Thread: USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity on Earthquake Uncertainties

Started: 2020-10-02 20:13:30
Last activity: 2020-10-02 20:13:30

Mendenhall Opportunity 19-24: Rapid, robust characterization of earthquake uncertainties for advanced monitoring and research applicationshttps://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/19-24-rapid-robust-characterization-earthquake-uncertainties-advanced-monitoring

The rapid, accurate, and fully automated estimation of earthquake source parameters (particularly hypocentral locations and magnitudes) is the holy grail of earthquake monitoring science. While tools to estimate these source parameters are long standing, their associated uncertainties are not standardized and are usually derived only from misfit within a particular assumed model (also known as “model errors”). This characterization completely ignores other significant sources of uncertainty and bias (such as from errors in the velocity model) and often dramatically underestimates the total uncertainty. This shortcoming significantly impairs downstream research activities ranging from tectonic interpretations to seismic hazard assessments, and it can have a significant impact on the interpretation of these source estimates by the public. Perhaps less obviously, improved uncertainty analysis will also be required to facilitate next-generation monitoring itself, as part of the decision tree governing the release of fully automated earthquake solutions.

Full project details and contact information:
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/19-24-rapid-robust-characterization-earthquake-uncertainties-advanced-monitoring
Proposed Duty Station: Golden, Colorado
Research Advisors: David Shelly, Paul Earle, William Yeck, and Sarah Minson

Application deadline is January 4, 2021. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Research Advisors early and to work with them to develop a suitable proposal.

Please see https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall for more information on the Mendenhall program and how to apply.



David R. Shelly, Ph.D.
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologic Hazards Science Center, Golden, CO
https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/david-shelly
Teleworking until further notice (please use email contact)
Physical Address: 1711 Illinois St., Golden, CO 80401
USPS Address: Box 25046 MS 966, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225-0046


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