Zachary E. Ross

Office: 359 South Mudd (Geophysics) (21)

Phone: 626-395-6958

Email: [email protected]

Mail Code: MC 252-21

Administrative Assistant

Name: America T. De La Cruz-Ramirez

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 626-395-6952

Research Website

Personal Website

Home / People / Zachary E. Ross

Professor of Geophysics; William H. Hurt Scholar

Option Representative: Geophysics;

B.S., University of California, Davis, 2009; M.S., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 2011; Ph.D., University of Southern California, 2016. Assistant Professor, Caltech, 2019-25; Professor, 2025-; Hurt Scholar, 2021-.

Research Summary

Observational studies of earthquakes and faults are limited by our general inability to extract information from seismic datasets at scale. My research program directly addresses these challenges by incorporating technology from artificial intelligence, signal processing, and statistics to gain new insights into these complex phenomena. My work aims to facilitate high-resolution imaging of fault zones; connections between structural properties of faults and the earthquake source process; and a better understanding of the physics governing the evolution of seismicity in space and time.

Research Options

Geophysics;

Please see Zachary Ross' publication page: http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~zross/publications/index.html

2025-26

Ge 166. Machine Learning in Geophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2025-26. Prerequisites: Ge 117 or Ge 165; or equivalent, with instructor's permission. Introduction to deep learning, with applications to modern geophysical research. Supervised and unsupervised learning with spatiotemporal data; architecture design; deep generative models; solving partial differential equations and operator learning; physics-informed deep learning. The course will address data requirements, current limitations, and the role of machine learning in the future of geophysics.
Instructor: Ross

Ge 271. Dynamics of Seismicity. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2025-26. A comprehensive introduction to seismicity of the Earth. Topics covered: Empirical laws for seismicity; spatial and temporal evolution of earthquake sequences; earthquake location algorithms; seismicity in crustal fault zones, subduction zones, creeping faults, volcanoes, and intraplate regions; earthquake triggering; induced seismicity; tectonic tremor and low-frequency earthquakes. Requires a class project.
Instructor: Ross

2024-25

Ge 165. Geophysical Inverse Problems. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2024-25. Prerequisites: basic linear algebra and Fourier transforms. Fundamentals of inverse theory and data analysis, with applications to geophysical problems. Linear and nonlinear inverse problems; generalized inverse and singular value decomposition; resolution; regularization; discrete and continuous representations; basics of signal processing including Fourier methods, correlation, convolution, and filtering.
Instructor: Ross

Ge 166. Machine Learning in Geophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2024-25. Prerequisites: Ge 117 or Ge 165; or equivalent, with instructor's permission. Introduction to deep learning, with applications to modern geophysical research. Supervised and unsupervised learning with spatiotemporal data; architecture design; deep generative models; solving partial differential equations and operator learning; physics-informed deep learning. The course will address data requirements, current limitations, and the role of machine learning in the future of geophysics.
Instructor: Ross

2023-24

Ge 264. Machine Learning in Geophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2023-24. Prerequisites: Ge/Ay 117 or equivalent. An overview of machine learning algorithms and their usage in current geophysical research. Both supervised and unsupervised learning will be covered. Algorithms include deep neural networks, ensemble learning, clustering, and dimensionality reduction. The course will address data requirements, current limitations, and the role of machine learning in the future of geophysics.
Instructor: Ross

Ge 271. Dynamics of Seismicity. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2023-24. A comprehensive introduction to seismicity of the Earth. Topics covered: Empirical laws for seismicity; spatial and temporal evolution of earthquake sequences; earthquake location algorithms; seismicity in crustal fault zones, subduction zones, creeping faults, volcanoes, and intraplate regions; earthquake triggering; induced seismicity; tectonic tremor and low-frequency earthquakes. Requires a class project.
Instructor: Ross

2022-23

Ge 264. Machine Learning in Geophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2022-23. Prerequisites: Ge 118 or equivalent. An overview of machine learning algorithms and their usage in current geophysical research. Both supervised and unsupervised learning will be covered. Algorithms include deep neural networks, ensemble learning, clustering, and dimensionality reduction. The course will address data requirements, current limitations, and the role of machine learning in the future of geophysics.
Instructor: Ross