In-person Lecture: Earthquake hazard, crustal deformation, & active faults in CA

Presenter: Stephen B. DeLong, Ph.D., USGS Earthquake Science Center and Visiting Professor, U. of Minnesota

Full Title: Better understanding of earthquake hazard, crustal deformation, and active faults in northern California from geomorphology and high-resolution topographic data

Summary: The U.S. Geological Survey works to better understand earthquake hazards in order to improve models and products that can reduce risk from damaging earthquakes. A component of this is understanding crustal deformation and active faults on which earthquakes occur. In northern California, the active fault system is highly complex, and the rugged landscape is testament to the wide range of styles of crustal deformation. Even in highly vegetated areas, we can now image the topography at sub-meter resolution, which can reveal details of past and modern earthquakes along fault zones. A suite of methods that include quantitative landscape analyses, fault and geomorphic mapping, geochronology, erosion rate measurement, and remote sensing using laser, optical, and radar imagery can now reveal the landforms and kinematics at work in this hazardous and tectonically active landscape in unprecedented detail.

Biography: Dr. Stephen B. DeLong completed his B.S. in Geology at UMD in 1997 and his Ph.D. in Geosciences at the University of Arizona in 2006. He held postdoctoral positions at Arizona State University and the U.S. Geological Survey, a research faculty position at the University of Arizona, and has held a Research Geologist position at the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Science Center since 2013.

General Info: GSM lectures/seminars with slide show presentations are free and open to the public. They are presented by leading professionals in their fields and are aimed at learners from high school to adult. A question-and-answer session follows each seminar. In-person lectures require no registration; just show up a few minutes early on the evening of the lecture. These lectures are eligible for 1 hour of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit.

Except as noted, in-person lectures during the spring 2025 semester are Mondays at 7:00 PM CT on the University of Minnesota campus, Keller Hall, Room 3-230.

Our full schedule of lectures and labs is posted at GSM Current Year Lectures, and a printable version is available at GSM Current Year Lectures (pdf). Our schedule is planned over 6 months in advance, so changes may occur; always check our home page shortly before each lecture for the latest seminar information.

Winter weather will come and snow might impact our lectures. The GSM will make any decision about cancelling or postponing a lecture due to inclement weather no later than 3:00 PM the day of the lecture. This information will be posted on the GSM home page, so check that page shortly before each lecture in case there is a cancellation or a last-minute change. Also, we will e‐mail lecture postponement and cancellation information to our dues-paying members.