The Alaska-Aleutian Subduction Zone: 

Integrated Science and Future Opportunities

In-Person Workshop • January 10, 2025  •  8:30 AM - 5 PM

University of Washington, Seattle •   Day after USGS Subduction Zone Workshop

Organzing Team: Julie Elliott (Michigan State University), Donna Shillington (Northern Arizona University), Kristin Morell (UC Santa Barbara), Rob Witter (USGS)

Alaska provides an excellent natural laboratory for exploring subduction zone processes due numerous past and recent megathrust earthquakes, the presence of multiple types of slip behavior (including transient slow slip events), highly variable megathrust properties (coupling, structure, hydration, upper plate characteristics) along the length of the subduction zone, and the preservation of diverse ancient and active subduction zone deformation processes recorded in the upper plate.  These characteristics have spawned a number of projects over the past couple of decades, generating significant new amounts of geologic, seismic, and geodetic data.  While these new results have provided new insights into the processes occurring along the subduction zone, there are significant gaps in data and interdisciplinary synthesis.

This workshop will provide a mix of status updates from SZ4D and other community efforts in Alaska, lightning talks/poster presentations, and breakout discussions with the goal of addressing topics such as identifying data gaps and areas where interdisciplinary collaborations would be particularly valuable, interdisciplinary projects that can be done with existing data, and future collaborative funding opportunities.  

All are welcome to apply - you do not need prior experience working on the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone.  Early career researchers are particularly encouraged to apply.

There are no funds available to support travel to this workshop.  Lunch will be provided.

Funding to support this workshop has been provided by a Seismological Society of America Community Grant

Agenda can be found here.

Questions?  Email Julie Elliott (ellio372@msu.edu)

Want to get caught up on recent Alaska subduction research?  Check out the recordings from the 2023 Virtual Seminar Series.