This award provides 51% of the funding required for the acquisition of computing hardware and software to upgrade the geophysical computing facility in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Southern California. The University is committed to providing the remaining 49% of the funding. The improved computing facility will be used for computationally-intensive research projects that include: investigation of earthquake source properties, near-field effects and site responses for large earthquakes; spatial and temporal variations of coda-Q in relation to earthquake processes; depiction of the crustal structure and evolution of the southwestern U.S. using multichannel seismic reflection profiles; study of friction and fracture instabilities in fault zones; and a damage mechanics approach to the source mechanism of underground nuclear explosions.
