Phone:(650) 329-4821
e-mail: fpollitz@usgs.gov

Mailing address:
345 Middlefield Rd MS 977
Menlo Park, CA-94025

Fred Pollitz

My research efforts in crustal deformation are focussed on the interpretation of geodetic data and analysis of fault interaction. Both endeavors are directed primarily to postseismic deformation processes, especially relaxation of the ductile lower crust and mantle beneath the seismogenic upper crust. My work addresses several objectives: to understand the origin of transient crustal deformation, to gain insight into the physical properties of rocks in the deep subsurface, to construct realistic physical models that carry some measure of predictive power, and to evaluate the long-term impact of one or more earthquakes on the surrounding crust.

Postseismic transient deformation is but one of the processes that contributes to regional stress evolution, modifying the background tectonic plate motions which build up stress and lead to earthquakes.

With further research we can better understand the forces which contribute to crustal stress and recognize patterns of deformation which produce stress concentration over long time periods.

Download software to compute post seismic crustal deformation. VISCO1D is a program package to calculate quasi-static deformation on a layered spherical Earth from a specified input source (fault plane parameters) at specified points on the surface or at depth.