Research

How earthquakes grow large

Some earthquakes stop early while others grow large. We use observations of past ruptures and paleoseismic records to examine the physics of rupture propagation and arrest, with a focus on the role of fault geometrical complexity.

Publications: Rodriguez Padilla et al. (2022), Rodriguez Padilla et al. (2024), Yao et al. (2024). See Publications.

Fault interactions and long-term fault dynamics

Faults exist as part of networks and interact with their neighbors. These interactions can introduce both order and disorder into long-term earthquake recurrence. We use observations, experiments, and numerical models of fault networks to understand this.

Publications: Rodriguez Padilla et al., preprint, Dascher-Cousineau et al. (2026). See Publications.

The distribution of inelastic strain during earthquakes and over multiple earthquake cycles

Inelastic deformation around faults is a permanent sink of strain energy during earthquakes and modifies the properties of the shallow crust. We use field observations and remote sensing to characterize the distribution of fracturing and folding around faults, during individual earthquakes and over multiple earthquake cycles.

Publications: Rodriguez Padilla et al. (2022a), Rodriguez Padilla et al. (2022b), Liu-Zeng et al. (2024). See Publications.

Landscape evolution

Landscapes in tectonically active regions record a competition between earthquakes and surface processes. We study how this competition shapes the landscape over time, and what it means for reading past earthquakes from it.

Publications: Zuckerman et al. (2026). See Publications.

Seismic hazard assessment

Earthquakes threaten infrastructure and lifelines. We consider the hazard implications of all of the work above, and work to extend our research into seismic hazard assessment.

Publications: Benavente et al. (2022), Rodriguez Padilla and Oskin (2023), Zuckerman et al. (2026). See Publications.