Seismic Hues

Revathy M. Parameswaran

Research overview

What? - I employ earthquakes to study crustal processes, and conversely, use these crustal processes to understand the physics of earthquakes and deformation. Some questions that drive my research are -

  • Why and how earthquakes of similar magnitudes manifest differently?

  • What is the role of sub-surface structure and composition in seismic patterns?

  • How reliable are these patterns; if so, how do we use them to our advantange?

  • How do we better characterize an earthquake upon its occurrence?

  • How close are we to earthquake early warning?

  • How do earthquakes interact with neighbouring tectonic, geophysical, geomorphological, geochemical features?

  • What can we learn from tectonics on earth and how does it compare to other planets?

Why? - Earth's crustal deformation over geologic and historic timescales has moulded the geopolitical and socio-economic construct of the world we live in. Its study facilitates an understanding, and to an extent helps modulate, its present and future effects on our existence and way of life. An investigation into this deformation over time also enables us to use Earth as a reference to study planet-like bodies within observable distances.

IMPORTANT: It does not hurt to note that this is one field where science truly meets adventure!

How? - I use both seismic and geodetic data to study, characterize, and model earthquakes. Thus far, I have worked on various subduction, convergent, and tranform-rift zones, with a focus on understanding earthquake physics and the cause/effects of stress-release processes.

Affiliation

Geophysical Institute (GI),

University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

Fairbanks, AK, USA

e-mail