Research Projects of Robert W. Clayton

Current Projects

• Long Beach 3D Seismic Network
  In 2011, NodalSeismic Inc. recorded a dense seismic survey in Long Beach, CA, on behalf of Signal Hill Petroleum Inc., in order to better define the Long Beach Oil Field. The network consisted of over 5000 sensors that were deployed in 7 x 10 km area for siz months. The sensors recored continuous data 24-hours a day, make this a unique data set for imaging with ambient noise. More detail and some movies of local earthquakes recorded by the network can be seen at this link.   Pub2011

• Peru Subduction Experiment (PeruSE)   detailed description   data link
  The Caltech Tectonics Observatory and the UCLA CENS's project have deployed 100 broadband senors along three lines in southern Peru to investigate the flat slab subduction.

• Community Seismic Network (CSN) link
  The seismological Laboratory along with Earthquake Engineering and Computer Science are developing a density seismic network based on low-cost sensors connected through the internet to the Google Apps Engine. The purpose is to provide block-by-block and floor-by-floor measurements of acceration in the event of a significant earthquake. A map of the current network is available at this link .   Pub2011

• Analysis of Sonobuoy and MCS data in the Western Ross Sea, Anarctica Examples of the sonobuoy data.
  Based on sonobuoy and multichannel seismic data we recorded during the NBP0701 cruise to the western Ross Sea, we have been devloping a crustal model to address the question of whether the Adare Trough, a spreading center active 40 Ma, extends under the Antarctic continent.   Pub-2010   Pub-2011

• Meso-America Subduction Project (MASE) detailed description   old link   data link
  This is a cooperative project involving Caltech's Tectonics Observatory, UCLA's CENS, Geophysical Institute at UNAM and the Center for Geosciences at UNAM. The seismic component consisted of 100 broadband seismometers across central Mexico. Flat subduction is observed for the first 250 km from the trench. The array ran from 2005-2007   Pub-2008   Pub-2008   Pub-2009   Pub-2009   Pub-2009   Pub-2010   Pub-2010   Pub-2011   Pub-2012

• Veracruz-Oaxaca Seismic Line (VEOX) detailed description   data link
  This experiment is a follow on to the MASE experiment and crosses southern Mexico just north of the Techauntepec Ridge. The slab is dipping at 20 degrees in this region. The array was active from 2007 to 2009.   Pub-2012   Pub-2012

• NARS-Baja Seismic Array link
  This array is a partnership between Caltech, Utrecht and Cicese and is designed to provided a regional seismic model for the Gulf of California. This region has been undergoing active rifting for the past 6 million years. The array ran from 2002-2008.   Article-2004   Pub-2007

• Booming Sand Dunes   link
  Near-surface geophysical methods (seismic and radar) are used to determine the structure of sand dunes in order to explain the phenomena of "booming" that some experience in the summer months.   Pub-2007   Comment-2007   Reply-2008   Pub-2012

• Southern California Earthquake Data Center (SCEDC) official link
  I am the principle investigator for this project that is the distribution point for seismic data recorded by the Southern California Seismic Network.

• Ocean Microseisms
  We are investigating the generation of ocean microseisms by looking at their seismic response. Pub-2008

• Crustal/Upper-Mantle Structure of New Zealand link
  We are building a crust and upper mantle model for the South Island of New Zealand. To date, we have completed and crustal model based on receiver functions.   Pub-2008

• Representation Method for Velocity/Structure Models
  We are investigating an alternative format for representing regional models that uses the properties defined in vertical columns. zthe advantage of this representaion is that columns can be easily added to removed in the model and it can be easily joined to adjacent models.

• Receiver Functions From Southern California link
  We have produced a set of receiver functions for the broadband stations of the SCSN. The results are presented in two paper and show that there is significant short-wavelength topography on the Moho, which brings into question the popular model of a weak duciile lower crust. Pub-2007   Pub-2007  

• Crustal Q - Scattering or Intrinsic
  Pub-2007

• Tectonics of Western Pacific.
    Pub-2007   Pub-2007   Correction-2007   Pub-2008

• Finite-Diffrence Wave Propagation

Past Land Projects

• LARSE I and II map
• Southern Sierra Continental Dynamics map
• Calcrust

Marine Cruises

• EW9415 , Southern California Borderland map
• KIWI12, Revelle, 1998 , Manihiki Plateau, W. Pacific small-map   track-map   group-photo track-map
• NBP0102 , Capetown South Africa to Puenta Arenas, Chile map1 map2
• NBP0207 , California to New Zealand map1
• NBP0209 , Ross Sea, Antarctica
• NBP0403c , Hawaii to New Zealand map
• NBP0607C , Lyttleton, NZ to Chatham Islands, NZ map
• NBP0701 , Ross Sea, Antarctica map