Given the 8.2-magnitude Chilean earthquake coming on the heels of significant quakes also recently hitting California, Wyoming and Oklahoma within just days of each other, University of Houston (UH) professors are available to offer perspective on these shakeups. As you seek experts on this topic, keep in mind these resources from UH.
READING BETWEEN THE FAULT LINES
Michael Murphy, associate professor of structural geology, is dedicated to understanding the core of tectonics and structural geology. By utilizing an array of data, Murphy is able to examine the domino effect produced by shifting tectonic plates and leverage his findings to predict future earthquakes. Contact him at mmurphy@central.uh.edu or 713-743-3413.
GEOLOGY PROFESSOR STUDIES CARIBBEAN BASINS, TECTONICS AND HYDROCARBONS
Paul Mann is a professor and Robert E. Sheriff Endowed Chair of geology, tectonics and petroleum geology. He studies the tectonics of late Cenozoic deformation plate boundary zones, the geology and geophysics of strike-slip plate boundaries, structural styles of strike-slip, thrust and rift boundaries as expressed on seismic reflection data, and the tectonic settings of giant oil and gas fields found worldwide. He was involved in the scientific response in the aftermath of the 2003 earthquake in the Dominican Republic and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Tools used in these studies include subsurface geophysical data, wells, field observations and outcrop mapping, remote sensing, seismic refraction data, sidescan and multibeam data, magnetics and gravity data, and GPS-based geodesy. Contact him at pmann@uh.edu or 713-893-1731.
SEASONED SEISMOLOGIST PUBLISHES TEXTBOOK ON SEISMIC DATA PROCESSING
Hua-Wei Zhou, professor and chairman of UH’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, published a graduate text for seismic data analysis that covers both the areas of applied industry exploration using seismic reflection images, as well as the more academic area of solid Earth geophysics of earthquakes, Earth structure and seismic tomography. Zhou, who holds the Sheriff College Professorship in Geophysics, can address the geological and seismologic history of the area where the 8.2-magnitude Chilean quake occurred. Contact him at hzhou@uh.edu or 713-743-3440.
ONE-OF-A-KIND MACHINE AT UH TESTS CONCRETE PANELS
Civil engineering professor Yi-Lung Mo is an expert at testing the strength of reinforced concrete under earthquake-like conditions. His research uses a large machine housed at UH that stands more than 15-feet tall and weighs nearly 40 tons. The data he collects is used to predict the behavior of concrete structures when threatened by earthquakes. Contact Mo at ymo@uh.edu or 713-743-4274.
GEOLOGICAL FAULTS THREATEN HOUSTON
Shuhab Khan, associate professor of geology at UH, has found more than 300 surface faults in Harris County, providing information that could be vitally useful to builders and city planners. He uses advanced radar-like laser technology to produce comprehensive maps pinpointing the locations of the faults. He also can address basic geological questions about recent events related to earthquakes and tsunamis. Contact him at sdkhan@uh.edu or 713-743-3411.
LONGTIME EARTHQUAKE TEACHER, SEISMOLOGIST
Aibing Li, an associate professor in geophysics and seismology has taught earthquake classes for several years. As a seismologist, she has been using earthquake data in her researches to understand the earth structure. In addition to collecting earthquake data by putting seismometers in the northeastern U.S. and northeastern Tibet, she also has set up a seismic station on the UH campus. Contact her at ali2@uh.edu or 713-743-9313.
USING HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE TO MINIMIZE EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE
Bora Gencturk, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at UH, is studying ways to selectively use high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete in buildings, making them more likely to survive an earthquake without suffering major damage. To minimize cost he proposes using the material only at those spots where structures are likely to fail and believes his work could lead to design specifications for the use of high-performance concrete at beam-column joints. Having gone to Chile after the last big earthquake as a part of a reconnaissance mission, he can provide information about the 8.2-magnitude Chilean quake. Contact him at bgencturk@uh.edu or 713-743-4091.
THE EARTH’S MANTLE AND OTHER GEOLOGICAL SECRETS
Having pulled some of the deepest volcanic rocks on the planet from the sea floor near the North Pole, Jonathan Snow specializes in volcanoes. As both an ocean scientist and geologist, he can talk about any topics related to the Earth’s mantle, as well as address basic geological questions about recent events related to earthquakes and tsunamis. Contact him at jesnow@uh.edu or 713-743-5312.
READING BETWEEN THE FAULT LINES
Michael Murphy, associate professor of structural geology, is dedicated to understanding the core of tectonics and structural geology. By utilizing an array of data, Murphy is able to examine the domino effect produced by shifting tectonic plates and leverage his findings to predict future earthquakes. Contact him at mmurphy@central.uh.edu or 713-743-3413.
GEOLOGY PROFESSOR STUDIES CARIBBEAN BASINS, TECTONICS AND HYDROCARBONS
Paul Mann is a professor and Robert E. Sheriff Endowed Chair of geology, tectonics and petroleum geology. He studies the tectonics of late Cenozoic deformation plate boundary zones, the geology and geophysics of strike-slip plate boundaries, structural styles of strike-slip, thrust and rift boundaries as expressed on seismic reflection data, and the tectonic settings of giant oil and gas fields found worldwide. He was involved in the scientific response in the aftermath of the 2003 earthquake in the Dominican Republic and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Tools used in these studies include subsurface geophysical data, wells, field observations and outcrop mapping, remote sensing, seismic refraction data, sidescan and multibeam data, magnetics and gravity data, and GPS-based geodesy. Contact him at pmann@uh.edu or 713-893-1731.
SEASONED SEISMOLOGIST PUBLISHES TEXTBOOK ON SEISMIC DATA PROCESSING
Hua-Wei Zhou, professor and chairman of UH’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, published a graduate text for seismic data analysis that covers both the areas of applied industry exploration using seismic reflection images, as well as the more academic area of solid Earth geophysics of earthquakes, Earth structure and seismic tomography. Zhou, who holds the Sheriff College Professorship in Geophysics, can address the geological and seismologic history of the area where the 8.2-magnitude Chilean quake occurred. Contact him at hzhou@uh.edu or 713-743-3440.
ONE-OF-A-KIND MACHINE AT UH TESTS CONCRETE PANELS
Civil engineering professor Yi-Lung Mo is an expert at testing the strength of reinforced concrete under earthquake-like conditions. His research uses a large machine housed at UH that stands more than 15-feet tall and weighs nearly 40 tons. The data he collects is used to predict the behavior of concrete structures when threatened by earthquakes. Contact Mo at ymo@uh.edu or 713-743-4274.
GEOLOGICAL FAULTS THREATEN HOUSTON
Shuhab Khan, associate professor of geology at UH, has found more than 300 surface faults in Harris County, providing information that could be vitally useful to builders and city planners. He uses advanced radar-like laser technology to produce comprehensive maps pinpointing the locations of the faults. He also can address basic geological questions about recent events related to earthquakes and tsunamis. Contact him at sdkhan@uh.edu or 713-743-3411.
LONGTIME EARTHQUAKE TEACHER, SEISMOLOGIST
Aibing Li, an associate professor in geophysics and seismology has taught earthquake classes for several years. As a seismologist, she has been using earthquake data in her researches to understand the earth structure. In addition to collecting earthquake data by putting seismometers in the northeastern U.S. and northeastern Tibet, she also has set up a seismic station on the UH campus. Contact her at ali2@uh.edu or 713-743-9313.
USING HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE TO MINIMIZE EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE
Bora Gencturk, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at UH, is studying ways to selectively use high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete in buildings, making them more likely to survive an earthquake without suffering major damage. To minimize cost he proposes using the material only at those spots where structures are likely to fail and believes his work could lead to design specifications for the use of high-performance concrete at beam-column joints. Having gone to Chile after the last big earthquake as a part of a reconnaissance mission, he can provide information about the 8.2-magnitude Chilean quake. Contact him at bgencturk@uh.edu or 713-743-4091.
THE EARTH’S MANTLE AND OTHER GEOLOGICAL SECRETS
Having pulled some of the deepest volcanic rocks on the planet from the sea floor near the North Pole, Jonathan Snow specializes in volcanoes. As both an ocean scientist and geologist, he can talk about any topics related to the Earth’s mantle, as well as address basic geological questions about recent events related to earthquakes and tsunamis. Contact him at jesnow@uh.edu or 713-743-5312.
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