Bio

My research interests can be broadly defined as the study of active faults, the earthquakes they generate and the physics of the earthquake source. A major objective of my work is to improve our knowledge of earthquake hazards through the application of physics-based understanding of the underlying processes. As Co-Director of the Stanford Center for Induced and Triggered Seismicity, my students, postdocs and I conduct multi-disciplinary studies into the causes and consequences of anthropogenic earthquakes in a wide variety of settings. I have also long been committed to earthquake risk reduction, specifically through the transfer of scientific understanding of the hazard to people, businesses, policymakers and government agencies. Before coming to Stanford in 2015, I was a research geophysicist at the U. S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, California for more than 40 years where I focused on problems of seismicity, seismotectonics, probabilistic earthquake forecasting, and earthquake source processes

Academic Appointments

Administrative Appointments

  • Geophysicist, U. S. Geological Survey (1971 - 2008)
  • Chief, Branch of Seismology, U. S. Geological Survey (1982 - 1988)
  • Consulting Professor of Geophysics, Stanford University (1992 - 2008)
  • Chief Scientist, Earthquake Hazards Team, U. S. Geological Survey (2002 - 2005)
  • Senior Research Geophysicist, U. S. Geological Survey (2008 - 2015)
  • Professor (Research), Stanford University (2015 - Present)
  • Co-Director, Stanford Center for Induced and Triggered Seismicity, Stanford University (2015 - 2023)

Honors & Awards

  • Meritorious Service Award, U. S. Department of the Interior (1990)
  • Gilbert Fellow, U. S. Geological Survey (1993)
  • Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2001)
  • Distinguished Service Award, U. S. Department of the Interior (2010)
  • EarthScope National Lecturer, National Science Foundation (2012)
  • Gutenberg Lecture, American Geophysical Union (2018)
  • Harry Fielding Reid Medal, Seismological Society of America (2021)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • President, Seismological Society of America (2007 - 2009)

Professional Education

  • Ph.D, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Geophysics (1978)
  • M. S., Geophysics, Stanford University (1971)
  • B.S., Stanford University, Physics (1971)

Contact

  • Academic
    wellsworth@stanford.edu
    University - Emeritus faculty Department: Department of Geophysics - Geophysics Position: Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council
    • Department of Geophysics
    • 397 Panama Mall
    • MItchell Building Room 373B
    • Stanford,  California  94305 
    University - Academic staff Department: Department of Geophysics - Geophysics Position: Casual

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 2215
  • Other Names:
    Bill Ellsworth

Links

2022-23 Courses

Stanford Advisees

  • Doctoral Dissertation Reader (AC)
    Axel Wang

All Publications

  • Strengthening the Development and Use of " Deep " Seismic Event Catalogs SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Park, Y., Beroza, G. C., Ellsworth, W. L. 2024; 95 (4): 2041-2043

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220240044

    View details for Web of Science ID 001268453600003

  • The physical mechanisms of induced earthquakes NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT Moein, M. A., Langenbruch, C., Schultz, R., Grigoli, F., Ellsworth, W. L., Wang, R., Rinaldi, A., Shapiro, S. 2023; 4 (12): 847-863

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s43017-023-00497-8

    View details for Web of Science ID 001114694300001

  • Reactivation of Precambrian Faults by Deep Wastewater Injection in Midland Basin, Texas, and Performance Evaluation of Seismic Response Areas BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Woo, J., Ellsworth, W. L. 2023; 113 (6): 2543-2556

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0120230086

    View details for Web of Science ID 001116212600003

  • Adaptive Coda-Wave Imaging With Voronoi Tessellation JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Mao, S., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2023; 128 (8)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2023JB026592

    View details for Web of Science ID 001050333700001

  • En echelon faults reactivated by wastewater disposal near Musreau Lake, Alberta GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL Schultz, R., Park, Y., Suarez, A., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2023; 235 (1): 417-429

    View details for DOI 10.1093/gji/ggad226

    View details for Web of Science ID 001007766900001

  • Disposal From In Situ Bitumen Recovery Induced the M-L 5.6 Peace River Earthquake GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Schultz, R., Woo, J., Pepin, K., Ellsworth, W. L., Zebkar, H., Segall, P., Gu, Y., Samsonov, S. 2023; 50 (6)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2023GL102940

    View details for Web of Science ID 000951503100001

  • Induced seismicity red-light thresholds for enhanced geothermal prospects in the Netherlands GEOTHERMICS Schultz, R., Muntendam-Bos, A., Zhou, W., Beroza, G. C., Ellsworth, W. L. 2022; 106

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.geothermics.2022.102580

    View details for Web of Science ID 000933890900004

  • A comprehensive suite of earthquake catalogues for the 2016-2017 Central Italy seismic sequence. Scientific data Chiaraluce, L., Michele, M., Waldhauser, F., Tan, Y. J., Herrmann, M., Spallarossa, D., Beroza, G. C., Cattaneo, M., Chiarabba, C., De Gori, P., Di Stefano, R., Ellsworth, W., Main, I., Mancini, S., Margheriti, L., Marzocchi, W., Meier, M., Scafidi, D., Schaff, D., Segou, M. 2022; 9 (1): 710

    Abstract

    The protracted nature of the 2016-2017 central Italy seismic sequence, with multiple damaging earthquakes spaced over months, presented serious challenges for the duty seismologists and emergency managers as they assimilated the growing sequence to advise the local population. Uncertainty concerning where and when it was safe to occupy vulnerable structures highlighted the need for timely delivery of scientifically based understanding of the evolving hazard and risk. Seismic hazard assessment during complex sequences depends critically on up-to-date earthquake catalogues-i.e., data on locations, magnitudes, and activity of earthquakes-to characterize the ongoing seismicity and fuel earthquake forecasting models. Here we document six earthquake catalogues of this sequence that were developed using a variety of methods. The catalogues possess different levels of resolution and completeness resulting from progressive enhancements in the data availability, detection sensitivity, and hypocentral location accuracy. The catalogues range from real-time to advanced machine-learning procedures and highlight both the promises as well as the challenges of implementing advanced workflows in an operational environment.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41597-022-01827-z

    View details for PubMedID 36400781

  • QuakeFlow: a scalable machine-learning-based earthquake monitoring workflow with cloud computing GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL Zhu, W., Hou, A., Yang, R., Datta, A., Mousavi, S., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2022; 232 (1): 684-693

    View details for DOI 10.1093/gji/ggac355

    View details for Web of Science ID 000863421100015

  • DevelNet: Earthquake Detection on Develocorder Films with Deep Learning: Application to the Rangely Earthquake Control Experiment SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Wang, K., Ellsworth, W., Beroza, G. C., Zhu, W., Rubinstein, J. L. 2022; 93 (5): 2515-2528

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220220066

    View details for Web of Science ID 001052385300010

  • Reply to: Multiple induced seismicity mechanisms at Castor underground gas storage illustrate the need for thorough monitoring. Nature communications Cesca, S., Stich, D., Grigoli, F., Vuan, A., Lopez-Comino, J. A., Niemz, P., Blanch, E., Dahm, T., Ellsworth, W. L. 2022; 13 (1): 3445

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-30904-5

    View details for PubMedID 35715402

  • Earthquake Phase Association Using a Bayesian Gaussian Mixture Model JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Zhu, W., McBrearty, I. W., Mousavi, S., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2022; 127 (5)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2021JB023249

    View details for Web of Science ID 000799049300001

  • DeepShake: Shaking Intensity Prediction Using Deep Spatiotemporal RNNs for Earthquake Early Warning SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Datta, A., Wu, D. J., Zhu, W., Cai, M., Ellsworth, W. L. 2022; 93 (3): 1636-1649

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220210141

    View details for Web of Science ID 000792443900002

  • Physics-Based Model Reconciles Caldera Collapse Induced Static and Dynamic Ground Motion: Application to Kilauea 2018 GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Wang, T. A., Coppess, K. R., Segall, P., Dunham, E. M., Ellsworth, W. 2022; 49 (8)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2021GL097440

    View details for Web of Science ID 000781874000001

  • Statistical bounds on how induced seismicity stops. Scientific reports Schultz, R., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 1800; 12 (1): 1184

    Abstract

    Earthquakes caused by human activities receive scrutiny due to the risks and hazards they pose. Seismicity that occurs after the causative anthropogenic operation stops has been particularly problematic-both because of high-profile cases of damage caused by this trailing seismicity and due to the loss of control for risk management. With this motivation, we undertake a statistical examination of how induced seismicity stops. We borrow the concept of Bath's law from tectonic aftershock sequences. Bath's law anticipates the difference between magnitudes in two subsets of seismicity as dependent on their population count ratio. We test this concept for its applicability to induced seismicity, including ~80 cases of earthquakes caused by hydraulic fracturing, enhanced geothermal systems, and other fluid-injections with clear operational end points. We find that induced seismicity obeys Bath's law: both in terms of the magnitude-count-ratio relationship and the power law distribution of residuals. Furthermore, the distribution of count ratios is skewed and heavy-tailed, with most earthquakes occurring during stimulation/injection. We discuss potential models to improve the characterization of these count ratios and propose a Seismogenic Fault Injection Test to measure their parameters in situ. We conclude that Bath's law quantifies the occurrence of earthquake magnitudes trailing anthropogenic operations.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-022-05216-9

    View details for PubMedID 35075145

  • A Strategy for Choosing Red-Light Thresholds to Manage Hydraulic Fracturing Induced Seismicity in North America JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Schultz, R., Beroza, G. C., Ellsworth, W. L. 2021; 126 (12)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2021JB022340

    View details for Web of Science ID 000751383000052

  • Machine-learning-facilitated earthquake and anthropogenic source detections near the Weiyuan Shale Gas Blocks, Sichuan, China EARTH AND PLANETARY PHYSICS Zhou, P., Ellsworth, W. L., Yang, H., Tan, Y., Beroza, G. C., Sheng, M., Chu, R. 2021; 5 (6): 501-519

    View details for DOI 10.26464/epp2021053

    View details for Web of Science ID 000719385400003

  • Seismicity at the Castor gas reservoir driven by pore pressure diffusion and asperities loading. Nature communications Cesca, S., Stich, D., Grigoli, F., Vuan, A., Lopez-Comino, J. A., Niemz, P., Blanch, E., Dahm, T., Ellsworth, W. L. 2021; 12 (1): 4783

    Abstract

    The 2013 seismic sequence at the Castor injection platform offshore Spain, including three earthquakes of magnitude 4.1, occurred during the initial filling of a planned Underground Gas Storage facility. The Castor sequence is one of the most important cases of induced seismicity in Europe and a rare example of seismicity induced by gas injection into a depleted oil field. Here we use advanced seismological techniques applied to an enhanced waveform dataset, to resolve the geometry of the faults, develop a greatly enlarged seismicity catalog and record details of the rupture kinematics. The sequence occurred by progressive fault failure and unlocking, with seismicity initially migrating away from the injection points, triggered by pore pressure diffusion, and then back again, breaking larger asperities loaded to higher stress and producing the largest earthquakes. Seismicity occurred almost exclusively on a secondary fault, located below the reservoir, dipping opposite from the reservoir bounding fault.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-24949-1

    View details for PubMedID 34376685

  • Ambient noise Love wave attenuation tomography for the LASSIE array across the Los Angeles basin. Science advances Liu, X., Beroza, G. C., Yang, L., Ellsworth, W. L. 2021; 7 (22)

    Abstract

    The Los Angeles basin is located within the North America-Pacific plate boundary and contains multiple earthquake faults that threaten greater Los Angeles. Seismic attenuation tomography has the potential to provide important constraints on wave propagation in the basin and to provide supplementary information on structure in the form of the distribution of anelastic properties. On the basis of the amplitude information from seismic interferometry from the linear LASSIE array in the Los Angeles basin, we apply station-triplet attenuation tomography to obtain a 2D depth profile for the attenuation structure of the uppermost 0.6 km. The array crosses four Quaternary faults, three of which are blind. The attenuation tomography resolves strong attenuation (shear attenuation Qs ~ 20) for the fault zones and is consistent with sharp boundaries across them.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abe1030

    View details for PubMedID 34049887

  • A risk-based approach for managing hydraulic fracturing-induced seismicity. Science (New York, N.Y.) Schultz, R., Beroza, G. C., Ellsworth, W. L. 2021; 372 (6541): 504–7

    Abstract

    Risks from induced earthquakes are a growing concern that needs effective management. For hydraulic fracturing of the Eagle Ford shale in southern Texas, we developed a risk-informed strategy for choosing red-light thresholds that require immediate well shut-in. We used a combination of datasets to simulate spatially heterogeneous nuisance and damage impacts. Simulated impacts are greater in the northeast of the play and smaller in the southwest. This heterogeneity is driven by concentrations of population density. Spatially varying red-light thresholds normalized on these impacts [moment magnitude (M w) 2.0 to 5.0] are fairer and safer than a single threshold applied over a broad area. Sensitivity tests indicate that the forecast maximum magnitude is the most influential parameter. Our method provides a guideline for traffic light protocols and managing induced seismicity risks.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.abg5451

    View details for PubMedID 33926953

  • Relative earthquake location procedure for clustered seismicity with a single station GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL Grigoli, F., Ellsworth, W. L., Zhang, M., Mousavi, M., Cesca, S., Satriano, C., Beroza, G. C., Wiemer, S. 2021; 225 (1): 608–26

    View details for DOI 10.1093/gji/ggaa607

    View details for Web of Science ID 000646864000034

  • Depth Constraints on Coseismic Velocity Changes From Frequency-Dependent Measurements of Repeating Earthquake Waveforms JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Sheng, Y., Ellsworth, W. L., Lellouch, A., Beroza, G. C. 2021; 126 (2)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2020JB020421

    View details for Web of Science ID 000631921200017

  • Comparison between Distributed Acoustic Sensing and Geophones: Downhole Microseismic Monitoring of the FORGE Geothermal Experiment SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Lellouch, A., Lindsey, N. J., Ellsworth, W. L., Biondi, B. L. 2020; 91 (6): 3256–68

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220200149

    View details for Web of Science ID 000588054300021

  • Risk-Informed Recommendations for Managing Hydraulic Fracturing-Induced Seismicity via Traffic Light Protocols BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Schultz, R., Beroza, G., Ellsworth, W., Baker, J. 2020; 110 (5): 2411–22

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0120200016

    View details for Web of Science ID 000575192300027

  • Hydraulic Fracturing-Induced Seismicity REVIEWS OF GEOPHYSICS Schultz, R., Skoumal, R. J., Brudzinski, M. R., Eaton, D., Baptie, B., Ellsworth, W. 2020; 58 (3)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2019RG000695

    View details for Web of Science ID 000576409200007

  • Revisiting the Timpson Induced Earthquake Sequence: A System of Two Parallel Faults GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Wang, K., Ellsworth, W., Beroza, G. C. 2020; 47 (15)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2020GL089192

    View details for Web of Science ID 000560376100091

  • Earthquake transformer-an attentive deep-learning model for simultaneous earthquake detection and phase picking. Nature communications Mousavi, S. M., Ellsworth, W. L., Zhu, W., Chuang, L. Y., Beroza, G. C. 2020; 11 (1): 3952

    Abstract

    Earthquake signal detection and seismic phase picking are challenging tasks in the processing of noisy data and the monitoring of microearthquakes. Here we present a global deep-learning model for simultaneous earthquake detection and phase picking. Performing these two related tasks in tandem improves model performance in each individual task by combining information in phases and in the full waveform of earthquake signals by using a hierarchical attention mechanism. We show that our model outperforms previous deep-learning and traditional phase-picking and detection algorithms. Applying our model to 5 weeks of continuous data recorded during 2000 Tottori earthquakes in Japan, we were able to detect and locate two times more earthquakes using only a portion (less than 1/3) of seismic stations. Our model picks P and S phases with precision close to manual picks by human analysts; however, its high efficiency and higher sensitivity can result in detecting and characterizing more and smaller events.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-17591-w

    View details for PubMedID 32770023

  • Rescuing Legacy Seismic Data FAIR'ly SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Hwang, L. J., Ahern, T., Ebinger, C. J., Ellsworth, W. L., Euler, G. G., Okal, E. A., Okubo, P. G., Walter, W. R. 2020; 91 (3): 1339–40

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220200027

    View details for Web of Science ID 000530707300001

  • Empirical and Synthetic Approaches to the Calibration of the Local Magnitude Scale, M-L, in Southern Kansas BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Al-Ismail, F., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2020; 110 (2): 689–97

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0120190189

    View details for Web of Science ID 000522398700018

  • Machine-Learning-Based Analysis of the Guy-Greenbrier, Arkansas Earthquakes: A Tale of Two Sequences GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Park, Y., Mousavi, S., Zhu, W., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2020; 47 (6)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2020GL087032

    View details for Web of Science ID 000529097700021

  • Rapid Characterization of the July 2019 Ridgecrest, California, Earthquake Sequence From Raw Seismic Data Using Machine-Learning Phase Picker GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Liu, M., Zhang, M., Zhu, W., Ellsworth, W. L., Li, H. 2020; 47 (4)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2019GL086189

    View details for Web of Science ID 000529120100078

  • Value at Induced Risk: Injection-Induced Seismic Risk From Low-Probability, High-Impact Events GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Langenbruch, C., Ellsworth, W. L., Woo, J., Wald, D. J. 2020; 47 (2)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2019GL085878

    View details for Web of Science ID 000517154600007

  • HIGH-PASS FILTERS TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF BROAD ATMOSPHERIC CONTRIBUTIONS IN SBAS INVERSIONS: A CASE STUDY IN THE DELAWARE BASIN Pepin, K., Zebker, H. A., Ellsworth, W., IEEE IEEE. 2020: 1030-1033

    View details for DOI 10.1109/IGARSS39084.2020.9324656

    View details for Web of Science ID 000664335301032

  • Velocity-Based Earthquake Detection Using Downhole Distributed Acoustic Sensing-Examples from the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Lellouch, A., Yuan, S., Ellsworth, W. L., Biondi, B. 2019; 109 (6): 2491–2500

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0120190176

    View details for Web of Science ID 000499983200024

  • Unsupervised Clustering of Seismic Signals Using Deep Convolutional Autoencoders IEEE GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING LETTERS Mousavi, S., Zhu, W., Ellsworth, W., Beroza, G. 2019; 16 (11): 1693–97

    View details for DOI 10.1109/LGRS.2019.2909218

    View details for Web of Science ID 000496226100005

  • Rapid Earthquake Association and Location SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Zhang, M., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2019; 90 (6): 2276–84

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220190052

    View details for Web of Science ID 000493295100016

  • Triggering of the Pohang, Korea, Earthquake (M-w 5.5) by Enhanced Geothermal System Stimulation SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Ellsworth, W. L., Giardini, D., Townend, J., Ge, S., Shimamoto, T. 2019; 90 (5): 1844–58

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220190102

    View details for Web of Science ID 000484569600016

  • Unsupervised Large-Scale Search for Similar Earthquake Signals BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Yoon, C. E., Bergen, K. J., Rong, K., Elezabi, H., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C., Bailis, P., Levis, P. 2019; 109 (4): 1451–68

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0120190006

    View details for Web of Science ID 000477837700016

  • Source Parameter Variability of Intermediate-Depth Earthquakes in Japanese Subduction Zones JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Chu, S., Beroza, G. C., Ellsworth, W. L. 2019; 124 (8): 8704–25

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2019JB017592

    View details for Web of Science ID 000491283500060

  • Robust Stress Drop Estimates of Potentially Induced Earthquakes in Oklahoma: Evaluation of Empirical Green's Function JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Yoshimitsu, N., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2019; 124 (6): 5854–66

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2019JB017483

    View details for Web of Science ID 000477722100030

  • Managing injection-induced seismic risks. Science (New York, N.Y.) Lee, K., Ellsworth, W. L., Giardini, D., Townend, J., Ge, S., Shimamoto, T., Yeo, I., Kang, T., Rhie, J., Sheen, D., Chang, C., Woo, J., Langenbruch, C. 2019; 364 (6442): 730–32

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.aax1878

    View details for PubMedID 31123121

  • Seismology with Dark Data: Image-Based Processing of Analog Records Using Machine Learning for the Rangely Earthquake Control Experiment SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Wang, K., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C., Williams, G., Zhang, M., Schroeder, D., Rubinstein, J. 2019; 90 (2): 553–62

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220180298

    View details for Web of Science ID 000460125100013

  • Foreshocks and Mainshock Nucleation of the 1999 M-w 7.1 Hector Mine, California, Earthquake JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Yoon, C. E., Yoshimitsu, N., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2019; 124 (2): 1569–82

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2018JB016383

    View details for Web of Science ID 000462355800025

  • The 2013-2016 Induced Earthquakes in Harper and Sumner Counties, Southern Kansas (vol 108, pg 674, 2018) BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Rubinstein, J. L., Ellsworth, W. L., Dougherty, S. L. 2018; 108 (6): 3699–3700

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0120180224

    View details for Web of Science ID 000450773300041

  • Nucleation of the 1999 Izmit earthquake by a triggered cascade of foreshocks NATURE GEOSCIENCE Ellsworth, W. L., Bulut, F. 2018; 11 (7): 531-+

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41561-018-0145-1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000438794800018

  • The 2013-2016 Induced Earthquakes in Harper and Sumner Counties, Southern Kansas BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Rubinstein, J. L., Ellsworth, W. L., Dougherty, S. L. 2018; 108 (2): 674–89

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0120170209

    View details for Web of Science ID 000429116300008

  • A Systematic Assessment of the Spatiotemporal Evolution of Fault Activation Through Induced Seismicity in Oklahoma and Southern Kansas JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Schoenball, M., Ellsworth, W. L. 2017; 122 (12): 10189–206

    View details for DOI 10.1002/2017JB014850

    View details for Web of Science ID 000423129200014

  • Stress drops of induced and tectonic earthquakes in the central United States are indistinguishable. Science advances Huang, Y., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2017; 3 (8): e1700772

    Abstract

    Induced earthquakes currently pose a significant hazard in the central United States, but there is considerable uncertainty about the severity of their ground motions. We measure stress drops of 39 moderate-magnitude induced and tectonic earthquakes in the central United States and eastern North America. Induced earthquakes, more than half of which are shallower than 5 km, show a comparable median stress drop to tectonic earthquakes in the central United States that are dominantly strike-slip but a lower median stress drop than that of tectonic earthquakes in the eastern North America that are dominantly reverse-faulting. This suggests that ground motion prediction equations developed for tectonic earthquakes can be applied to induced earthquakes if the effects of depth and faulting style are properly considered. Our observation leads to the notion that, similar to tectonic earthquakes, induced earthquakes are driven by tectonic stresses.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/sciadv.1700772

    View details for PubMedID 28782040

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5540254

  • Geodetic Slip Model of the 3 September 2016 M-w 5.8 Pawnee, Oklahoma, Earthquake: Evidence for Fault-Zone Collapse SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Pollitz, F. F., Wicks, C., Schoenball, M., Ellsworth, W., Murray, M. 2017; 88 (4): 983–93

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220170002

    View details for Web of Science ID 000417993100006

  • Seismicity During the Initial Stages of the Guy-Greenbrier, Arkansas, Earthquake Sequence Journal of Geophysical Research – Solid Earth Yoon, C. E., Huang, Y., Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 2017

    View details for DOI 10.1002/2017JB014946

  • 3-D velocity structure in southern Haiti from local earthquake tomography JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Douilly, R., Ellsworth, W. L., Kissling, E., Freed, A. M., Deschamps, A., de Lepinay, B. M. 2016; 121 (12): 8813-8832

    View details for DOI 10.1002/2016JB013123

    View details for Web of Science ID 000393181500023

  • A new strategy for earthquake focal mechanisms using waveform-correlation-derived relative polarities and cluster analysis: Application to the 2014 Long Valley Caldera earthquake swarm JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Shelly, D. R., Hardebeck, J. L., Ellsworth, W. L., Hill, D. P. 2016; 121 (12): 8622-8641

    View details for DOI 10.1002/2016JB013437

    View details for Web of Science ID 000393181500013

  • Seismic-Hazard Forecast for 2016 Including Induced and Natural Earthquakes in the Central and Eastern United States SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Petersen, M. D., Mueller, C. S., Moschetti, M. P., Hoover, S. M., Llenos, A. L., Ellsworth, W. L., Michael, A. J., Rubinstein, J. L., McGarr, A. F., Rukstales, K. S. 2016; 87 (6): 1327-1341

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0220160072

    View details for Web of Science ID 000386892500011

  • Surface uplift and time-dependent seismic hazard due to fluid injection in eastern Texas SCIENCE Shirzaei, M., Ellsworth, W. L., Tiampo, K. F., Gonzalez, P. J., Manga, M. 2016; 353 (6306): 1416-1419

    Abstract

    Observations that unequivocally link seismicity and wastewater injection are scarce. Here we show that wastewater injection in eastern Texas causes uplift, detectable in radar interferometric data up to >8 kilometers from the wells. Using measurements of uplift, reported injection data, and a poroelastic model, we computed the crustal strain and pore pressure. We infer that an increase of >1 megapascal in pore pressure in rocks with low compressibility triggers earthquakes, including the 4.8-moment magnitude event that occurred on 17 May 2012, the largest earthquake recorded in eastern Texas. Seismic activity increased even while injection rates declined, owing to diffusion of pore pressure from earlier periods with higher injection rates. Induced seismicity potential is suppressed where tight confining formations prevent pore pressure from propagating into crystalline basement rocks.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.aag0262

    View details for Web of Science ID 000383708700039

    View details for PubMedID 27708035

  • USGS scientists open to change SCIENCE Beroza, G. C., Ellsworth, W. L., McNutt, M. K. 2016; 353 (6303): 998

    View details for PubMedID 27701105

  • Stress drop estimates of potentially induced earthquakes in the Guy-Greenbrier sequence JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Huang, Y., Beroza, G. C., Ellsworth, W. L. 2016; 121 (9): 6597-6607

    View details for DOI 10.1002/2016JB013067

    View details for Web of Science ID 000385845700018

  • Scaling relation between earthquake magnitude and the departure time from P wave similar growth GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Noda, S., Ellsworth, W. L. 2016; 43 (17): 9053-9060

    View details for DOI 10.1002/2016GL070069

    View details for Web of Science ID 000385357200029

  • Fluid-faulting evolution in high definition: Connecting fault structure and frequency-magnitude variations during the 2014 Long Valley Caldera, California, earthquake swarm JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Shelly, D. R., Ellsworth, W. L., Hill, D. P. 2016; 121 (3): 1776-1795

    View details for DOI 10.1002/2015JB012719

    View details for Web of Science ID 000374695200029

  • Geophysics. Coping with earthquakes induced by fluid injection. Science McGarr, A., Bekins, B., Burkardt, N., Dewey, J., Earle, P., Ellsworth, W., Ge, S., Hickman, S., Holland, A., Majer, E., Rubinstein, J., Sheehan, A. 2015; 347 (6224): 830-831

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.aaa0494

    View details for PubMedID 25700505

  • Stress Transfer by the 2008 M-w 6.4 Achaia Earthquake to the Western Corinth Gulf and Its Relation with the 2010 Efpalio Sequence, Central Greece BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Segou, M., Ellsworth, W. L., Parsons, T. 2014; 104 (4): 1723-1734

    View details for DOI 10.1785/0120130142

    View details for Web of Science ID 000343233600011

  • Injection-induced earthquakes. Science Ellsworth, W. L. 2013; 341 (6142): 1225942-?

    Abstract

    Earthquakes in unusual locations have become an important topic of discussion in both North America and Europe, owing to the concern that industrial activity could cause damaging earthquakes. It has long been understood that earthquakes can be induced by impoundment of reservoirs, surface and underground mining, withdrawal of fluids and gas from the subsurface, and injection of fluids into underground formations. Injection-induced earthquakes have, in particular, become a focus of discussion as the application of hydraulic fracturing to tight shale formations is enabling the production of oil and gas from previously unproductive formations. Earthquakes can be induced as part of the process to stimulate the production from tight shale formations, or by disposal of wastewater associated with stimulation and production. Here, I review recent seismic activity that may be associated with industrial activity, with a focus on the disposal of wastewater by injection in deep wells; assess the scientific understanding of induced earthquakes; and discuss the key scientific challenges to be met for assessing this hazard.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.1225942

    View details for PubMedID 23846903

  • Earthquake anniversary. Halfway through Reid's cycle and counting. Science (New York, N.Y.) Ellsworth, W. L. 2006; 312 (5771): 203-4

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.1124890

    View details for PubMedID 16614202

  • Optimizing correlation techniques for improved earthquake location BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Schaff, D. P., Bokelmann, G. H., ELLSWORTH, W. L., Zanzerkia, E., Waldhauser, F., Beroza, G. C. 2004; 94 (2): 705-721

    View details for Web of Science ID 000221200900024

  • Apparent break in earthquake scaling due to path and site effects on deep borehole recordings JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Ide, S., Beroza, G. C., Prejean, S. G., ELLSWORTH, W. L. 2003; 108 (B5)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2001JB001617

    View details for Web of Science ID 000183180200002

  • Fault structure and kinematics of the Long Valley Caldera region, California, revealed by high-accuracy earthquake hypocenters and focal mechanism stress inversions JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Prejean, S., Ellsworth, W., Zoback, M., Waldhauser, F. 2002; 107 (B12)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2001JB001168

    View details for Web of Science ID 000181225100002

  • High-resolution image of Calaveras Fault seismicity JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Schaff, D. P., Bokelmann, G. H., Beroza, G. C., Waldhauser, F., ELLSWORTH, W. L. 2002; 107 (B9)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2001JB000633

    View details for Web of Science ID 000180366100010

  • Observations of earthquake source parameters at 2 km depth in the Long Valley caldera, eastern California BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Prejean, S. G., ELLSWORTH, W. L. 2001; 91 (2): 165-177

    View details for Web of Science ID 000168519700001

  • Observation of the seismic nucleation phase in the Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Ellsworth, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 1998; 25 (3): 401-404

    View details for Web of Science ID 000071848000045

  • Detailed observations of California foreshock sequences: Implications for the earthquake initiation process JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Dodge, D. A., Beroza, G. C., ELLSWORTH, W. L. 1996; 101 (B10): 22371-22392

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996VM54400034

  • Properties of the seismic nucleation phase Symposium on Seismic Source Parameters - From Microearthquakes to Large Events, at the General Assembly of the European-Seismological-Commission Beroza, G. C., ELLSWORTH, W. L. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. 1996: 209–27

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996VP83400017

  • FORESHOCK SEQUENCE OF THE 1992 LANDERS, CALIFORNIA, EARTHQUAKE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR EARTHQUAKE NUCLEATION JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Dodge, D. A., Beroza, G. C., ELLSWORTH, W. L. 1995; 100 (B6): 9865-9880

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995RC48600007

  • SEISMIC EVIDENCE FOR AN EARTHQUAKE NUCLEATION PHASE SCIENCE ELLSWORTH, W. L., Beroza, G. C. 1995; 268 (5212): 851-855

    Abstract

    Near-source observations show that earthquakes initiate with a distinctive seismic nucleation phase that is characterized by a low rate of moment release relative to the rest of the event. This phase was observed for the 30 earthquakes having moment magnitudes 2.6 to 8.1, and the size and duration of this phase scale with the eventual size of the earthquake. During the nucleation phase, moment release was irregular and appears to have been confined to a limited region of the fault. It was characteristically followed by quadratic growth in the moment rate as rupture began to propagate away from the nucleation zone. These observations suggest that the nucleation process exerts a strong influence on the size of the eventual earthquake.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995QX85000031

    View details for PubMedID 17792179

  • STABILITY OF CODA WAVE ATTENUATION DURING THE LOMA-PRIETA, CALIFORNIA, EARTHQUAKE SEQUENCE JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Beroza, G. C., Cole, A. T., ELLSWORTH, W. L. 1995; 100 (B3): 3977-3987

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995QM54700016

  • SEISMICITY REMOTELY TRIGGERED BY THE MAGNITUDE 7.3 LANDERS, CALIFORNIA, EARTHQUAKE SCIENCE Hill, D. P., Reasenberg, P. A., Michael, A., ARABAZ, W. J., Beroza, G., Brumbaugh, D., Brune, J. N., Castro, R., Davis, S., dePolo, D., ELLSWORTH, W. L., Gomberg, J., Harmsen, S., House, L., Jackson, S. M., Johnston, M. J., Jones, L., Keller, R., Malone, S., Munguia, L., Nava, S., Pechmann, J. C., Sanford, A., SIMPSON, R. W., SMITH, R. B., Stark, M., Stickney, M., Vidal, A., Walter, S., Wong, V., ZOLLWEG, J. 1993; 260 (5114): 1617-1623

    Abstract

    The magnitude 7.3 Landers earthquake of 28 June 1992 triggered a remarkably sudden and widespread increase in earthquake activity across much of the western United States. The triggered earthquakes, which occurred at distances up to 1250 kilometers (17 source dimensions) from the Landers mainshock, were confined to areas of persistent seismicity and strike-slip to normal faulting. Many of the triggered areas also are sites of geothermal and recent volcanic activity. Static stress changes calculated for elastic models of the earthquake appear to be too small to have caused the triggering. The most promising explanations involve nonlinear interactions between large dynamic strains accompanying seismic waves from the mainshock and crustal fluids (perhaps including crustal magma).

    View details for Web of Science ID A1993LG17600020

    View details for PubMedID 17810202