Robert W. Clayton


	Robert W. Clayton Ph.D., Stanford University Professor of Geophysics

Crustal Seismology

The research interests of Robert W. Clayton are in determining variations in Earth properties from seismic waves. This research is being pursued on many scales, from the fine scale of crustal and exploration seismology to the larger scale of regional seismology.

Large-scale seismic experiment provide some of the highest resolution image of crustal structure. In Southern California, there have been three major large-scale surveys which have produced important results: the trans-Sierra transect, and the LARSE I and II surveys across the San Gabriel Mts, north or Los Angeles.

Array Seismology

Another intriguing aspect of the array is the possibility of providing early warning of strong ground shaking. Event detect in one part of the network can potential be used to provide warning in other parts.

Numerical Wave Simulation

Wave propagation in 3D has become fairly routine. The current limitation is in determining a velocity model with sufficient resolution to match the accuracy of the calculations. We have participated in the development of the SCEC 3D velocity model which contains the basins and other features in the grater Los Angeles area.

We have also developed a technique for computing reciprocal Green's functions which allows us to simulate the effect of multiple sources with one numerical calculation. This allows us to economically try different scenarios on a given fault.

Selected Publications

Leo Eisner and Robert W. Clayton, Reciprocity method for multiple simulations, accepted Bull. Seism. Soc. Am , Oct, 2000.

Leo Eisner and Robert W. Clayton, Full waveform test of the Southern California Velocity Model by Reciprocity Method, accepted for publication in Pure and Applied Geophysics , Jan, 2001.

Harold Magistrale, Steven Day, Robert W. Clayton, and Robert Graves, The SCEC Southern California reference 3D seismic velocity model Version 2, 2000 Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., Vol 90, 6B, pp. S65-76.

Mousumi Roy and Robert W. Clayton, Crustal structure beneath the San Gabriel Mountains, California: Towards a self-consistent model based on gravity and seismic velocities, submitted to J. Geophys. Res , July, 2000.

William R. Keller, Don L. Anderson and Robert W. Clayton, Resolution of tomographic models of the model beneath Iceland, accepted in Geophys. Res Let, Sept, 2000.

Julie J. Nazareth and Robert W. Clayton, 2000, Lower crustal and upper mantle structure beneath the ocean-continent transition zone of southern California - Evidence for remnant oceanic slab beneath the margin, submitted to Jour. Geophys. Res. July, 2000

Brian Wernicke, Robert Clayton, Mihai Ducea, Craig H. Jones, Stephen Park, Stan Ruppert, Jason Saleeby, J. Kent Snow, Livia Squires, Moritz Fliedner, George Jiracek, Randy Keller, Simon Klemperer, James Leutgert, Peter Malin, Kate Miller, Walter Mooney, Howard Oliver, and Robert Phinney, Origin of High Mountains in the Continents: The Southern Sierra Nevada, 1996, Science, 271, 190-193.