2025 SCEC Statewide GFM/CTM Workshop

Identifying critical datasets and organizing the community of volunteers working to update and extend the Geological Framework Model (GFM) and Community Thermal Model (CTM) 

Date: August 14-15, 2025
Location: University of California, Davis
Workshop Organizers: Mike Oskin (UC Davis), Andrew Zuza (UNR), Terry Lee (UNR), Laurent Montesi (U Maryland), Oliver Boyd (USGS), Yuehua Zeng (USGS), Sierra Rack (UC Davis)
SCEC Award: 25340

Overview

Developing Community Earth Models (CEMs) is a central initiative of the Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC). With the recent expansion of SCEC’s statewide scope, there is an urgent need to broaden the geographical coverage of these models. Among the key components of the CEMs are the Geological Framework Model (GFM) and the Community Thermal Model (CTM), which serve as foundational elements for other models such as the Community Rheology Model (CRM). These models provide essential context for interpreting velocity, geodetic, and stress data.

SCEC’s success will, in part, be measured by its ability to extend these models and other CEM components into northern California. This joint GFM and CTM workshop aims to identify critical datasets and mobilize the community of volunteers dedicated to updating and expanding these models to encompass the entire state of California.

The SCEC GFM/CTM workshop will be held at the University of California, Davis, and will span a day and a half of presentations, discussions, and breakout sessions aimed at advancing Community Earth Models across California. Day 1 will feature model reviews, short contributed talks, and focused discussions on northern California geology and CTM methods. Day 2 will include a recap, an invited overview of the Community Fault Model, and breakout sessions to define next steps for the GFM and CTM.

We welcome applications from individuals across all disciplines relevant to the development of a geological framework or rheological model of California. We especially encourage participation from students, postdocs, and early career scientists. In-person attendance is limited to 40 participants who will be selected on the basis of their statement of interest and the potential of their contributions to the community rheology and geological framework development efforts. Limited travel support will be available. Applicants not accepted will receive a link to join the workshop via Zoom.

August 14, 2025

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7). 

Presentation materials may be viewed by clicking the links below. PLEASE NOTE: Files are the author’s property. They may contain unpublished or preliminary information and should only be used for reviewing the talk. Only the presentations for which SCEC has received permission to post publicly are included below.

TimeAgenda ItemSpeaker
09:00 - 09:15Session 1: Introduction, logistics, and objectives
09:15 - 10:15Session 2: GFM/CTM reviews, comparison, and validation
09:15 - 09:35A statewide geological frameworkMike Oskin & Sierra Rack (UC Davis)
09:35 - 09:45Discussion
09:45 - 10:05Ongoing 3D geologic mapping from the Valley to the CoastRuss Graymer (USGS)
10:05 - 10:15Discussion
10:15 - 10:30Break
10:30 - 10:50Updates on the CTM (PDF)Terry Lee (UNR)
10:50 - 11:10Conterminous United States thermal models (PDF)Oliver Boyd (USGS)
11:10 - 11:30Community models: From geology to rheology (PDF)Laurent Montesi (U. Maryland)
11:20 - 11:30Discussion
11:30 - 12:00General Discussion
12:00 - 13:00Lunch Break
13:00 - 15:45Session 3: Contributed talks
13:00 - 13:06A geologically-consistent 3D thermal model of central and southern CaliforniaÁngela Maria Gómez Garcia
13:06 - 13:12Integrating 3D geologic framework information into Macrostrat's descriptive Earth modelDaven Quinn (UW– Madison)
13:12 - 13:18The geologic framework in the USGS National Crustal Model for seismic hazard studies (PDF)Oliver Boyd (USGS)
13:18 - 13:241:24:000 scale geologic mapping in the northern Walker Lane, NW Nevada.Ryan Goldsby (UNR / Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology)
13:24 - 13:30Coupling diverse datasets to develop a 3D structural model of the San Joaquin Fold-and-Thrust BeltRobert Welch (Loyola Marymount University/Harvard)
13:30 - 13:36Do borehole breakouts tell us about regional stress or local structures?Sarah Titus (Carleton College)
13:36 - 13:42Work toward multiscale statewide CVM (PDF)Yehuda Ben-Zion (USC)
13:42 - 13:48Characterization of heat flow and fault zone properties in eastern CaliforniaZachary Smith (UC Berkeley)
13:48 - 13:54Lower seismogenic depth model for western US earthquake ruptures (PDF)Yuehua Zeng (USGS)
13:54 - 14:15General discussion
14:15 - 14:30Break
14:30 - 15:45Contributed talks continued
14:30 - 14:42Active tectonics in northern California and the evolving lithospheric thermal structure (PDF)Kevin Furlong (Penn State)
14:42 - 14:54Geochemistry-strength evolution in silicate crust during post-seismic healingChristie Rowe (UNR)
14:54 - 15:00Low-frequency earthquakes track the evolution of a captured slab fragmentAmanda Thomas (UC Davis)
15:06 - 15:12A rock-centric framework for earthquake dynamics and its applications in southern CaliforniaBinhao Wang (USC)
15:12 - 15:18Near-surface (<1-km depth) location and characterization of faulting with 30-minute surveys (PDF)John Louie (Terēan)
15:18 - 15:24ShakeAlert in the Age of AI: Using DL to Predict Station Failure using State of Health DataFabia Terra (UC Berkeley)
15:24 - 15:30A compilation of velocity models for central CaliforniaGary Fuis (USGS)
15:30 - 15:45General discusion
15:45 - 16:00Break
16:00 - 17:30Session 4: Breakouts
Breakout #1: Discussion of major lithotectonic units of northern CA
Breakout #2: Discussion of CTM methods and comparisons

SCEC Community Earth Models (CEM) and Datasets

CEMs are collaborative platforms featuring community-contributed data, models, and tools for earthquake system analysis. They enable 3D visualization, data exploration, sharing, and integrated modeling. 

August 15, 2025

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7). 

TimeAgenda ItemSpeaker
08:30 - 09:00

Session 1: Introduction and recap of Day 1

09:00 - 10:00Session 2: Invited overview CFM
09:00 - 09:25CFM and CEM (PDF)Scott Marshall (Appalachian State)
09:25 - 09:50Crescent community modelsBecky Fildes (Western Washington University)
09:50 - 10:15The San Francisco Bay Area CVMEvan Hirakawa (USGS)
10:00 - 11:30Session 3: Breakout discussions on either GFM or CTM
Breakout #1: Moving forward with GFM
Breakout #2: Moving forward with CTM
11:30 - 12:00Wrap up
12:00Workshop Adjourns

Participants

* Remote Participant

Last NameFirst NameOrganization
AguilarBrianCSU Bakersfield
ArnowAlecUC Davis student
Ben-ZionYehudaUSC/SCEC
BoydDanielCalifornia Geological Survey
BoydOliverUSGS
BoydSierraBerkeley Seismological Laboratory
*DunhamEricStanford University
ElbannaAhmedUniversity of Southern California
FildesBeckyWestern Washington
FurlongKevinPenn State Univerisity
GoldsbyRyanUNR
*Gómez GarciaÁngela MariaCSIC/GFZ
*GraymerRussellUSGS
HirakawaEvanUSGS
HwangLorraineUC Davis CIG
*LangenheimVictoriaUSGS
LeeWai Ho (Terry)University of Nevada, Reno
LouieJohnTerēan
*MarshallScottAppalachian State
MartinHannahNevada Seismological Laboratory, UNR
MontesiLaurentUniversity of Maryland
OskinMichaelUC Davis
QuinnDavenUW–Madison
RackSierraUC Davis
RoweChristieUNR - Nevada Seismo Lab
SmithZacharyUniversity of California Berkeley
TerraFabiaUC Berkeley
ThomasAmandaUC Davis
TianXiaochuanUC Davis
TitusSarahCarleton College
WangBinhaoUniversity of Southern California
WelchRobertLoyola Marymount University/Harvard University
YoungElaineCalifornia Geological Survey
ZengYuehuaUSGS
ZuzaAndrewUniversity of Nevada, Reno

SCEC Activities Code of Conduct

The Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC) fosters a diverse and inclusive community where everyone feels safe, productive, and welcome. We expect all participants in SCEC-supported events to uphold this commitment by adhering to the SCEC Activities Code of Conduct.

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