8
soon, is instrumental in pushing
predict how resonance frequencies
Field measurements like those at
the new technique for practical
will respond during progressive rock
Courthouse Mesa are invaluable for
implementation and helps show how
slope failures of different types. These
establishing the new approach and
one can monitor landslide behavior.
models give new insights where
understanding the limitations.
Conceptually, seismic resonance
field data does not exist, because
measuring can anticipate what kinds
instrumented rock slope failures are
Erin Jensen’s work is taking her far
of other data and observations might
very rare.
afield from Utah. She is preparing
be seen in other landslides.
for a postdoctoral fellowship with Sometimes complex patterns of
the US Geological Survey as part of
Part of the project was stepping back
resonance frequency change before
the Mendenhall Research Fellowship
from the site and doing conceptual
failure, and the models showed, for
Program. Her research will focus
and numerical modeling, such as
the first time, the expected form
broadly on landslides in Alaska, as
testing out how frequency decreases
of resonance frequency change as
well as how landslides are affected by
with slope failure. This helps to
ultimate slope collapse approaches.
glacial retreat and climate change. <
Among the nation’s
National Earthquake Information
operations; and generation and
preeminent
Center (NEIC) which is the world’s pre-
management of earthquake catalogs.
earthquake
eminent seismic monitoring system.
His expertise and knowledge in these
seismologists,
areas have informed his continual A native of Georgia, Benz earned
efforts to educate college students
MS’82, PhD’86, scientist emeritus at
his BS in geophysics from the
and the general public about
the US Geological Survey (USGS)’s
University of Kansas and has been
earthquake hazards.
Earthquake Hazards Program, first
involved in a broad range of research
worked at the USGS in Menlo Park,
and applications in earthquake
In addition to educating college
California, and then, beginning in
seismology. This includes imaging
students—most recently as an adjunct
1993, in Golden, Colorado. With
earth structure, earthquake detection,
professor at the U during the 2021-
positions in the Branch of Seismology,
modeling of seismic sources, and near-
2022 academic year—Benz has also
the Branch of Earthquake and
real-time location and moment-tensor
been an exceptional leader in meeting
Geomagnetic Information, and
calculation to inform earthquake
USGS’s missions to quantify seismic
the Geologic Hazards Team, he
disaster response. Additionally,
hazards and to inform national, state,
became the Technical Manager
the range of his work extends to
and local governments, private industry,
of the Advanced National Seismic
measurement and prediction of
and the general public about such
System (ANSS) which oversees
strong ground motion; seismic
earthquake hazards and their mitigation. <
and coordinates seismic network
discrimination between natural
operations throughout the US.
seismicity and nuclear explosions;
HARLEY BENZ
understanding earthquake swarms; In 2003, Benz was appointed ANSS
induced seismicity and its implications
Megaproject Chief, overseeing the
for seismic hazard; seismic network
D OWN TO EA RTH
| Department of Geology & Geophysics
The Distinguished Alumni Award is given regularly by the Department of Geology & Geophysics. This past fall David Braxton MS’97 was announced as the 2023 recipient. His profile will appear in an upcoming issue of Down to Earth.
