About Us
Caltech's Seismological Laboratory, an arm of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences (GPS), was established in 1921. It has a distinguished history of leadership in science and serving the public interest. Internationally recognized for excellence in geophysical research and academics while also having outstanding facilities in seismic networks, high performance computing, and mineral physics, makes the Seismo Lab an ideal place for study and research. The Lab serves as a focal point for earthquake information in Southern California and the world.
Spotlight
Michael Gurnis, John E. and Hazel S. Smits Professor of Geophysics and Director of the Seismological Laboratory
Mike Gurnis’s research is aimed at a better understanding of the dynamics of the solid earth, especially plate tectonics and mantle convection. With his students and post-docs, Mike primarily uses computational methods to understand the physics of processes in the lithosphere and mantle as well as a vehicle to interpret a wide variety of geological and geophysical observations. His group has been involved in the development of new computational methods that have pushed the envelope of realism and resolution, including global simulations of plate tectonics. 
The team makes use of not only our own in-house GPS-supercomputer, but also the facilities of National supercomputer centers. Over the last several years, Mike has pushed forward on three parallel research directions that use ultra-high resolution dynamic models of the present day earth, evolutionary models over the last several hundred million years of earth history, and studies of the earth’s deep interior. Much of the work is carried out in collaboration with other specialists including other faculty in the Seismo Lab and Tectonics Observatory and collaborators around the world. Learn more about Mike Gurnis’s research here
Community Seismic Network
We are developing a new earthquake monitoring (seismic network) system, Community Seismic Network (CSN) based on a dense array of low-cost sensors. The goal of the system is to produce block-by-block estimates of strong ground shaking. The information from these sensors will be sent to central computers that will process the data and produce localized estimates of ground shaking on a block-by-block basis - essentially, motions of the evolving seismic wave field during local earthquakes. This information will guide emergency responders and promises to lead to a new level of understanding of the physics of earthquakes and their impact on Southern California. The development of the new network is partially supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Read more
