For those interested in the SCEC Geologic Slip Rate Database (GSRD) project and contributing, this background page offers essential information to get started.
The SCEC Geologic Slip Rate Database (GSRD) brings together field-derived geologic slip-rate estimates for faults across California, Nevada, and adjacent regions, focusing on geologic measurements rather than geodetic measurements or categorical rates used in hazard models. Because slip rates record fault motion over thousands of years, they provide essential observations for earthquake research and seismic hazard assessment. Each record includes site location, slip rate, uncertainty (when available), references, and other information, making it easier to find existing estimates for a fault or region and connect with the underlying studies. The GSRD presents published estimates without evaluating or endorsing their quality or accuracy; it is intended to simplify discovery, not replace careful reading and interpretation of the primary literature.
Building on decades of slip-rate compilation. The SCEC GSRD builds on decades of work by the many individuals who compiled geologic slip-rate information for earlier earthquake-hazard efforts. Its foundation includes estimates assembled for the third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, a statewide earthquake forecast for California, and later carried forward into the earthquake-geology inputs for the U.S. Geological Survey’s 2023 National Seismic Hazard Model. The GSRD extends this legacy by bringing established, new, and revised information into a living resource that can continue to grow through community input.
Contributing new slip-rate information. The SCEC GSRD is a living archive that depends on careful data management, literature review, and input from the research community. The database preserves qualifying records from legacy compilations, including information from sources that may not meet the criteria established for new submissions. New, missing, or potentially inaccurate information may be submitted through the SCEC GSRD User Submission and Feedback Form. Future additions must be documented in a peer-reviewed scholarly publication or an academic thesis and be publicly accessible, ideally through a Digital Object Identifier (DOI). Although this criterion may exclude some valuable studies, it reflects the GSRD’s focus on peer-reviewed, published data. Submissions will be reviewed for possible inclusion in a future release; timing depends on available funding, personnel, and other considerations. Submission does not guarantee inclusion in the GSRD, future U.S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Model updates, or other products.
GSRD Spatial Extent and Data Scope
The SCEC Geologic Slip Rate Database (GSRD) includes georeferenced study sites across California, Nevada, and northern Mexico, spanning −125.00 to −114.04 longitude and 31.70 to 42.00 latitude. Each site represents a published slip-rate estimate derived from geologic field measurements rather than geodetic measurements or categorical hazard-model rates. Records include site location, slip rate, uncertainty where available, references, and other study information. Because the GSRD compiles observations from individual studies rather than a continuous model or uniform grid, site distribution reflects where qualifying field measurements have been published. Data are available in Excel, CSV, and KML formats.
GSRD Latest Release (v2026.08)
Version 2026.08 (McGill et al., 2026) is the first release to include sites beyond the U.S. Geological Survey’s 2023 earthquake-geology compilation. It adds or revises 105 sites, bringing the database to 439 fully documented sites across California, Nevada, and northernmost Mexico. SEE ALL RELEASES
CEMs are collaborative platforms featuring community-contributed data, models, and tools for earthquake system analysis. CEMs enable 3D visualization, data exploration, sharing, and integrated analyses.
Geologic Slip Rate Database (GSRD)
geologic slip rates for CA, NV, and northern Mexico
SCEC’s GSRD centralizes field-derived geologic slip rates crucial for seismic hazard estimates (e.g., NSHM), linked to relevant source publications. As a living archive, it welcomes updates via a user submission form.
Community Fault Model (CFM)
3D geometric representations of faults in California
CFM is an object-oriented, 3D representation of active faults in California, including geometries, depths, and slip potential. Explore and download data for use in fault system modeling, seismic hazard analyses, and other applications.
Community Stress Model (CSM)
suite of stress and stressing rate models
The CSM provides estimates of stress and stressing rates for various regions of California. The suite of models, derived using a variety of methods and datasets, are presented on a consistent grid.
Unified Community Velocity Model (UCVM)
software for accessing seismic velocity models
A standard interface to multiple seismic velocity models that can be used to create velocity meshes for 3D wavefield simulations. UCVM is used by researchers working with Earth material properties on regional or local scales.
Community Geodetic Model (CGM)
Earth surface displacement from GNSS and InSAR
The CGM integrates high-precision GNSS and InSAR data to provide velocities and time series of Earth’s surface movements. Data comes from a number of contributing researchers, institutions and analysis centers.
Community Rheology Model (CRM)
3D ductile rheology of lithosphere in California
The CRM provides a detailed, physics-based 3D model of ductile rheology (rock flow) for Southern California’s lithosphere. The explorer provides an interface to query temperature, pressure, and rheology data.
Community Thermal Model (CTM)
estimates of temperature and thermal properties
The CTM provides estimates of temperatures and thermal properties of the southern California lithosphere and asthenosphere. Currently, the CTM includes two models, each based on different methods.
Precariously Balanced Rock (PBR) Database
field-derived data for PBRs in California
The database contains photographs, locations, and metadata for PBRs, valuable for constraining seismic hazard estimates and validating ground motion predictions. An interactive map viewer facilitates data exploration and querying.
The Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC) prioritizes access to its software tools and data by both the scientific community and the public. Through open-source software and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data practices, we strive for SCEC software and data to remain discoverable, usable, and citable for future research.
To ensure proper credit for the development and use of SCEC Community Earth Models, we kindly request that you cite the specific model(s) you utilize in your research or for other applications. This helps track usage and acknowledge the contributions of the many model developers and researchers, who have invested significant effort and expertise to advance SCEC Community Earth Models.
Most models have Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) on Zenodo. Use the links below to find the appropriate citation:
The citation is typically located in a gray box labeled “Citation” on the right side of the Zenodo page. For example:
