2. Quantitative Evaluation of Tsunami Hazard to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coasts

Tsunamis are among the world’s most destructive coastal hazards. The sharp increase in coastal population density, the intense development of harbors and urban infrastructure, tourism, and the exploitation of mineral resources in coastal areas, all set up a potential disaster of catastrophic proportions. Although the frequency of tsunamis along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of North America is low, tsunamis in this region are a serious concern to policy makers and ordinary citizens because of the dense infrastructure and population along the shoreline. Major infrastructure projects, such as nuclear reactors, are designed with consideration for a catastrophic event over a long time period (10,000 years). Following the surge in application for licenses to build new nuclear reactors along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, the USGS was approached by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct research that will help with the assessment of tsunami hazards to these coasts.

We seek a post-doctoral candidate to quantitatively evaluate the tsunami hazard to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts. The major hazard to these coasts appears to arise from landslide-generated tsunamis. The successful candidate will compile and analyze various data including multibeam bathymetry, seismic reflection data, earthquake data, and cores along the continental slope of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts to evaluate and date the distribution of landslides in these regions. The successful candidate will investigate theories and observations regarding the effects of slide speed and bottom friction on the amplitude of tsunamis and will use in-house software packages to model the effects of potential landslide sources on selected coastal segments of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. The successful candidate is expected to interact with the NOAA PMEL lab regarding modeling techniques and with university scientists regarding landslide dynamics to enhance the quality of their research. Postdoctoral candidates in the fields of geophysics, geology (with a strong background in computer simulations), or civil engineering are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will pursue their work both in Woods Hole, MA, and Menlo Park, CA.

Tsunami research is a young and exciting interdisciplinary field that bridges between geology, solid earth geophysics, seismology, civil engineering, and hydrodynamics. In particular, little is known about submarine landslides, their excitation by ground shaking, and the coupling between landslide and the overlying water layer. The USGS is emerging as a leader in this field because of its diverse expertise. The successful candidate will promote USGS leadership in tsunami science.

Proposed Duty Station: Woods Hole, MA; Menlo Park, CA

Areas of Ph.D.: Geology, geophysics, engineering

Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Geologist, Research Geophysicist, Research Engineer

(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable depending on the applicant's background, education, and research proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by the Human Resources specialist.)

Research Advisor(s): Uri ten Brink, (508) 457-2396, utenbrink@usgs.gov; Eric Geist, (650) 329-5457, egeist@usgs.gov; Homa Lee, (650) 329-5485, hjlee@usgs.gov

Human Resources Office contact: Brian Arnold-Renicker, (703) 648-7468, brenicke@usgs.gov

Summary of Opportunities