My research focuses on the interplay between crustal faults and the subduction zone plate interface — specifically, (1) what drives upper plate deformation, and (2) where, when, and how big past earthquakes were. As a field geologist, I incorporate tools and methods from different disciplines within Earth sciences to answer these questions.
Northern Cascadia Forearc: Vancouver Island
The Beaufort Range fault (BRF) is located on central Vancouver Island, off the coast of mainland British Columbia, Canada.
In my dissertation, I combined mapping with topographic surveys to document post-glacial (< ∼13.6 ka) offset on the Beaufort Range fault, showing for the first time that the BRF is active.
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In Summer 2019 we excavated a paleoseismic trench across the Beaufort Range fault.
The trench exposed well developed scarp-derived colluvial wedges from multiple surface-rupturing earthquakes that span the latest Pleistocene to Holocene. We presented our evidence to researchers, students, government representatives, and local stakeholders on July 9, 2019.
In my dissertation, I combined mapping with topographic surveys to document post-glacial (< ∼13.6 ka) offset on the Beaufort Range fault, showing for the first time that the BRF is active.
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In Summer 2019 we excavated a paleoseismic trench across the Beaufort Range fault.
The trench exposed well developed scarp-derived colluvial wedges from multiple surface-rupturing earthquakes that span the latest Pleistocene to Holocene. We presented our evidence to researchers, students, government representatives, and local stakeholders on July 9, 2019.
Vancouver Island faulting publications:
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Eastern California Shear Zone
Check out the guidebook from the 2016 Friends of the Pleistocene trip (stop 2-1 pictured below)
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Recent publication on the Ash Hill fault, ECSZ:
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Cascadia Slow Slip Events
Special Studies research with Jack Loveless at Smith College, Spring 2015
Presented at Celebrating Collaborations 2015 |
My group at the CIDER 2017 summer program also focused on slow slip events in Cascadia
Presented at AGU 2017 |
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Interseismic Locking on the Cascadia Subduction Zone
Special Studies research with Jack Loveless at Smith College, Spring 2014 & Fall 2015
Presented at Celebrating Collaborations 2014 |
Additional Research
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow, Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, MA
- “Alan Holden’s Polylinks: Developing a Catalog for Teachers, Artists, and Researchers” (Summer 2013)
- STRIDE (Student Research in Departments Scholarship) Research Assistant, Department of Mathematics, Smith College, Northampton, MA
- “Orderly Tangles: Rebuilding and Expanding upon Alan Holden’s Polylinks” (2012-2013), Presented at Celebrating Collaborations 2013
- STRIDE Research Assistant, Center for Molecular Biology, Smith College, Northampton, MA
- Xq28 project (2011-2012)