Detecting Ground Shaking in Japan

Position Description: Ground shaking produced by earthquakes could be devastating, but they can also contribute to advancing our understanding of the Earth's interior and dynamics. In this project, students will explore ways to detect different types of shaking recorded by nearly 800 instruments distributed throughout Japan, and how they could be related to subsurface features. With so many instruments available, the ultimate goal is to establish an automatic method to process the recordings so that detailed images beneath Japan, such as magma storage beneath volcanoes, could be obtained. All necessary data, software and instructions will be provided.

The steps of this research will include:

• Learning about recordings of ground shaking

• Using the provided software to analyze the ground shaking recorded in Japan

• Interpreting the ground shaking in terms of subsurface features beneath Japan

Project Dates: July 31-August 18, 2023

Number of Available Positions: 2

Location: In-person or remote

Pay Rate: $700 stipend at completion of program

Qualifications/Requirements:

• No prior knowledge of the topic is necessary

• Computer and internet connection required

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) welcomes everyone and aims for a diverse and inclusive community.  Preference will be given to freshman and sophomore students, but we encourage all interested students to apply. Students who are already working with members of the EPS community and non-Harvard students are not eligible for this position.