SSA News and Announcements
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Index
- SSA Seeks Nominations for BSSA Editor (29 Jun 2009)
- House Holds Hearings on NEHRP Reauthorization (26 Jun 2009)
- SI Units: SSA Adopts New Policy for SRL, BSSA (25 Jun 2009)
- Global Earthquake Model Posts Five Requests for Proposals (16 May 2009)
- Propose a Session for SSA's 2010 Annual Meeting (15 May 2009)
- IRIS “Seismological Grand Challenges…” Report Now Available (14 May 2009)
- Second Annual Geosciences Congressional Visits Days September 15 & 16, 2009 (14 May 2009)
- Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring Get Stimulus Boost (23 Apr 2009)
- 20 Years Since Loma Prieta: Commemoration Set for 17 October 2009 (23 Apr 2009)
- SSA Board Elects New Officers, Installs New Board Members (23 Apr 2009)
- SSA Announces 2009 Award Winners (16 Apr 2009)
- Utah Version of Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country Now Available (30 Jan 2009)
- SSA Announces Board of Directors Election Results (16 Jan 2009)
- NEHRP 2009-2013 Strategic Plan Available Online (26 Nov 2008)
- Call for Papers: BSSA Special Issue on the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake (20 Oct 2008)
SSA Seeks Nominations for BSSA Editor
29 Jun 2009
SSA invites nominations for a new Editor for the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA). Andy Michael, who has edited the publication for the past 5 years, has indicated a desire to step down from the position in 2010.
SSA's Publications Committee has launched a search for Andy's successor and encourages nominations, particularly self-nominations, for the position.
This is a volunteer position — it is not paid. However the position is fulfilling in many professional and personal ways. Andy has written:
Serving the seismological community as Editor-in-Chief of BSSA gives you the opportunity to advance our field by ensuring the quality and timeliness of the science published in the Bulletin, to foster new scientists as they learn what is required to make significant contributions, and to lead the future evolution of the Bulletin as we move further into the age of electronic publishing. In an age of specialization, serving as Editor can broaden your horizons, as you are guided by an international group of Associate Editors through the broad range of seismology and earthquake science submitted to the Bulletin. And the Editor gets to work with an experienced team including not only the Associate Editors, but also the Managing Editor, the SSA staff, and the SSA Board.
A position description has been posted at http://www.seismosoc.org/publications/bssa/editorsearch.
To inquire, email John Ebel, chair of the SSA Publications Committee, at ebel [at] bc [dot] edu.
House Holds Hearings on NEHRP Reauthorization
26 Jun 2009
Hearings on the Reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: R&D for Disaster Resilient Communities were held on June 11, 2009 by the the US House of Representatives Committee of Science and Technology, subcommittee on technology and Innovation. Testimony of the invited witnesses is available on the Committee's website at http://science.house.gov/publications/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2483. SSA submitted a written comment for the record. It is posted at http://www.seismosoc.org/society/government/NEHRP_reauth_comment.php.
SI Units: SSA Adopts New Policy for SRL, BSSA
25 Jun 2009
The publications committee of the Seismological Society of America has adopted the following policy for BSSA and SRL:
“Except where common practice in seismology dictates otherwise, units should follow the Système Internationale (SI). We strongly encourage authors to adopt SI units for seismic moment (N·m instead of dyne cm) and stress (MPa instead of bars) in order to develop an international standard.”
Global Earthquake Model Posts Five Requests for Proposals
16 May 2009
The Global Earthquake Model has released five requests for proposals for the following Hazard Global Components:
- Global Historical Catalogue and Database
- Global Instrumental Seismic Catalogue
- Global Active Fault and Seismic Source Database
- Global Geodetic Strain Rate Model
- Global Ground-Motion Prediction Equations (GMPE)
Proposals should be submitted in .pdf format by 15th July 2009 by email to: secretariat@globalquakemodel.org.
Detailed information on the submission procedure can be found in the guidelines for proposals posted at http://www.globalquakemodel.org/index.php?q=node/91.
Propose a Session for SSA's 2010 Annual Meeting
15 May 2009
The Seismological Society of America is now accepting session proposals for the 2010 SSA meeting in Portland, Oregon, 20-23 April 2010. Please send the session name, description, and convener(s) contact information to 2010Program@seismosoc.org.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Session proposals will be evaluated by the newly formed Program Committee, composed of co-chairs Seth Moran (USGS - Cascades Volcano Observatory) and Nick Beeler (USGS - Vancouver), Ivan Wong (Seismic Hazards Group, Oakland CA), Ray Weldon (University of Oregon), Vicki McConnell (DOGAMI), and Anne Trehu (Oregon State University).
SESSION CONTENT
Sessions are encouraged from across the broad fields of earthquake science, geotechnical and earthquake engineering and seismology, including paleoseismology, Earth structure, explosion monitoring, nonvolcanic tremor and slow slip, earthquake and other seismic source processes, and hazard analysis.
One focus of the meeting will be regional seismotectonics and seismic hazards of the Pacific Northwest, encompassing such topics as the Cascadia subduction zone, urban earthquake hazards, episodic tremor and slip, volcano seismology, studies of crustal faults in the greater Portland area, and local planning and emergency management issues associated with earthquake and tsunami response. The meeting will also commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption (18 May 1980). Sessions that explore these and related aspects are particularly encouraged. Help make this an extraordinary SSA meeting by organizing sessions related to these topics or to cutting-edge research, methodology, and technology developments in your field.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
To propose a session, send materials no later than 1 October 2010 to 2010Program@seismosoc.org.
The session title should be in upper- and lower-case letters. The session description will be used to advertise the session. To see examples of special sessions from the 2009 meeting, visit the SSA 2009 meeting Web site at: http://www.seismosoc.org/meetings/2009/specialsessions.html.
You must include at least one convener, preferably two, for each proposed session, with complete contact information. Each co-convener must have agreed to participate as an organizer of the session. Specify your preference for an oral or poster session. We will try to accommodate your wishes.
Approved sessions will be published on the SSA Web site, www.seismosoc.org. Invitations to specific authors should not be extended until after your session has been approved.
QUESTIONS
If you have questions about this process, please contact:
Seth Moran (360 993 8934, <smoran [at] usgs [dot] gov)>
Nick Beeler (360 993 8987, <nbeeler [at] usgs [dot] gov)>
We hope to see you in Portland.
IRIS “Seismological Grand Challenges…” Report Now Available
14 May 2009
A report entitled “Seismological Grand Challenges in Understanding Earth’s Dynamic Systems,” [8 MB PDF] is now available in electronic form from the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) website.
This report is drawn from the many presentations and discussions at a September 2008 Workshop on a Long Range Science Plan for Seismology, attended by ~120 members of the seismological and geophysical research community. Financial support for the LRSPS Workshop was provided by the National Science Foundation. Logistical support for the LRSPS Workshop and for preparation and dissemination of this report were provided by IRIS. Initial drafts of this report were openly available and commented on by the seismological community. This final report is being submitted to the National Science Foundation and other US Federal agencies.
Based on this report, a four-page “Summary for Policy Makers” [4 MB PDF] was prepared. The summary, available in electronic form and in print, highlights the social benefits from seismological research and lists some investments for research and education – carried out in universities, the private sector, and government agencies – that are required for further progress. The summary is a useful publication for seismologists looking to explain the importance of their work to legislators, government officials, and other non-scientists.
To request a printed version of either publication, email Teresa Saavedra at teresa [at] iris [dot] edu.
Second Annual Geosciences Congressional Visits Days September 15 & 16, 2009
14 May 2009
The American Geological Institute will host the second annual Geosciences Congressional Visits Days (Geo-CVD) on the 15th and 16th of September 2009.
This two-day event brings geoscientists, engineers, researchers, educators, and executives to Washington D.C. to raise visibility and support for the geosciences. Participants will spend the first day learning about how Congress works, the current state of the budget process, and how to conduct congressional visits. The second day will consist of visits with members of Congress. In addition to the workshops and visits, participants will get to meet other geoscientists and federal science agency representatives.
Geo-CVD will be coordinated by Washington DC staff from the AGI, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the American Geophysical Union, the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, the Geological Society of America, the Seismological Society of America, and the Soils Science Society of America. Please contact the AGI Government Affairs staff for more information and to volunteer to participate by sending an email to govt@agiweb.org.
Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring Get Stimulus Boost
23 Apr 2009
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced that $29.4 million will be invested in the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. These funds will be used to double the number of ANSS-quality stations (from 800 to approximately 1,600) and upgrade seismic networks nationwide. DOI also has identified an additional $15.2 million to modernize the National Volcano Early Warning System. The funding recognizes that improved monitoring networks are necessary to deliver faster and more-reliable information for better situational awareness following damaging earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
20 Years Since Loma Prieta: Commemoration Set for 17 October 2009
23 Apr 2009
The Seismological Society of America is joining the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC), Caltrans, and other organizations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. The commemoration event will take place Saturday 17 October 2009 in San Francisco. The full day event will highlight lessons learned from the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, accomplishments in the 20 years since the earthquake, and future initiatives that will continue to make cities and other built environment safer from earthquakes. For more information, visit http://peer.berkeley.edu/events/2009/annual-meeting_eq_anniversary.html.
SSA Board Elects New Officers, Installs New Board Members
23 Apr 2009
The SSA Board of Directors has a new president, Rick Aster of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; and a new vice president, Christa Von Hillebrandt-Andrade of the University of Puerto Rico.
Mitch Withers of the University of Memphis and Keith Knudsen of URS Corp. are continuing to serve as treasurer and secretary, respectively.
All four officers began serving two-year terms beginning in April, when they assumed their offices at the SSA 2009 Annual Meeting, held in Monterey, California.
Also taking office were four new board members: Steven M. Day of San Diego State University, Robert Graves of URS Corp., William U. (Woody) Savage of the U.S. Geological Survey in Las Vegas, and David Wald of the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver.
SSA Announces 2009 Award Winners
16 Apr 2009
SSA is pleased to announce the recipients of several prestigious awards. These awards will be presented at the Society's 2010 Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon.
The 2009 Reid Medal will be awarded to Paul G. Richards, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory.
The Frank Press Public Service Award will be given to Arthur D. Frankel, US Geological Survey, Denver.
Karen Felzer, USGS in Pasadena, will be the recipient of the 2009 Richter Early Career Award.
More information about these awards, including lists of past recipients, is available on the SSA website Awards section.
Utah Version of Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country Now Available
30 Jan 2009
The Utah Seismic Safety Commission (USSC) has released the earthquake hazards and preparedness publication Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country – Your Handbook for Earthquakes in Utah. The “Roots” handbook outlines why Utah is seismically active, areas where strong earthquake shaking is expected to occur, and how earthquakes cause damage. In addition, it includes seven steps to follow to reduce your risk from earthquakes, and what you should know about the potential financial impacts of earthquakes. The handbook will be useful for Utah’s families, businesses, and schools, as well as planners and policy makers.
The USSC developed and published the Roots handbook together with the Utah Division of Homeland Security, Utah Geological Survey, University of Utah Seismograph Stations, and Structural Engineers Association of Utah, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency. The handbook is adapted from the California editions of Roots published by the USGS and Southern California Earthquake Center.
An Adobe PDF of the handbook is available online at the USSC Web site (http://ussc.utah.gov/).
SSA Announces Board of Directors Election Results
16 Jan 2009
The annual election of the Seismological Society of America was held on January 9, 2009. Votes of current members that were received by the deadline, 5 PM on that date, were tabulated and validated by Election America, Inc.
The following nominees for Director were elected: Steven M. Day, Robert Graves, William U. (Woody) Savage, and David Wald.
Four hundred seventy-two ballots were received and counted.
Statements from all of the candidates for SSA Board of Directors for 2009 are still available online at http://www.seismosoc.org/news/2009_candidate_statements.php.
NEHRP 2009-2013 Strategic Plan Available Online
26 Nov 2008
The 2009–2013 Strategic Plan [PDF; ~1.3 MB] for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) is now available online at http://www.nehrp.gov. Also available is the history of how the plan was developed.
The 2009–2013 Strategic Plan is the result of the collective efforts of the four U.S. federal government agencies involved in NEHRP and the extensive involvement of scientists, engineers and other "earthquake professionals."
Call for Papers: BSSA Special Issue on the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake
20 Oct 2008
The Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA) will publish a special issue on the 12 May 2008 Magnitude 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake. This event demands our attention because of its devastating effects in a heavily populated region, resulting in one of the largest death tolls related to a continental earthquake during the last century. This earthquake occurred on tectonic structures that were not considered very active, and the processes driving deformation there are still very much in debate. Large continental thrust events are infrequent, although faults that could potentially cause such earthquakes are known to exist in other highly populated areas such as frontal Himalayas or Caucasus. Thus, the data sets produced by this earthquake will provide unique insights on continental thrust events.
This BSSA special issue will focus on results of investigations into all seismological, geodetic, other geophysical, geological, and engineering aspects of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. All authors working in this area are encouraged to submit research papers for consideration as part of this special issue. We recommend that authors contact one of the guest editors who are listed with their primary responsibilities.
- Yann Klinger, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (klinger [at] ipgp [dot] jussieu [dot] fr) will handle papers on geology.
- Chen Ji, University of California at Santa Barbara (ji [at] geol [dot] ucsb [dot] edu) will cover papers on seismology.
- Zheng-Kang Shen, Peking University and University of California at Los Angeles (zshen [at] ucla [dot] edu) will oversee papers on geodesy.
The special issue will be published in September 2010. We will begin accepting submissions in January 2009; the submission deadline is 31 August 2009. Manuscripts should be prepared as described at http://www.seismosoc.org/publications/bssa/authors/ and should be submitted via http://bssa.edmgr.com. Authors should select the category “Wenchuan Earthquake Special Issue” during the submittal process.
Questions may be addressed to Andrew Michael, Editor-in-Chief, at bssaeditor [at] seismosoc [dot] org or Carol Mark, Managing Editor, at bssa [at] seismosoc [dot] org.