USGS Mendenhall Post-doc Opportunity

The U.S. National Hazards Mapping program produces seismic hazard maps for the country, including the greater Los Angeles metropolitan region. These maps do not currently incorporate "site effects": the effect of shallow geology on earthquake ground motions. Nor do they consider time-dependent hazard. In the large-scale basins and valleys in the Los Angeles region, site effects can be tremendously important in controlling the pattern of shaking and damage following a large earthquake. We moreover have a growing body of literature and information about both observed site effects and shallow geology in southern California, and are moving towards an improved classification of site condition using remote-sensing data. This detailed information can be used to produce a so-called urban earthquake hazard map for the greater Los Angeles region, one that will accurately pinpoint regions where high shaking and damage are likely to occur. Further key refinements to an urban hazard map will be an improved knowledge of fault structure and a systematic evaluation of the effect of past large earthquakes on adjacent faults in the greater Los Angeles region. It is clear that so-called earthquake interactions are an important component of hazard; the temporal and spatial proximity of the 1971 Sylmar and 1994 Northridge earthquake serve as just one example of the importance of this effect. However, while earthquake interactions can be understood retrospectively, further development is needed to incorporate recent scientific advances into future earthquake forecasts. The focus of this opportunity will be on this integration: exploring the extent to which recent developments can improve our ability to assess earthquake hazards.

Proposed Duty Station: Pasadena, CA

Areas of Ph.D.: Geophysics, seismology

Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Geophysicist

(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable depending on the applicant's background, education, and research proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by the Human Resources specialist.)

Research Advisor(s): Susan Hough, (626) 583-7224, hough@usgs.gov; Ned Field, (626) 583-7814, field@usgs.gov; Katherine Kendrick, (626) 583-7821, kendrick@usgs.gov

Human Resources Office contact: Erica Settlemyer, (916) 278-9383, esettlemyer@usgs.gov. For more information, see http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/