     
Geophysics
Earthquakes – Fault zones – Earth structure – Geodynamics – Geomagnetism
Geophysical studies at USC are trying to better understand the entirety of the Earth’s interior and its dynamics across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Our research focuses on earthquakes and related fault-zone processes, lithospheric dynamics, mantle convection and its relationships to thermal evolution of the Earth and plate tectonic activity, and ventures to greater depths where outer core/mantle interactions occur and core processes generate the Earth’s magnetic field.
Through a cluster of teaching and research faculty, as well as hosting the Southern California Earthquake Center, we have particular strengths in the study of earthquake source physics, fault zone structure and interactions, paleoseismology, structural imaging of the deep Earth using numerical and analog modeling and interpretation in terms of dynamic processes, and paleomagnetic field variability associated with the core geodynamo.
We all have strong ties with other groups at USC, from tectonics across to geobiology, but the following teaching faculty consider themselves as geophysicists at the core:
| Thorsten Becker |
mantle and fault system dynamics, structural seismology |
| Yehuda Ben-Zion |
earthquake physics, damage rheology, seismic fault zone waves |
| James Dolan |
active tectonics and paleoseismology, tectonic geomorphology |
| Thomas Jordan |
earthquakes, earth structure, continental and mantle dynamics |
| Steve Lund |
secular variation, excursions, rock magnetism, geodynamo
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| Meghan Miller |
structural and observational seismology, tectonophysics
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| Charles Sammis |
fracture mechanics, fault zone structure and constitutive laws |
| Ta-liang (Leon) Teng |
observational seismology, early warning, seismic instrumentation
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Recent research highlights include:
documentation of fault activity switching in southern California—seismicity analysis for oceanic transform faults—seismic imaging advances—theoretical and observational studies of bimaterial ruptures—microphysics of friction—the role of damage for faulting—studies of radial seismic anisotropy in the upper mantle—imaging slab tears and their role for volcanism—quantifying the temporal variability of plate tectonics and heat transport throughout the Cenozoic— new estimates of the space/time pattern of paleomagnetic field associated with Holocene secular variation and excursions.
We seek students with an Earth science, physics, engineering or math background who are interested in a quantitative analysis of how the solid Earth works. Through their graduate work, they can expect to make significant contributions within an interdisciplinary and diverse team that is embedded in active collaborations across the globe, from Asia to Europe and the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific.
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