advances triggered by 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake

A little more than 50 years ago, on 27 March 1964, the Great Alaska earthquake and tsunami struck. At moment magnitude 9.2, this earthquake is notable as the largest in U.S. written history and as the second-largest ever recorded by instruments worldwide. But what resonates today are its impacts on the understanding of plate tectonics, tsunami generation, and earthquake history as well as on the d

Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, William S. Leith, David J. Wald, John R. Filson, Cecily Wolfe, David Applegate
By
Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Alaska Science Center

Helping safeguard Veterans Affairs' hospital buildings by advanced earthquake monitoring

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the National Strong Motion Project of the U.S. Geological Survey has recently installed sophisticated seismic systems that will monitor the structural integrity of hospital buildings during earthquake shaking. The new systems have been installed at more than 20 VA medical campuses across the country. These monitoring systems, whic
Authors
Erol Kalkan, Krishna Banga, Hasan S. Ulusoy, Jon Peter B. Fletcher, William S. Leith, James L. Blair
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

Real-time seismic monitoring of instrumented hospital buildings

In collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. Geological Survey's National Strong Motion Project has recently installed sophisticated seismic monitoring systems to monitor the structural health of two hospital buildings at the Memphis VA Medical Center in Tennessee. The monitoring systems in the Bed Tower and Spinal Cord Injury buildings combine sensing technologies with
Authors
Erol Kalkan, Jon Peter B. Fletcher, William S. Leith, William S. McCarthy, Krishna Banga
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

Advanced earthquake monitoring system for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical buildings--instrumentation

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the National Strong Motion Project (NSMP; http://nsmp.wr.usgs.gov/) of the U.S. Geological Survey has been installing sophisticated seismic systems that will monitor the structural integrity of 28 VA hospital buildings located in seismically active regions of the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Puerto Rico during earthquak
Authors
Erol Kalkan, Krishna Banga, Hasan S. Ulusoy, Jon Peter B. Fletcher, William S. Leith, Shahneam Reza, Timothy Cheng
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

Report on progress at the Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data (CESMD)

Strong-motion data of engineering and scientific importance from the United States and other seismically active countries are served through the Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data (CESMD) at www.strongmotioncenter.org. Recently, the CESMD staff, with cooperation from colleagues at international strong-motion seismic networks, has disseminated strong-motion data from significant earthquakes
Authors
H. Haddadi, A. Shakal, M. Huang, J. Parrish, C. Stephens, William U. Savage, William S. Leith
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

Improved earthquake monitoring in the central and eastern United States in support of seismic assessments for critical facilities

Evaluation of seismic monitoring capabilities in the central and eastern United States for critical facilities - including nuclear powerplants - focused on specific improvements to understand better the seismic hazards in the region. The report is not an assessment of seismic safety at nuclear plants. To accomplish the evaluation and to provide suggestions for improvements using funding from the A
Authors
William S. Leith, Harley M. Benz, Robert B. Herrmann
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

The Global Seismographic Network

No abstract available.
Authors
Lind S. Gee, William S. Leith
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center
Image: Damage to Washington National Cathedral
Damage to Washington National Cathedral
Damage to Washington National Cathedral
Image: Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to the Washington National Cathedral in DC from the earthquake in Virginia on August 23, 2011.

By
Natural Hazards, Communications and Publishing
Image: Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to the Washington National Cathedral in DC from the earthquake in Virginia on August 23, 2011.

By
Natural Hazards, Communications and Publishing
Image: Damage to Washington National Cathedral
Damage to Washington National Cathedral
Damage to Washington National Cathedral
Image: Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to the Washington National Cathedral in DC from the earthquake in Virginia on August 23, 2011.

By
Natural Hazards, Communications and Publishing
Image: Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to Washington National Cathedral

Damage to the Washington National Cathedral in DC from the earthquake in Virginia on August 23, 2011.

By
Natural Hazards, Communications and Publishing

Science and Products