Heather DeShon
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Most large (Mw > 7.0) and great (Mw>8.0) underthrusting earthquakes nucleate along a shallow region of unstable frictional stability on or near the subducting plate interface termed the seismogenic zone. The seismic and tsunami hazard posed by such earthquakes has long been recognized, but in light of the Mw 9 Sumatra-Andaman Islands earthquake, the resulting tsunami, infrastructure damage and huge loss of life, it is clear that the hazard posed by such events is generally underestimated. High-precision earthquake relocations and 3D velocity modeling can lend insight into how thermal, mechanical, compositional, hydrological, and rupture processes interact within subduction zones. My ongoing subduction-related research projects focus on Sumatra and Costa Rica. In Sumatra, we are developing and applying new teleseismic techniques to provide earthquake locations and velocity structure resolution at a scale comparable to that of regional network studies to help advance our understanding of the complex ruptures of the Sumatra great earthquakes. In Costa Rica, we are utilizing a range of absolute and relative earthquake location and local earthquake tomography techniques to relocate microseismicity and detect seismic velocity variations (Vp, Vs, & Vp/Vs) along the subduction thrust.
My research interests more broadly center on understanding the process of lithospheric recycling and earthquake generation within subduction zones, the role of fluids and fluid pressure in seismic wave generation, and the driving mechanisms leading to variability in characteristic seismic behavior along fault zones and at volcanic centers. The majority of my research utilizes earthquake location, seismic tomography, and waveform cross-correlation techniques at a variety of scales. I also utilize broadband waveform modeling, Empirical Green's Function deconvolution, and Coulomb stress transfer modeling to study individual large magnitude earthquakes. Further details on ongoing and planned research projects can be found at http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/people/hdeshon.
Contact me for graduate research opportunities!