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Intern Programs Home SURE UseIT Mentor(s): Sally McGill
Two interns are needed to collect GPS data at various locations in the San Bernardino Mountains, Riverside/San Bernardino Valley and high desert areas. The goal of this project is to monitor elastic strain accumulation in the vicinity of the San Andreas fault. The interns will travel throughout the San Bernardino Mountains and surrounding valleys to set up GPS equipment and monitor it throughout the day. Many of the sites are remote and will require strenuous hiking, carrying the GPS equipment as well as batteries or a solar panel. Some sites will require car camping. The interns should be in good physical condition and should enjoy hiking. The intern will have access to CSUSB’s 4WD vehicle (if they have a valid CALIFORNIA driver’s license), or may be reimbursed for mileage on their own vehicles. There will be a 6-day intensive data collection campaign from Friday June 25 through Wednesday June 30, during which GPS data will be collected from numerous sites simultaneously. This will be preceded by training sessions on June 23 and 24. During the remainder of July and early August the interns will collect GPS data at other sites that were not observed during the primary campaign. Interns will also learn how to interpret GPS time series from previously collected data and to conduct one-dimensional elastic modeling of GPS date for fault slip rates in southern California. For interns who do not live within easy commuting distance of San Bernardino I will post an email announcement on our campus email soliciting faculty and staff who have a room to rent. Interns will pay for rent and other living expenses out of their stipend. Research Location: San Bernardino and vicinity Institution: California State University, San Bernardino Number of Interns Needed: 2 Required Skills/Coursework: Trigonometry, Introductory Geology, Good physical condition, Willingness to hike in steep terrain. At least ONE of the two interns should have a California driver's license (or own a high-clearance vehicle that they are willing to drive to field sites, with mileage reimbursement). Desirable Skills/Coursework: Neotectonics, Tectonics or Structural Geology California driver's license General Time Span: Interns MUST be available June 21 - June 30. Interns should plan to start June 21 and spend at least 8 weeks on the project before they need to return to school. Mentor(s): Gareth Funning and Michael Floyd
The proposed project is for a GPS resurvey of geodetic benchmarks surrounding the San Jacinto valley and Anza segments of the San Jacinto fault, in order to better determine the rate of movement of the fault. The northern San Jacinto fault is currently considered the second most likely to sustain a major (magnitude > 6.5) earthquake in southern California; this project would assist significantly our understanding of the likely seismic hazard, and place constraints on future seismic hazard models. All of the sites to be surveyed are located within a short driving distance of the host institution, UCR. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning of, obtaining permitting for and conducting the survey, as well as updating site descriptions, processing, analyzing and archiving the data. Simple 2D and 3D elastic dislocation models will be used to estimate the slip rate for the fault, and how it may vary along-strike. Full training in the operation of the GPS equipment, GPS data processing and modeling of the data will be provided. The project would be ideal for candidates with some scientific computing skills who are interested in fieldwork. Some background in geology is desirable, but not essential. Research Location: Processing and analysis at UCR, fieldwork along the northern San Jacinto fault Institution: University of California, Riverside Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: Familiarity with the Unix/Linux/MacOSX command line. Possession of a valid driver's license. Desirable Skills/Coursework: Familiarity with shell scripting/Perl/Python and basic computer programming/MATLAB would be helpful. Knowledge of GPS theory, structural geology, and of crustal deformation and/or active tectonics would be a bonus. General Time Span: Project can be undertaken between May and mid-September Mentor(s): Jamison Steidl, Sandy Seale, Francesco Civilini, Hank Ratzesberger, and Paul Hegarty
The SCEC borehole instrumentation program is a data gathering effort that coordinates making seismic observations from instruments located within boreholes in southern California. Recently a web-based data dissemination portal has been developed to facilitate easier access to this particular subset of seismic data. This project would utilize 1-2 undergraduate researchers to assist with the ongoing integration of the SCEC borehole data into this new web-portal. The students would be using the Antelope software package and custom scripts to process data and metadata from the SCEC borehole stations. Depending on level of expertise, some web programming may also be part of the project. Research Location: UCSB and Field Sites Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara Number of Interns Needed: 1-2 (shared with potential NEES REU funding) Required Skills/Coursework: General level of comfort working with computers and a desire to learn. Desirable Skills/Coursework: Familiarity with the Unix/MAC OSX operating system. Familiarity with web programming and database technology. General understanding of earthquakes and seismology. General Time Span: May or June through August or Early September. This could be a SURE or ACCESS project given the web and database components of the project. Mentor(s): Michele Cooke, Mariel Schottenfeld, and Justin Herbert
Geologic evidence suggests that active fault traces are not fixed features; new fault segments develop and some active segments shut down. Within Southern California, shifts in active fault configuration have been linked to long term tectonic changes, such as the transition from Miocene extension to present-day transpression (e.g. Wright). Even within the past 500k years, the geometry of active faults in areas such as the San Gorgonio Pass as shifted (e.g., Matti and Morton, 1993). For example, the geologic evidence suggests that the kinked Mission Creek fault segment was abandoned for the straighter Mill Creek segment around 250 kya (Matti and Morton, 1993). On even shorter time spans, the 1991 Lander’s earthquake shows evidence of rupture along new fault segments that link previous separate offset faults. This project explores how fault segments can be abandoned and new segments grow within analog table top experiments. The experiments use wet clay as an analog for crustal materials. A kinked fault is cut into the clay cake and then electric motors controlled by a computer load the clay box in shear. With a laser scanner we are able to extract quantitative information about the distribution of shear through the clay cake as fault segments are abandoned and new segments grow. So essentially, we watch faults die and get born in our lab. Research Location: UMass - Amherst Institution: University of Massachusetts Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: Structural geology Desirable Skills/Coursework: Some mechanical skill is desirable but not needed. All experimental work involves some fussiness and so an enjoyment of problem solving is a great asset. General Time Span: Late May to Mid August Mentor(s): Michele Cooke, Heather Savage, Justin Herbert, and Mariel Schottenfeld
Corrugations are a common feature of exhumed faults and likely play a role in localizing slip. Despite their commonality, their origin remains unknown, therefore, there is no general understanding of which types of faults are more or less likely to be corrugated and hence more or less localized in their behavior. There is also no current use of the corrugations for providing insight into fault resistance. Here we propose to investigate the formation of corrugations along normal faults. We will isolate and investigate one potential mechanism of formation, linkage, by using clay analog models undergoing extension. The model-created fault surfaces will be scanned at 100 µm resolution and compared to the surface roughness of a suite of natural normal faults that were scanned using ground-based LiDAR. The clay analog models are an effective means of isolating a process and testing whether or not it is able to recreate the geometrical properties seen in the field. Should linkage be a mechanism consistent with the data, we will establish both a new tool to investigate fault history and a means for evaluating the nature of fault propagation and off-fault damage. The project explores the development of fault corrugations within table top analog experiments in wet clay. Analog experiments are a great way to explore fault development because the tectonic controllable and we can observe and document the development of faults within a few hours. The wet clay reveals corrugations in the direction of fault slip. With a laser scanner we can record the topoology of the fault corrugations revealed on the footwall of normal faults. Careful experiments using the servo-controlled apparatus will explore the potential development of fault corrugations via fault linkage. Research Location: UMass-Amherst and UC Santa Cruz Institution: UMass- AMherst Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: Desirable Skills/Coursework: Comfort with learning new computer software Mechanical skills help greatly when problem solving in the lab. General Time Span: end May - mid August Mentor(s): Zhigang Peng and Kevin Chao
Deep “non-volcanic” tremor and episodic slow-slip events are among the most interesting discoveries in earthquake seismology in the last decade. These events have much longer source durations than regular earthquakes, and are generally located near or below the seismogenic zone where regular earthquakes occur. Tremor and slow-slip events have been found at many places in the circum-Pacific subduction zones, and along the San Andreas fault in central California. Systematic studies of tremor and slow-slip events could lead to a more complete picture of how faults slip and release tectonic stresses, which is critical for understanding earthquake physics and evaluating seismic hazard. Recently both triggered and regular tremor has been found in southern California along the San Jacinto Fault near Anza. However, the newly identified tremor in southern California appears to be less active as compared with those in central California. It is still not clear whether this is due to different quality of seismic instrumentation, or caused by inherent difference in the tremor activity in these regions. We plan to involve an undergraduate intern to continue our study of tremor in southern California. In particular, the intern will learn how to download and organize seismic data, and assist in identifying low-frequency earthquakes within triggered and regular tremor in this region. The obtained results would be useful for better understanding the necessary conditions for tremor occurrence, and the relationship between tremor and earthquakes and faults in southern California. Research Location: Atlanta Institution: Georgia Tech Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: Basic UNIX/Introduction to Geophysics or equivalent Desirable Skills/Coursework: Computer Programming (Matlab or C preferred)/Introduction to Seismology General Time Span: June 1st to August 13th Mentor(s): Maren Boese and Egill Hauksson
Earthquake early warning (EEW) requires fast and robust predictions of earthquake source and ground motion parameters shortly after the initiation of an earthquake. If given in a timely manner, warnings can be used to trigger and execute automatic measures to reduce expected damage at distant sites. Over the past three years the California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN) has tested the real-time performance of three algorithms for providing EEW in California: the single-sensor based τc-Pd on-site and the network-based (2) ElarmS, and the (3) Virtual Seismologist (VS) algorithms. The algorithms have successfully detected many earthquakes and in some cases predicted the peak ground shaking a few seconds before it was felt. In the next three years we plan to migrate from three semi-parallel processing threads to a single integrated system, called CISN ShakeAlert. This prototype thread will provide a continuum of earthquake alert information that will be passed to a small group of collaborating test users to develop procedures and formats that could be used in a complete end-to-end prototype warning system in the future. We are seeking for a curious and motivated student who will be involved in the development and optimization of the CISN ShakeAlert system, including, e.g., the estimation of the system performance during several possible earthquake scenarios in Southern and Northern California, considering, e.g., the available warning times, uncertainties in the predicted source and ground motion parameters and finite fault effects during large earthquakes. The successful candidate may also assist us in developing a user display for visualizing information and warnings provided by the ShakeAlert system, or analyze and optimize the performance of single-sensor based algorithms for EEW. Research Location: Pasadena Institution: California Institute of Technology Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: Motivated, able to work independently Desirable Skills/Coursework: Unix/Linux experience, programming skills (e.g. MATLAB, C, C++..), GIS, basics in seismology General Time Span: June to August Mentor(s): David Oglesby and David Bowman
Students participating in this project will work with Faculty at UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton to model the dynamics of branched faults under realistic (and complex) modeling assumptions. The SCEC intern will construct, run, and analyze numerical models under a variety of assumptions about fault geometry and material properties. In spite of their cutting-edge nature, these models should be accessible to a motivated and technically competent undergraduate in the physical sciences. We plan to investigate the dynamics of fault systems such as • Multiple (i.e., > 3) fault branches intersecting at a single point—which path is most likely, and how does rupture on one segment affect slip on neighboring segments? A 2D parameter study may be appropriate in this case. • Fault branches that are separated by varying gaps—is the most likely branch the same if a gap is present for all branch segments? • Fault branches where there is a damage zone in or near the branch region. • Slip partitioning in thrust systems rather than oblique-normal systems, where the increments of normal stress change are of opposite sign. In all cases, we will compare our results with similar observed fault systems in nature. This is part of a long-term collaboration between UCR & CSUF involving SCEC Interns. Research Location: UC Riverside & Cal State Fullerton Institution: California State University, Fullerton Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: Upper-division Geology Major Desirable Skills/Coursework: familiarity with UNIX & Matlab. Prefer students who have taken ntro Seismology/Geophysics General Time Span: Summer 2010 Mentor(s): Christie Rowe and Emily Brodsky
Faults and rock fractures are not smooth and the irregularities on the surfaces are important in controlling the friction during slip. The patterns in the roughness contain information about the way the fracture formed and past slip it has experienced. In particular, slickenlines on fault surfaces are used by field geologists to determine the direction of slip on a fault but little is known about how exactly they form and evolve through complex slip events. In order to study these features, very detailed maps of fracture surfaces are required. We are acquiring the PEAK apparatus formerly in use at LLNL for mapping natural and experimental rock fracture surfaces. The device needs to be cleaned up, some hardware may be updated and the software drivers need development. Our existing white light interferometer can be used for comparison measurements. The intern will have the opportunity to help install the PEAK apparatus at UC Santa Cruz. Our research group has several active field sites in California and the intern will have the option to participate in field collection of natural fault and fracture samples for mapping. Research Location: UC Santa Cruz Institution: University of California, Santa Cruz Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: We are looking for someone who can take apart complicated things and put them back together, particularly someone with experience in electronics and controls. Experience with Labview software would be very useful. Desirable Skills/Coursework: Interest in geophysics/ earthquake geology. General Time Span: Summer 2010. Prefer mid-May to mid-September. Mentor(s): Jamie Kirkpatrick and Emily Brodsky
Faulting in the upper crust ubiquitously produces gouges and cataclasites that are at least in part derived from wear and abrasion of the local wall rocks. Microstructural analyses indicate that grain fracturing, rolling and grain boundary sliding are the typical deformation mechanisms in such fault rocks. In some cases, there is evidence to suggest the materials are agitated sufficiently to behave like to gases, implying the materials undergo a change in state at high strain rates. When large shear stresses are applied to these materials, for example during an earthquake, the rheological response of the material controls the rupture propagation. However, the transition from a static solid material to a dynamically deforming material and the behavior of the material as it is sheared rapidly are poorly understood. The implications for earthquakes are therefore largely unknown. We wish to investigate the physical characteristics of fault rocks that are thought to be critical in determining the dynamic behaviour of granular materials. Image analysis techniques will be used to measure grain size and shape distributions, sorting and packing in samples collected from coastal exposures near Santa Cruz. By comparison with experimental and theoretical relationships, the results will reveal the changes in state and strain rates experienced by the material during a slip event. Strain rate during slip events is currently exceptionally difficult to constrain from geologic observations of fault gouges; these results could provide a new tool to identify seismic events in the rock record. Research Location: Santa Cruz Institution: UC Santa Cruz Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: Thin section skills & optical mineralogy Desirable Skills/Coursework: Structural geology a plus General Time Span: Summer 2010 Mentor(s): Rowena Lohman William Barnhart
This project will involve the examination of InSAR data spanning southern Iran, where several cm per year of convergence between Saudi Arabia and Eurasia is accommodated through faulting and folding. The main goal of this project will be to determine whether InSAR can resolve how much of the motion occurs aseismically (without earthquakes) by looking at two decades of data. The project will primarily involve work on a computer processing and interpreting satellite imagery. Research Location: Cornell University Institution: Cornell University Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: Desirable Skills/Coursework: Some programming experience helpful but not necessary General Time Span: Flexible - starting the beginning of July is best. Mentor(s): Greg Beroza
We address the important question of the magnitude-frequency distribution for large strike-slip faults. Some recent studies have argued in favor of Gutenberg-Richter distribution, while others have argued for statistics that favor large earthquakes of a characteristic size. In an initial examination of this question, we considered the century-long instrumental catalog of earthquakes for two large strike-slip faults that ruptured along most of their length during the 20th century: the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault in western Canada and southeastern Alaska, and the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey. For each of these faults, we analyzed the available earthquake catalogs, took into consideration their detection thresholds, and tested the confidence with which the observed earthquake activity could be considered a realization of a Gutenberg-Richter distribution using the Kolmogorov-Smirnoff test on the cumulative distributions. The relatively inaccurate locations in both areas prevent us from restricting our analysis to earthquakes on the fault itself. Instead, we were forced to consider earthquakes from a band of substantial width (~100 km) astride the fault. We tested over a range of possible b-values to construct a 95% confidence interval bounding an area believed to contain the true b-value if one exists. We found that in both cases the seismicity could be considered a realization of a Gutenberg-Richter distribution. The confidence interval for the Queen Charlotte region spans a b-value range of 0.5-0.63 and for the North Anatolian Fault spans 0.54-0.88. However, the near total lack of moderate earthquakes along the rupture zones of the M 7-8 events suggests that the Gutenberg-Richter distribution may not accurately characterize the size distribution of earthquakes on individual faults. Research Location: Stanford University Institution: Stanford University Number of Interns Needed: 1 Required Skills/Coursework: Desirable Skills/Coursework: General Time Span: For more information contact: SCEC Education Programs Office of Experiential Learning & Career Advancement internships@scec.org 213-821-6340 |
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