SCEC/USGS Workshop: California 3D Seismic Velocity Models
Date:  Sunday, September 10th, 8 am to 4 pm
Location: SCEC Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, CA
Organizers: Cliff Thurber, Egill Hauksson, Peter Shearer, Felix Waldhauser

The goal of this workshop is to bring together interested scientists to develop a plan for the construction of California-wide 3-D seismic velocity models. These models will be used for a variety of purposes, such as improving earthquake locations, calculating 3-D finite-fault wave-propagation effects, modeling source mechanisms, and interpreting tectonic structures. There are other valuable aspects to consider as well, including providing a 3-D structural framework for facilitating statewide hazard estimates, and research using data from the USArray stations deployed in California.

The workshop will:

1. Review the current state of the art of existing 3D velocity models for northern and southern California
2. Develop "Vision" for the statewide model - construction and utilization
3. Review new methods that will be required to assemble a statewide model
4. Draft plans for how to proceed with building statewide models, including Vp, Vs, and density

The primary groups that we envision participating in the workshop are the principals involved in regional 3-D tomography modeling in California and Nevada, from universities, the USGS, and other government labs. The results of the 3-D model development and its practical implementation are ultimately expected to be of extremely wide interest to geoscientists working in California, so some representation from "users" would be appropriate.