Earthquake Geology

The Geology Disciplinary Group supports hypothesis-driven research that uses the geologic record of the Southern California natural laboratory to address the over-arching SCEC goals of (A1-A7) physics-based probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and (B2-B5) ground motion prediction. The Committee also encourages data-gathering activities that will contribute demonstrably significant geologic information to (C) community data sets such as the Unified Structural Representation and Fault Activity Database. Types of geologic research supported include paleoseismic documentation of earthquake ages and displacement, geologic and geomorphic investigations of fault geometry, evolution, and slip rates at Quaternary time-scales, characterization of fault-zone processes and distributed anelastic deformation, and development of geologic constraints of strong ground motions. Collaborative proposals that cut across disciplinary boundaries are especially encouraged.

The shared geochronology infrastructure supports C-14, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and cosmogenic dating for SCEC-sponsored research. The purpose of shared geochronology infrastructure is to allow flexibility in the number and type of dates applied to each SCEC-funded project as investigations proceed. Investigators requesting geochronology support must estimate the number and type of dates needed in their proposal. The cost of these dates should not be included in the proposal budget. Investigators are also requested to email the number and type of dates requested to the geology group leader prior to the SCEC proposal submission deadline in order to help coordinate the annual infrastructure proposal. Researchers may request support for geochronology outside of the infrastructure proposal for methods not listed here or if justified on a cost-basis. These outside requests must be included in the individual proposal budget.