My students, colleagues, and I study the earthquake geology, paleoseismology, and geomorphology of fault zones and publish about their history of activity and hazards. I am currently co leader of the SAFS element of SCEC on the Planning Committee. I am cofounder and co-PI of the OpenTopography effort—a portal to the largest collection of freely available high resolution topography data (http://www.opentopography.org/). I have have lead many short courses, workshops, and visioning activities emphasizing high resolution topographic data and tectonic geomorphology. I was the Director of the EarthScope National Office and the Chair of the EarthScope Steering Committee (2014-2015) during which I provided high level coordination between the science community, infrastructure facility groups, the National Science Foundation, and various education and public outreach efforts. I have contributed to scientific community planning and review efforts associated with earthquake hazards for the USGS National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (appointed by USGS Director), the Scientific Review Panel for the Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast 3, and active tectonics expert for nuclear power plant and waste disposal safety. Along with research and service to the profession, I teach courses in Geologic Disasters, Structural Geology, Geomorphology, and Field Geology.
SCEC Participation
Current Roles
SCEC Committee on Professional Conduct, Member (2020) SCEC Science Planning Committee, Group Co-Leader (2012 - 2016, 2018 - Present)
Ferrarini, F., Arrowsmith, R., Brozzetti, F., de Nardis, R., Cirillo, D., & Lavecchia, G. (2019, 08). Seismogenic compression in southern Italy? Morphotectonic analysis to detect possible evidence of Late Quaternary tectonics along the Southern Apennine Outer Front. Poster Presentation at 2019 SCEC Annual Meeting. SCEC Contribution 9738
Bello, S., Arrowsmith, R., Scott, C., Lavecchia, G., Scott, T., De Nardis, R., & Ferrarini, F. (2019, 08). The 1983 Borah Peak earthquake (M7.3) (Idaho - USA) - 3D architecture and seismotectonics along the Lost River fault from field observations and high-resolution topography integrated with seismological data . Poster Presentation at 2019 SCEC Annual Meeting. SCEC Contribution 9418
Scott, T. R., Arrowsmith, R., Scott, C. P., & Lao Davila, D. (2018, 08). Detailed mapping of normal fault array geometry using dm-scale high resolution topographic imagery from the Volcanic Tablelands, Bishop, California. Poster Presentation at 2018 SCEC Annual Meeting. SCEC Contribution 8830
Patyniak, M., Landgraf, A., Arrowsmith, R., Dzhumabaeva , A., Williams, A. M., Abdrakhmatov , K., & Strecker, M. (2018, 08). The Hidden Past of the Alai Valley: Understanding the Seismic History and Behavior of the Central Pamir Frontal Thrust System through Paleoseismology.. Poster Presentation at 2018 SCEC Annual Meeting. SCEC Contribution 8640
Ferrarini, F., Lavecchia, G., de Nardis, R., Arrowsmith, R., Brozzetti, F., & Cirillo, D. (2017, 08). Exploring new seismic hazard scenarios in central Italy: hints about a previously unknown active normal fault highlighted by the Norcia 2016 (Mw 6.5) seismic sequence. Poster Presentation at 2017 SCEC Annual Meeting. SCEC Contribution 7698
Patyniak, M., Landgraf, A., Dzhumabaeva, A., Abdrakhmatov, K., Rosenwinkel, S., Korup, O., Preusser, F., Fohlmeister, J., Arrowsmith, R., & Strecker, M. (2017, 08). Paleoseismic Record of Three Holocene Earthquakes Rupturing the Issyk-Ata Fault near Bishkek, North Kyrgyzstan. Poster Presentation at 2017 SCEC Annual Meeting. SCEC Contribution 7501
Nissen, E., Krishnan, A. K., Arrowsmith, R. R., & Saripalli, S. (2012). Three-dimensional surface displacements and rotations from differencing pre- and post-earthquake Lidar point clouds. Geophysical Research Letters, 39(16), L16301. doi: 10.1029/2012GL052460. SCEC Contribution 1768
