Subduction Hazard Science Town Hall and SZ4D Updates

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Hello Subduction Community,

I am writing to follow up from the AGU Town Hall on “Coordinating Subduction Hazard Science,” to recap what was presented in December in New Orleans and to fill in those of you who couldn’t make it. This is also an update on SZ4D activities in general.

The Town Hall was motivated by the release of four reports in the last 9 months, and we heard about each of them from the following individuals:

Harold Tobin (Univ. Wisconsin)
The SZ4D Initiative: Understanding the Processes that Underlie Subduction Zone Hazards in 4D (2017
(A Vision Document to NSF)
Michael Manga (UC Berkeley)
ERUPT: Volcanic Eruptions and Their Repose, Unrest, Precursors, and Timing (2017)
(A Report by the National Academy of Science)
Jenna Hill (USGS, Pacific Coastal and Marine Center)
Reducing Risk Where Tectonic Plates Collide (2017)
(USGS Circular)
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/cir1428
Gerald Bawden (NASA, Earth Surface and Interior)
Thriving on Our Changing Planet: //A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space (2018)
(A Report by the National Academy of Science)

We then heard a series of 1-2 minute lightning presentations from representatives of different groups planning community projects:

  • Community Volcano Experiment (COVE) – Brandon Schmandt (New Mexico)
  • Experimental Workshop – Phil Skemer (Wash Univ, StL)
  • Modeling Collaboratory RCN – Amanda Thomas (Oregon)
  • Workshop on Volcanoes – Pete LaFeminia (Penn State)
  • Seafloor Geodesy – Andy Newman (GaTech)
  • IRIS International – Anne Meltzer (Lehigh)
  • Volcano Rapid Response RCN – David Fee (Univ of Alaska)

Short summaries of these ongoing community efforts appear below FYI, with folks to contact if you are interested in providing input or getting involved. Many of these efforts are in the gestation stage. Some are happening soon! For example, please note the Jan 15 deadline to apply for the Conference on Experimental Studies of Subduction Zone Processes! Note that an Umbrella SZ4D Research Coordination Network is being planned that would provide a web site and central clearinghouse for this kind of Subduction Community information in the future.

There are a lot of subduction-related workshops, working groups, community efforts being planned for the future – please plan to participate!

– Terry Plank