PROPOSAL INFORMATION SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form (SF) 424 1

Proposal Information Summary 2

Table of Contents 3

Abstract 4

Budget Summary 5

Budget Explanation 6

Significance of Project 7

Introduction 7

Uncertainties in Current Attenuation Curve and Hazard Maps 7

Precarious Rock Studies 7

Possible Anomalous Site Effects at Precarious Rock Sites 8

Preliminary Results from refraction and Surface-Wave Noise Studies at Three Sites 8

Proposed Studies 10

References 11

Final Report and Dissemination of Results 12

Related Efforts 12

Project Personnel 12

Institutional Qualifications 17

Project Management Plan 18

Current Support and Pending Applications 19

ABSTRACT

We propose to carry out shallow refraction and surface wave noise studies at a number of sites in southern California. We will study several precarious rock sites, a couple of sites where we previously collected records of LARSE-II blasts and Hector Mine aftershocks, engineering rock sites of well-known strong motion records, and TRI-NET broad-band network sites. The proposed studies will improve our understanding of (1) site conditions for rock sites in general, (2) the implied site conditions for the recent USGS-CDMG hazard maps, (3) and how results from precarious rock studies can be used to improve ground motion attenuation curves and hazard maps.

BUDGET SUMMARY

Project Title: Shallow Structures and Site effects at Precarious Roclk Sites Critical to the Southern California Seismic Hazard

Principal Investigator: John N. Louie, James N. Brune and Rasool Anooshehpoor

Proposed Start Date: Jan 1, 2001 Proposed Completion Date: Dec 31, 2001

BUDGET EXPLANATION

1/1/2001-12/31/2001

1. Salaries and Wages

Principal Investigators:

John N. Louie , 10 days @ $430/day 4,300

James N. Brune , 5 days @ $760/day 3,800

Rasool Anooshehpoor, 1 month @ $5260/mo 5,260

Graduate Student:

One semester (4.5 mos.) @ $1100/mo + 3 summer mos. @ $2200/mo 11,550

1. Fringe Benefits

Louie @ 5% 215

Brune @ 5% 190

Anooshehpoor @ 25% 1,315

Students @ 2% 231

1. Equipment 0

1. Supplies

Miscellaneous field supplies 600

1. Services or Consultants

1. Radiocarbon Age Dating

1. Travel

Transportation Cost 466

7 days per diem for 2 @ 70 per 1,470

1. Publication Costs

12 pages in Journal of Geophysical Research (or similar journal) @ $150/page 1800

1. Other Direct Costs

Miscellaneous supplies 300

(e.g. copying costs and required to produce final reports and

publishable manuscript)

Miscellaneous computer supplies and fees 500

Long Distance Telephone 150

Tuition and Fees 1,875

1. Total Direct Costs 34,022

1. Indirect Cost (44.3% of Total direct costs less tuition and fees) 14,241

1. Amount Proposed 48,263

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

Introduction

We propose to carry out shallow refraction and surface wave noise studies at a number of precarious rock sites, a couple of our LARSE II sites, engineering rock sites, and TRI-NET broad-band sites in southern California to improve our understanding of (1)site conditions for rock sites in general, (2) the implied site conditions for the recent USGS-CDMG hazard maps, (3) and how results from precarious rock studies can be used to improve ground motion attenuation curves and hazard maps.

We currently have a $50,000 grant from the Southern California Earthquake Center(SCEC) to study precarious rocks near the San Andreas Fault, a $10,000 grant from SCEC to carry out further site effects recording an interpretation at a few sites, and a $60,000? grant from NEHRP to study precarious rocks associated with the White Wolf Fault, site of the M=7.6 Kern County earthquake of 1952. The San Andreas Fault and White Wolf Faultgrants do not provide funds for site effects studies, and the $10,000 SCEC grant does not provide sufficient funding for the detailed site effects studies we believe to be justified by our previous results and proposed here.

Uncertainties in Current Attenuation Curves and Hazard Maps

Current attenuation curves for large earthquakes at near distances are based on very little constraining data. In fact they are extrapolations from data from smaller earthquakes at larger distance, a data set heavily influenced by thrust faults. Thus it is questionable how accurate they are for large strike-slip earthquakes. The first rock site data for a large strike-slip earthquake at the distances of about 5 km was provided by the recent M=7.4 Izmit, Turkey, earthquake. The accelerations recorded at the sites Sakarya and Izmit were 0.42g at a distance of 4 km, and 0.23 g at a distance of 5 km respectively. These values are significantly lower (almost one standard deviation) than the median values predicted by recent attenuation curves, and thus cast the validity of these curves into some question (Anderson and Brune, 2000; Anderson et al., 2000). Of course, one earthquake does not provide a sufficient sample for final conclusions, but rather emphasizes the uncertainty associated with current attenuation curves. On the other hand, the Sakarya and Izmit accelerations are consistent with limits inferred from ongoing precarious rock studies (Brune. 1999; Anderson and Brune, 1999; Anderson and Brune, 2000)

Precarious Rock Studies

Groups of precariously balanced rocks provide constraints on the maximum ground motion that could have occurred during the last several thousand years, and are an underutilized source of data for improving attenuation curves and for improving our understanding of earthquake hazard (Brune, 1996; Brune, 1999, Anderson and Brune, 1999). Near the Mojave Section of the San Andreas Fault numerous precarious and semi-precarious rocks have been found extending from distances of 35 km from the fault to as close as 11 km, with a considerable number occurring at Lovejoy Buttes, a distance of about 15 km. The precarious rock data appear to be inconsistent with recent USGS-CDMG PSHA maps for long recurrence intervals (low probabilities, 2% in 50 year probabilities; Brune, 1999, Anderson and Brune, 1999), and suggest that the maps may seriously overestimate the hazard. The rock-site acceleration data from the recent M=7.4 Izmit, Turkey, earthquake are considerably lower(by about one standard deviation)than the median curves used in the USGS-CDMG hazard maps, and, since they are the first rock data at this distance range for such a large earthquake, they bring into question the validity of these curves (Anderson and Brune, 2000; Anderson et al., 2000). On the other hand, the precarious rock data are consistent with the Turkey earthquake data, emphasizing the importance of further understanding the precarious rock data.

Possible Anomalous Site Effects at Precarious Rock Sites

A remaining uncertainty in the interpretation of precarious rock data comes from the possibility that precarious rock sites have strong local site effects which reduce ground motions compared to the sites assumed in standard attenuation curves and hazard maps. Preliminary studies of site effects showed no obvious differences from standard rock sites (Brune et al., 1998; Stirling, 1999) but the limited data base consisted of only vertical component records, and thus was not very convincing. The USGS-CDMG rock site hazard maps assume a nominal surface shear wave velocity of 760 meters/sec, but site velocities for most of data used in the assumed attenuation curves is only roughly known, and thus there is large uncertainty in both the site effects at precarious rock sites and in the implied site effects in the hazard maps. Under a project funded by the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) we are currently operating three component broad band instruments at several precarious rock sites to collect site response data for comparison with sites with known surface rock characteristics, and with other broad band sites in southern California(primarily TRI-NET sites operated by CALTECH). Our SCEC site effects projects involved reconnaissance refraction and surface wave noise phase velocity studies at three sites (results described next), along with operation of broad band instruments at 2 precarious rock sites and 4 other rock sites during the LARSE II active experiment (which recorded not only LARSE II EXPLOSIONS, but also numerous aftershocks of the M=7 Hector mine earthquake). CALTECH and USGS are currently completing site response comparison studies at TRI_NET sites (Kanamori 2000 , personal communication), and we will compare our results from precarious rock sites with their results. To fully utilize their results as well as ours we need shallow shear wave velocities at their TRI-NET sites as well as ours. This proposal is for carrying out the required studies at additional precarious rock sites (including precarious rock sites associated with the White Wolf fault), at a couple of our LARSE II sites, at engineering rock sites, and at TRI-NET sites. The results will give a definitive comparison of surface shear wave velocities at precarious rock sites with those at other sites. This will in turn allow us to better define a standard rock site and optimize the use of precarious rock data for improving attenuation curves and hazard maps.

Preliminary Results from Refraction and Surface-Wave Noise Studies at Three Sites

Rayleigh waves are a constant and ubiquitous feature of background seismic noise in southern California's urban environment. This background noise, originating from traffic, trains, wind, waves at shorelines, and machinery, is known as microtremor (Liu et al., 1999). Horike (1985) found that a passive array of 7 to 10 1-Hz vertical seismometers, with an aperture of 100 m to 1 km, could deaggregate the noise into Rayleigh with measurable phase velocities. We use microtremor recording techniques as an inexpensive alternative to the time-consuming Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW) method of Nazarian and Stokoe (1984), which requires mobilizing a large source of seismic energy.

A two-dimensional surface array recording, subjected to a moving-window frequency-wavenumber (F-K) transformation, will identify the back azimuth, velocity, and frequency of microtremor wave trains. Satoh et al. (1997) and Iwata et al. (1998) interpreted the F-K information for arrays in Santa Monica, Calif. and Reno, Nevada, respectively, in terms of Rayleigh-wave phase-velocity dispersion curves from 1-8 Hz. Modeling the dispersion data, using methods very similar to the SASW dispersion models, produced shear-velocity profiles valid to almost 1 km depth.

Since only phase-velocity dispersion data are modeled, microtremor results like SASW results are sensitive to shear velocity but not effectively sensitive to Poisson’s ratio, density, or attenuation. Iwata et al. (1998) and Louie (2000) also tested a more rapid passive microtremor technique based on 200-700-m linear arrays of 24-48 8-Hz seismometers. Such arrays are identical to standard seismic refraction surveys and can be easily laid out to record microtremor at 2-25 Hz, requiring less than 6 person-hours effort. While the linear array responds to cross-line Rayleigh-wave propagation with an artificially high apparent phase velocity, Louie (2000) shows that the larger number of channels allows analysis with the slowness-frequency (p-f) method of McMechan and Yedlin (1981). In p-f space the cross-line energy can be ignored and a phase-velocity dispersion curve interpreted directly from in-line Rayleigh-wave energy.

Dispersion is often interpretable in the p-f results at higher frequencies where an F-K analysis is impossible due to spatial aliasing. Iwata et al. (1998) and Louie (2000) found that in Reno, Nevada the linear-array p-f results overlapped the 2-d-array F-K results from 2-7 Hz. The refraction equipment could more accurately assess shear velocity at very shallow 1-10 m depths, while the 2-d array of 1 Hz instruments was needed to estimate the velocity profile from 100 m to 1 km depth.

Figure 2 shows a test, by Louie (2000) of the linear-array F-P technique against a borehole in Newhall, southern California, with a SCEC shear-velocity log. The microtremor data in Figure 2a show identifiable Rayleigh groups with 100-200 m/s velocities. The F-P analysis in Figure 2b shows the clear energy cutoff at a minimum-velocity envelope. This envelope shows the true and not apparent phase velocities, with interpreted dispersion picks and uncertainties. Interpretation is possible where an F-K analysis would spatially alias, although the F-P artifacts produce larger uncertainties there. Figure 2c shows just the dispersion curve with increasing uncertainty at larger periods, modeled with the velocity profile of Figure 2d. We used our interactive version of Saito's (1979, 1988) dispersion-modeling code. The modeled profile is a good match to the logged shear velocity. Since Rayleigh-wave phase dispersion lacks definitive information on Poisson’s ratio, the modeled P-wave velocities do not match the logged P velocities.

The uncertain longest-period picks of the dispersion curve (Figure 2c) suggest a velocity increase at the bedrock interface below the 100 m maximum logging depth (Figure 2d). However, dispersion cannot control the trade-off between the depth and velocity of the bedrock. With the match to logged velocities shown in Figure 2, the cheap and rapid linear-array microtremor technique promises almost the depth and velocity resolution of the SASW technique, but at far lower cost since no artificial energy source is needed.

Given the match of borehole and microtremor-derived shear-velocity profiles we found at Newhall, we conducted identical experiments at one precarious rock site, Lovejoy Butte, and one long-established strong-motion site on engineering A rock, Mill Creek Summit (MCS). Both sites are about 15 km from the 1857 rupture of the San Andreas fault (figure 1). Figure 3 shows linear microtremor array results from both sites. We also conducted reversed hammer seismic refraction measurements with the 200-m-long 24-channel receiver lines, to estimate compressional-velocity structure.

Comparing figures 3a and 3b, phase velocities are clearly higher at the Lovejoy Butte precarious-rock site than at the Mill Creek Summit engineering A strong-motion site. Dark areas on these p-f-domain images show high power ratios, from identifiable waves propagating across the 24-station array. The small squares on figures 3a and 3b show our interpreted phase velocities, including a central pick at a "best" interpretation, and our high- and low-velocity limits of what we would consider reasonable picks. Even though the bottom envelope of the power-ratio highs are not as well defined at Lovejoy Butte as they are at Mill Creek Summit, all of the phase-velocity picks and limits are at higher velocities from 2-12 Hz at Lovejoy Butte. The Lovejoy Butte site is farther from heavy traffic than Mill Creek Summit. The Mill Creek Summit image is interpretable despite its location under a large power transmission line, and the raw records being dominated by 60 Hz oscillation.

The dispersion plot of figure 3c shows the overall velocity differences between the Lovejoy and MCS sites over a large range of periods. Below 0.5 s periods the dispersion picks are at similar velocities. Using our interactive dispersion-modeling code based on Saito's (1979, 1988) methods, we modeled a shear-wave velocity profile that fit the central "best" dispersion picks at both sites. Figure 3d shows shear-velocity profiles. In addition to estimating a "best" model at each site, we also show the models that fit the high- and low-phase-velocity extremes at each site. Figure 3d shows how the shallowest velocities at the sites are similar, at 250-400 m/s. Below 7-13 m depth, the Lovejoy Buttes dispersions result in a maximum possible velocity range of 1130-1700 m/s, while the Mill Creek Summit dispersions model a maximum 550-700 m/s velocity range. Below 60 m depth the velocity ranges are larger and the depths of the transition to higher velocities is less well constrained. Both sites could have little further velocity increase down to 100 m depth, or could show velocities above 2000 m/s below 100 m depth.

We also acquired reversed seismic refraction records from the two 200-m 24-channel arrays at Lovejoy Butte and Mill Creek Summit. At Lovejoy the near-surface refractions are at a P-wave velocity of 2000 m/s, which is consistent with the 1250 m/s shear-wave velocity we modeled there. At Mill Creek Summit, on the other hand, a 20-30-m-thick surface layer with a 590 m/s P-wave velocity overlies velocities of 1500-2000 m/s. This is also consistent with the 600 m/s shear velocities there.

Even when the linear noise arrays are interpreted with a very large and conservative error, the two sites have very distinguishable velocities. Mill Creek Summit has a 30-m-depth average shear velocity that is somewhat lower than the NEHRP B/C boundary at 760 m/s. Lovejoy Butte, on the other hand demonstrates shallow velocities that are more than double those at Mill Creek Summit, in the NEHRP A category. Our 3-component recordings of LARSE II blasts and Hector Mine aftershocks in October 1999 bears out this difference, with the the same events appearing amplified at Mill Creek Summit relative to Lovejoy Butte.

Proposed Studies

Our studies at Lovejoy Butte and Mill Creek Summit suggest that ground motions may be attenuated to some degree at hard precarious-rock sites simply because they have higher shear velocity. However, this sample of two sites is not sufficient to constrain either the site conditions at precarious-rock sites in general, or to propose modifications to standard attenuation curves. Additional site characterizations are needed before we can produce such results. We propose here to carry out studies of the type described above at about 3 new precarious rock sites, 2 more sites occupied by us during the LARSE II experiment, 3 TRI-NET sites, and 2 more engineering rock sites. Funding is requested for field operations, data analysis and synthesis, and interpretation of implications for current attenuation curves and hazard maps.

We will characterize precarious-rock sites at Alpine Butte (near Lovejoy), and at Aliso Canyon, which are both about 15 km from the San Andreas fault (figure 1). Aliso is also very close to Mill Creek Summit, and will test whether rock velocities can vary substantially over very short distances. We have also discovered precarious rocks on the footwall of the White Wolf fault near Caliente, only a few kilometers from the M=7.6 thrust earthquake in 1952. Characterization of the hard-rock Biasi site, a few kilometers from the San Andreas fault, will sample a hard site without precarious rocks. In October 1999 we recorded LARSE II blasts there and at a site between Black Butte and Black Mountain about 20 km to the north. We also seek to investigate site conditions at 3 TRI-NET broad-band seismometers, to allow comparison of our velocity and amplification results against TRI-NET calibrations and data such as TRI-NET records of the LARSE II blasts and Hector Mine aftershocks. We expect to measure at the NEHRP D-class Lake Los Angeles (LKL), which is very close to Lovejoy Butte (figure 1), and at the likely hard-rock Mount Wilson (MWC) and Strawberry Peak (SBPX) sites. We also want to obtain additional comparisons at engineering A rock sites of Northridge, San Fernando, or Landers strong-motion recordings. We will select from the other sites labeled on figure 1, perhaps choosing Leona Valley (LV1-6) or Wrightwood (WTW) on the San Andreas fault, and Rosamond 50 km north.

At each of the 10 sites we will record a 200-m-long noise array, and collect stacked hammer refraction records, as was done at Lovejoy Butte and Mill Creek Summit. In addition, we will record all data with not just one 24-channel linear array, but with two crossed arrays. The crossed arrays will allow better estimates of phase velocity from noise propagating in random directions across the arrays; this will reign in the high-velocity limits on the phase-velocity interpretations and more tightly constrain shear velocities, especially at 50-100 m depths. The P-wave refraction velocity interpretations will also benefit from these minimal constraints on lateral velocity variations. Measurements at each site will take about a half day of field time by a crew of three people.

We will analyze the noise records from all sites with our p-f method as above, combining the two different array directions into the p-f power-ratio images. After picking phase velocities and their extreme limits, we will model both "best-fit" and high- and low-velocity extremal models as we did for Lovejoy and MCS. The refraction times and P-wave velocities we will use for constraint on the shear-wave velocities and dispersion modeling.

Once we have a shear-velocity structure at each of the proposed sites, we will be able to compare amplifications predicted from velocity differences against the LARSE II and Hector Mine record amplifications we are analyzing for a SCEC project. It is possible that we will not find the expected correlation between amplifications and shallow velocities that might be expected. In that case we will examine carefully the shallow-velocity variations between different precarious-rock sites, and search for clues on the nature of the discrepancy in site geology and setting. If there is a consistent correlation between amplification and shallow velocity, we will then compare our predicted PSHA for the hard and precarious rock sites against the USGS-CDMG hazard maps, to evaluate any remaining discrepancies. Such evaluation will lead us to propose modifications to standard attenuation curves to account for the hard-rock site data.

References

Abbott, Robert E., and Louie, John N., 1999 in press, Depth to bedrock using gravimetry in the Reno and Carson City, Nevada basins: Geophysics, 64.

Anderson, J. G., Lee, Y., Zeng, Y., and Day, S., 1996, Control of strong motion by the upper 30 meters: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., 86, 1749-1759.

Anderson, J.G. and J.N. Brune (1999). Methodology for using precarious rocks in Nevada to test seismic hazard models, Bull. Seism., Soc. Am. , 89, 456-467.

Anderson, J.G. and J. N. Brune (2000). Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, improvving consistency with precarious rock observations by removing the ergodic assumption, Proceedings, the 12^th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Auckland, New Zealand, Jan.31-Feb. 4, 2000.

Anderson, J.G., H. Sucuoglu, R. Anooshehpoor, and J.N. Brune, (2000), Strong ground motions from the Kocaeli and Duzce, Turkey, earthquakes and possible implications for seismic hazard analysis, Seism. Res. Letts., 71, p. 222.

Brune, J.N. (1999). Precariously rocks along the Mojave section of the San Andreas Fault, California: constraints on ground motion from great earthquakes, Seism. Res. Lett., 70, 29-33.

Horike, M., 1985, Inversion of phase velocity of long-period microtremors to the S-wave-velocity structure down to the basement in urbanized areas, J. Phys. Earth., 33, 59-96.

Iwata, T., Kawase, H., Satoh, T., Kakehi, Y., Irikura, K., Louie, J. N., Abbott, R. E., and Anderson, J. G., 1998, Array Microtremor Measurements at Reno, Nevada, USA: presented at Amer. Geophys. Union. Fall Mtg., Dec. 6-10, San Francisco.

Liu, H.-P., D. M. Boore, W. B. Joyner, D. H. Oppenheimer, R. E. Warrick, W. Zhang, and J. C. Hamilton, 1999, Phase velocities from array measurements of Rayleigh waves associated with microseisms: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., (submitted).

Louie, J. N., 2000 (in prep.), Obtaining shear-wave velocity structure to 100 m depth from seismic refraction recording equipment: for Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. (draft available electronically from http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/papers/disper/refr.html).

McMechan, G. A., and Yedlin, M. J., 1981, Analysis of dispersive waves by wave field transformation: Geophysics, 46, 869-874.

Nazarian, S., and Stokoe II, K. H., 1984, In situ shear wave velocities from spectral analysis of surface waves: Proceedings of the World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, 8, San Francisco, Calif., July 21-28.

Saito, M., 1979, Computations of reflectivity and surface wave dispersion curves for layered media; I, Sound wave and SH wave: J. Phys. Earth., 32, 15-26.

Saito, M., 1988, Compound matrix method for the calculation of spheroidal oscillation of the Earth: Seismol. Res. Lett., 59, 29.

Satoh, T., H. Kawase, T. Iwata, K. Irikura, 1997, S-wave velocity structures in the damaged areas during the 1994 Northridge earthquake based on array measurements of microtremors (abstract): presented at Amer. Geophys. Union. Fall Mtg., Dec. 8-12, San Francisco; Eos, Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 78, suppl. to no. 46, 432.

Stirling, M. W. (1998). Earthquake frequency statistics, and probabilistic seismic hazard in southern California and New Zealand, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Nevada, Reno.

FINAL REPORT AND DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS

All reports requested and required by the USGS will be submitted in a prompt and timely manner and the results of the research will be published in a professional journal.

RELATED EFFORTS

Dr. Louie has extensive experience with seismic imaging of subsurface structures, and is currently involved in research projects to study shallow site response to LARSE-2 blasts at precarious rock sites near the San Andreas fault, and seismic hazard in the vicinity of Las Vegas and Reno. Drs. Brune and Anooshehpoor have carried out extensive studies of precarious rocks and modeling of dynamic ground motions in foam rubber models (see vitae), and are currently involved in research projects similar to this in southern California and southern Nevada (see current support).

PROJECT PERSONNEL

This study will be conducted jointly by principal investigator John Louie, Associate Professor of Geophysics, co-investigator James N. Brune, Professor of Geophysics, and Rasool Anooshehpoor, Research Associate Professor, at the Nevada Seismological Laboratory.

John N. Louie

Seismological Laboratory 174, Mackay School of Mines

The University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0141

(775) 784-4219; fax (775) 784-1833; louie@seismo.unr.edu

Professional Experience

Associate Professor of Seismology, Seismological Laboratory, The University of Nevada, Reno; since January 1992. Responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate instruction, supervision of M.S. and Ph.D. degree candidates, and conducting a research program in seismology.

Assistant Professor of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania; Sept. 1987 to Jan. 1992. Responsibilities included undergraduate and graduate instruction, supervision of M.S. and Ph.D. degree candidates, and research in high-resolution seismology.

Graduate Education

California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California. Degrees: Ph.D. Geophysics, June, 1987; M.S. Geophysics, June, 1983.

Relevant Publications

G. Shields, K. Allander, R. Brigham, R. Crosbie, L. Trimble, M. Sleeman, R. Tucker, H. Zhan and J. N. Louie, 1998, Geophysical surveys of an active fault: results from Pahrump Valley, California-Nevada border: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., 88, 270-275.

A. M. Asad, S. K. Pullammanappallil, A. Anooshehpoor, and J. N. Louie, 1999, Inversion of travel data for earthquake locations and three-dimensional velocity structure in the Eureka Valley area, eastern California: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., 89, 796-810.

R. E. Abbott and J. N. Louie, 2000, Depth to bedrock using gravimetry in the Reno and Carson City, Nevada basins: Geophysics, 65, 340-350.

R. E. Abbott, J. N. Louie, S. J. Caskey, and S. Pullammanappallil, 2000, Geophysical confirmation of low-angle normal slip on the historically active Dixie Valley fault, Nevada: submitted to Journal of Geophysical Research, March 13. (Can be read electronically at http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/dixie/abbott-et-al.pdf)

John N. Louie, 2000 in prep., Obtaining shear-wave velocity structure to 100 m depth from seismic refraction recording equipment: for Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer. (Draft available at http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/papers/disper/refr.html)

Other Important Publications

S. K. Pullammanappallil and J. N. Louie, 1994, A generalized simulated-annealing optimization for inversion of first-arrival times: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., 84, 1397-1409.

J. N. Louie, S. K. Pullammanappallil, and W. Honjas, 1997, Velocity models for the highly extended crust of Death Valley, California: Geophys. Res. Lett., 24, 735-738.

S. Chavez-Perez and J. N. Louie, 1998, Crustal imaging in southern California using earthquake sequences: Tectonophysics, 286 (March 15), 223-236.

S. Chavez-Perez, J. N. Louie, and S. K. Pullammanappallil, 1998, Seismic depth imaging of normal faulting in the southern Death Valley basin: Geophysics, 63, 223-230.

Z. Kanbur, J. N. Louie, S. Chavez-Perez, G. Plank, D. Morey, 2000, Seismic reflection study of Upheaval Dome, Canyonlands National Park, Utah: Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 105, 9489-9505.

James N. Brune

DEGREES:

Ph.D. Geophysics, 1961 - Columbia University, New York City

B.Sc. Geological Engineering, 1956, University of Nevada, Reno

HONORS AND AWARDS:

Medal of the Seismological Society of America, 1997

University of Nevada Foundation Professor, 1995

Nomination to Academy of Creative Endeavors in Soviet Union, 1990

Fellow, Indian Geophysical Union, 1989

1987 Citation Classic Designation for 1970 article: Tectonic Stress and the Spectra of Seismic Shear Wave from Earthquakes

Seismological Soc. America; Past President 1970-71

G.K. Gilbert Award, Seismic Geology, 1967; Arthur L. Day Award, 1972

Fellow, Geo. Soc. of America, 1975; American Geophysical Union, 1967

J.B. MacIlwane Award of American Geophysical Union, 1962

MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Seismology, Earthquake Hazard and Source Mechanism, Tectonics, Earth Structure, Cooperative Foreign Seismic Research Projects (Mexico, India and Soviet Union)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Member, Ed. Boards: Geofisica Internacional and Indian Geophys. Journal

Member, California Earthquake Predication Evaluation Council

Advisory Committee, Berkeley Seismographic Stations

Board of Trustees, GeoHazards International

EXPERIENCE:

1998-to date: Professor of Geophysics, Seismological Laboratory, University of Nevada, Reno.

1987-1998: Director, Seismological Laboratory, University of Nevada, Reno; Professor, Dept. of Geol. Sci.

1969-1990: Professor of Geophysics, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP), Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego

1973-1976: Associate Director of IGPP

1965-1969: Associate Professor of Geophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Anderson, J.G. and J.N. Brune (1999). Methodology for using precarious rocks in Nevada to test seismic hazard

models, Bull. Seism., Soc. Am. , 89, 456-467.

Anooshehpoor, A. and J.N. Brune (1996). Constraints on ground motion in southern California provided by

precarious rocks, Seism. Res. Lett., 67, 2, p.30.

Brune, J.N. (1999). Precariously rocks along the Mojave section of the San~Andreas Fault, California: constraints

on ground motion from great earthquakes, Seism. Res. Lett., 70, 29-33.

Brune, J.N., Anooshehpoor, A., (1999), Dynamic geometrical effects on strong ground motion in a normal fault

Model J. Geophys. Res., 104 (B1), 809-815.

Brune, J.N., Anooshehoor, A. (1998), A physical model of the effect of a shallow weak layer on strong motion for

strike-slip ruptures, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 88, 1070-1078.

Brune, J.N. (1996). Precariously balanced rocks and ground motion maps for southern California, Bull. Seism., Soc.

Am., 86, 43-54.

Brune, J.N., J.W. Bell, and A. Anooshehpoor (1996). Precariously balanced rocks and seismic risks, Endeavour,

20(4), 168-172.

Shi, B., A. Anooshehpoor, Y. Zeng, and J.N. Brune (1996). Rocking and overturning of precariously balanced

rocks by earthquakes, Bull. Seism., Soc. Amer. 86, 1364-1371.

Rasool Anooshehpoor

Seismological Laboratory 174, Mackay School of Mines

The University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0141

(775) 784-1954; fax (775) 784-1833; rasool@seismo.unr.edu

Degrees:

Ph.D. Physics, 1988, University of California, San Diego

M.S. Physics, 1983, University of California, San Diego

B.S. Physics, 1976, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Major Research Interests:

Site Effects and Earthquake Hazards, Physical Modeling of Earthquakes

Experience:

1999- Research Associate Professor, University of Nevada, Reno

1991-1999 Research Assistant Professor, University of Nevada, Reno

1990-1991 Assistant Professor, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

1987-1990 Research Associate, University of Nevada, Reno

1983-1987 Research Assistant, University of California, San Diego

1980-1983 Teaching Assistant, University of California, San Diego

1978-1980 Teaching Assistant, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Publications:

Anooshehpoor, A., T.H. Heaton, Shi, b. and J. N. Brune (1999), estimates of the ground accelerations at

Point Reyes Station during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., in press.

Anooshehpoor, A. and J.N. Brune (1996). Constraints on ground motion in southern California provided by

precarious rocks, Seism. Res. Lett., 67, p.30.

Brune, J. N., J. W. Bell, A. Anooshehpoor, Precariously Balanced Rocks and Seismic Risk (1996),

Endeavour, 20 (4), 168-172.

Brune, J.N., Anooshehpoor, A., Stirling, M.W., Anderson, J.G. (1998), Precarious rocks, site effects and seismic hazard in southern California: to be published in proceedings of the 12th Engineering Mechanics Conference, May 1998.

Brune, J.N., Anooshehoor, A. (1998), A physical model of the effect of a shallow weak layer on strong

motion for strike-slip ruptures Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 88, 1070-1078.

Brune, J.N., Anooshehpoor, A., (1999), Dynamic geometrical effects on strong ground motion in a normal

fault Model J. Geophys. Res., 104 (B1), 809-815.

Shi, Baoping, A. Anooshehpoor, Y. Zeng, J.N. Brune (1996), Rocking and Overturning of Precariousl Balanced Rocks by Earthquakes, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 86, 1364-1371.

INSTITUTIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

As one of the statewide research agencies of the University of Nevada, the Seismological Research Laboratory is headed by a Director (J. Anderson) who reports to the Dean, Mackay School of Mines. The current research staff consists of ten professional seismologists. Other professionals include a Research and Design Engineer. Technical staff members include two seismographic technicians, one record analyst, 1.5 FTE of computer support personnel, and five graduate research assistants. The Seismological Laboratory operates the Western Great Basin Seismic Network (USGS Funding; digital upgrades provided by the W.M. Keck Foundation), the Yucca Mountain Digital Seismic Network (DOE-HRC Funding). These networks now include more than three dozen state-of-the-art high-dynamic-range digital stations.

After ten years of operation of computer-based digital seismic acquisition, over 46,000 local events have been located, and these and many more regional and teleseismic events and blasts have been archived, leading to over 500,000 digital seismograms archived on magnetic tape and CD-ROM. Data bases from paper records and other analog sources extend back to 1916 (e.g. a collection of Wiechert smoked-paper recordings). Earthquake data are now manipulated using the Antelope and Earthworm systems developed by BRTT and the USGS, allowing us to interchange both real-time and archived catalog and seismogram data with the SCSN, NCSN, and Utah seismic network through data centers at Caltech, Menlo Park, and Salt Lake City.

Computer hardware consists of three Sun servers and twenty Sun workstations with speeds up to 400 MHz, eight Pentium II and III UNIX workstations, and numerous PCs and Macintoshes. These processors are used mainly for research applications and provide a basis for analysis of the accumulating network data base. One of the servers hosts the Lab's web site at www.seismo.unr.edu, which at 30,000-80,000 hits per week is one of the University's most popular public outreach programs. Seismic reflection data sets are processed both with John Louie's ``Resource Geology'' UNIX system for research, and with the industry-standard Halliburton ProMAX system, donated to the Lab by Wm. Lettis & Assoc.

Additional equipment is available for field work and special investigations. The seismology group has 15 portable Reftek seismographs and 8 PRS-4 portable digital seismographs. We have 18 Mark Products L-4 1-second, three sets of Kinemetrics 5-second, 10 sets of 1-Hz S13 and several Guralp CMG5 and CMG4 broadband seismometers. The W. M. Keck Foundation donated to the Mackay School of Mines (of which the Seismological Lab is a part) a 48-channel, Pentium-based Bison Galileo-21 reflection-refraction recording system, with 700 m cables for 8-Hz refraction geophones; and a high-resolution 210 m segmented roll-along cable with 48 groups of 6 100-Hz geophones each. The School maintains as well a Lacoste and Romberg Model G gravimeter with 0.04 mGal demonstrated precision, and three Trimble 4000SSi, dual-frequency, carrier-phase, geodetic GPS receivers.

A grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation also established four years ago the Mapping, Modeling, and Visualization (MMV) Laboratory in the Mackay School of Mines. It consists of 10 PCs and workstations served by a Silicon Graphics multiprocessing supercomputer, with every major GIS, image-processing, geophysical, and geological software package available on multiple platforms. The School is wired for 100 Mbps full-duplex ethernet, with high-speed isolated connections available to all servers. All buildings on campus connect via a 100 Mbps campus fiber network, which has a fiber connection at 155 Mbps to the nearest CALREN/vBNS/Abilene gigaPoP at U.C. Davis.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The project is projected to last one year. Dr. John Louie will be supervising the refraction and noise experiments. The integration of the passive site effect studies will be supervised by Drs. Brune, and Anooshehpoor. All Pis are at the Seismological Laboratory, University of Nevada, Reno. They will be responsible for the completion of the project and submittal of required reports.

Current and Pending Grant Support

John N. Louie

Current:

National Science Foundation/SCEC: Shallow Site Response and Fault-Reflection Recording During LARSE-2, $7008, 7/1/1999 - 6/30/2000, Louie, Brune, and Anooshehpoor, field costs only.

U.S. Geological Survey/NEHRP: Seismic Hazards in the Vicinity of Las Vegas and Reno, $100000, 4/1/1999 - 3/31/2001, Anderson, Zeng, Su, and Louie (0.25 summer month/year).

National Science Foundation/SCEC: Analysis of Shallow Site Response to LARSE-2 Blasts at Precarious Rock Sites Near the San Andreas Fault, $10270, 4/01/2000 - 3/31/2001, Louie (0.15 summer month), Brune, Anooshehpoor.

Pending:

National Science Foundation/Tectonics: Evolution of the Sierra Nevada - Basin and Range Boundary -- Tephrochronologic and Gravity Constraints on the Record in Neogene Basin Deposits, $55182, 6/1/2000 - 5/30/2001, Cashman, Louie (0.25 summer month), Trexler.

National Science Foundation/EPSCoR: History and Potential for Future Collapse of Shorelines of Lake Tahoe, $100000, 6/01/2000 - 5/30/2002, Lahren, Schweickert, Smith, Watters, Louie (0.95 summer month/year)

National Science Foundation/EPSCoR: Direct Public Access to Current Earthquake and Active Tectonics Information for the Lake Tahoe Basin, $49377, 6/01/2000 - 5/30/2002, Smith, Lahren, Louie (0.62 summer month/year)

National Science Foundation/Civil and Mechanical Systems: Full-Wave Inversion of SASW Soundings for Soil Properties and Earthquake Site Response, $213963, 10/1/2000 - 9/30/2002, Louie (1.0 summer month/year), Zeng, Anderson.

National Science Foundation/Civil and Mechanical Systems: Exploratory Research on Strong Ground Motions in Turkey During the August to November, 1999, Earthquakes, $75000, 06/1/2000 - 5/30/2001, Louie (1.0 summer month), Anderson.

U.S. Geological Survey/NEHRP: Site Response Investigations at Critical Precarious Rocks, $50000, 10/1/2000 - 9/30/2001, Louie (0.25 summer month), Anooshehpoor, Brune.

National Science Foundation/Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation: A Facility for Teleobservation of Seismic Soil Properties to 1 km Depth, and Integrated Modeling of Earthquake Site Response, $2000000, 10/1/2000 - 9/30/2004, Anderson, Louie (2.0 summer months/year), Anooshehpoor, Zeng.

USGS/NEHRP, Shallow velocity structures and site effects at precarious rock sites critical to southern California seismic hazard, $48,263, J. N. Louie, 10 days (this proposal).

James N. Brune

Current:

National Science Foundation/University of California, Berkeley/Southern California Earthquake Center, Study of the toppling accelerations of precarious rocks on a profile perpendicular to the San Andreas Fault for constraining strong motion attenuation relationships for great earthquakes, $50,000, 2/1/00 - 1/31/01, J.N. Brune 10 days.

US Department of Energy/HRC Seismic monitoring of Yucca Mountain, 11/1/99 – 10/31/00, $966,000, J.N. Brune 1.5 acad. mos. + 20 days.

US Department of Energy/HRC A long baseline laser strainmeter for the exploratory studies facility at Yucca Mountain, 7/1/99 – 6/30/00, $362,725, J.N. Brune 10 days.

Department of Energy/Harry Reid Center, precarious rock methodology for seismic hazard, 7/1/99 - 6/30/00, $181, 780, J. Brune 20 days.

Pacific Gas & Electric, Study of rupture directivity in a foam rubber physical model, 5/1/00 - 4/30/01, $49,945, J.N. Brune, 15 days.

USGS/NEHRP, Interpretation of Precarious Rock and Overturned Transformer Evidence for Ground Shaking in the M=7.6 Arvin-Tehachapi Earthquake, an Analog for Disastrous Shaking from a Major Thrust Fault in the Los Angeles Basin, 7/1/00-6/30/01, 50.000, J. N. Brune, 5 days.

Pending:

USGS/NEHRP, Verification of Precarious Rock Evidence for Low Ground Accelerations Associated with Strike-Slip Faults in Extensional Regimes, $49,403, J.N. Brune, 5 days.

NSF, Verification of Precarious Rock Evidence for Low Ground Accelerations Associated with Strike-Slip Faults in Extensional Regimes, $49,403, J.N. Brune, 5 days.

USGS/NEHRP, Shallow velocity structures and site effects at precarious rock sites critical to southern California seismic hazard, $48,263, J. N. Brune, 5 days (this proposal).

Rasool Anoooshehpoor

Current:

National Science Foundation/University of California, Berkeley/Southern California Earthquake Center, Study of the toppling accelerations of precarious rocks on a profile perpendicular to the San Andreas Fault for constraining strong motion attenuation relationships for great earthquakes, $50,000, 2/1/00 - 1/31/01, Anooshehpoor, 2academic months.

US Department of Energy/HRC Seismic monitoring of Yucca Mountain, 11/1/99 – 10/31/00, $966,000, Anooshehpoor, 2 academic months.

Department of Energy/Harry Reid Center, precarious rock methodology for seismic hazard, 7/1/99 - 6/30/00, $181, 780, Anooshehpoor, 7 academic months.

PEER, Study of rupture directivity in a foam rubber physical model, 5/1/00 - 4/30/01, $65,000, Anooshehpoor, 4 academic months.

USGS/NEHRP, Interpretation of Precarious Rock and Overturned Transformer Evidence for Ground Shaking in the M=7.6 Arvin-Tehachapi Earthquake, an Analog for Disastrous Shaking from a Major Thrust Fault in the Los Angeles Basin, 7/1/00-6/30/01, 50.000, Anooshehpoor, 2 academic months.

Pending:

USGS/NEHRP, Verification of Precarious Rock Evidence for Low Ground Accelerations Associated with Strike-Slip Faults in Extensional Regimes, $49,403, Anooshehpoor, 2 months.

NSF, Verification of Precarious Rock Evidence for Low Ground Accelerations Associated with Strike-Slip Faults in Extensional Regimes, $49,403, Anooshehpoor, 2 months.

USGS/NEHRP, Shallow velocity structures and site effects at precarious rock sites critical to southern California seismic hazard, $48,263, Anooshehpoor, 1 month (this proposal).