Geophysical data collected within rupture zones of significant earthquakes are essential for testing and developing further models of earthquake processes. Focusing on in-situ observations in the immediate vicinity of fault zones where rocks suffer permanent deformation during faulting events could transform the understanding of earthquake physics, improve ground motion prediction estimates, and contribute to structural engineering efforts to mitigate earthquake impacts. This initiative has been called Rupture and Fault Zone Observatory (RuFZO) and Near-Fault Observatory (NFO) semi-interchangeably as community engagement proceeds.
For background on the community near-fault observatory concept, please read this article, watch this presentation (<15 minutes), or review these slides (.pdf).
Research geologists Belle Philibosian, Gordon Seitz, and Stephan Bork document fault offsets from the 2019 M 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake. (Photo credit: Katherine Kendrick, USGS)
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We are gathering community input through a variety of methods including workshops, breakout sessions, and other opportunities for participation. Please consider joining us at one or more of the following events to provide your input and get involved. You can also reach out via this form.
Upcoming events:
- Stay tuned, more events to be announced!
Past events:
- 2023 SCEC - Rupture and Fault Zone Observatory Workshop - Covened by Ahmed Elbanna, Gail Atkinson, Pieter-Ewald Share (September 10, 2023 9-11:45am PT | Palm Springs, California, USA)
- Measuring Near-field Transient and Secular Strain Accumulation and Release along Fault-Zones (notes) - Convened by Chris Milliner and Roger Bilham (January 23, 2022 4-5:30pm ET | Virtual)
- Andrea Donnellan (NASA) - "Triggered slip and postseismic dissipation of stress on faults in the Salton Trough associated with the 2010 El Mayor – Cucapah earthquake"
- Roger Bilham (University of Colorado Boulder) - "creeping and sleeping faults" (slides)
- David Mencin (EarthScope) - "A new window on rupture and shallow fault processes using arrays of inexpensive fiber-optic strainmeters in small diameter boreholes: connecting the lab to field"
- Rupture Dynamics and Earthquake Source Properties Breakout Session - Convened by Ahmed Elbanna and Daniel Trugman (October 28, 2022 2:30-4pm ET | Virtual)
- Alice Agnes-Gabriel (UCSD) - "Multi-scale observations and 3D earthquake rupture dynamics modeling - from confrontation to integration"
- David Shelly (USGS) - "Lessons from long-term observation of the San Andreas at Parkfield: From the earthquake prediction era, to the slow slip era, to …?"
- Earthquake Ground Motions Around Faults Breakout Session (pre-session info) - Convened by Gail Atkinson and Jamie Steidl (October 27, 2022 12:30-2pm ET | Virtual)
- Ken Hudnut (SCE) - "Zipper Arrays" (slides)
- Greg Lavrentiadis (UCLA) - "Overview of Non-ergodic Ground Motion Models and Near Fault Data Contributions" (slides)
- Norm Abrahamson (Berkeley) - "Comments on Community Near-Fault Observatory"
- Annemarie Baltay (USGS) - "A smattering of ground-motion observations"
- Albert Kottke (PGE) - "Understanding the Details: It’s a waiting game" (slides)
- Subsurface Fault Zone Structure Breakout Session (notes)- Convened by Pieter Share and Frank Vernon (October 13, 2022 12:30-2pm ET | Virtual)
- Elizabeth Cochran (USGS) - "Illuminating fault structure and properties using seismology" (slides)
- Ellis Vavra (UCSD) - "Constraints on the shallow geometry of the southern San Andreas fault from dense seismic and geodetic observations" (slides)
- Nate Onderdonk (CSULB) - "Earthquake geology and paleoseismology considerations for RuFZO" (slides)
- Spatial Variations of Rock Properties and Deformation Processes Across Rupture Zones Breakout Session (notes) - Convened by Ashley Griffith and Ramon Arrowsmith (October 6, 2022 12:30-2pm ET | Virtual)
- Josie Nevitt (USGS Earthquake Science Center) - "Mechanical factors affecting fault slip near Earth’s surface"
- Alba M. Rodríguez Padilla (University of California Davis) - "Lessons and questions: the distribution of near-field inelastic deformation" (slides)
- Chelsea Scott (Arizona State University) - "Fault zone deformation from topography" (slides)
- Town Hall: Rupture and Fault Zone Observatory - 2021 AGU Fall Meeting (December 14, 2021 7:15-8:15pm ET | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA and Virtual)
- Special Interest Session: Shaping the Design of the Rupture and Fault Zone Observatory RuFZO - 2021 GAGE/SAGE Community Science Workshop (August 19, 2021 | Virtual)
- SCEC-IRIS-UNAVCO Community Workshop: Rupture and Fault Zone Observatory (RuFZO) (April 13, 2021 11-3pm ET | Virtual)
Comments are welcome, and we encourage you to get in touch with the steering committee members with any suggestions, questions, or concerns. You can also reach out via this form.
Steering Committee
| Ahmed Elbanna |
University of Illinois |
Committee Member |
| Ashley Griffith |
The Ohio State University |
Committee Member |
| Christopher Johnson |
LANL |
Committee Member |
| Daniel Trugman |
University of Nevada, Reno |
Committee Member |
| Frank Vernon |
University of California San Diego |
Committee Member |
| Gail Atkinson |
University of Western Ontario |
Committee Member |
| Jamie Steidl |
University of California Santa Barbara |
Committee Member |
| Jean-Philippe Avouac |
Caltech |
Committee Member |
| Pieter-Ewald Share |
Oregon State University |
Committee Member |
| Ramon Arrowsmith |
Arizona State University |
Committee Member |
| Roger Bilham |
University of Colorado, Boulder |
Committee Member |
| Bob Woodward |
EarthScope |
Facilitator |
| Bob Busby |
EarthScope |
Facilitator |
| Kasey Aderhold |
EarthScope |
Facilitator |
| Glen Mattioli |
EarthScope |
Facilitator |
| Yehuda Ben-Zion |
SCEC |
Facilitator |
| Tran Huynh |
SCEC |
Facilitator |
