The Earth is constantly vibrating. Natural processes within the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere induce vibrations in the Earth’s lithosphere that travel through the lithosphere and are affected by physical properties and processes in the lithosphere. Activity by humans and other living things also generate usable vibrations that propagate in the lithosphere. The recently developed science of ambient signal seismology (also known as ambient noise seismology) uses recorded ground motion at one or more locations to image the subsurface and monitor subsurface processes.
This presentation will cover the sources of ambient seismic signals, how these signals are recorded and how they are used to image and monitor processes in the subsurface. Also presented are select Southern California case histories were ambient signal seismology was used for resource exploration, monitoring groundwater, and earthquake hazard assessment.
Dan Hollis currently holds two part-time positions: Research Associate at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP) at University of California San Diego, and Director of Business Development (Americas) at Sisprobe SAS. At IGPP, Dan works on passive seismic monitoring of earthquake faults using ambient seismic signals. Dan was one of the founders of Sisprobe, a 2017 start-up that offers passive seismic imaging and monitoring services using ambient seismic signals in several markets: energy and mineral resources, seismic hazard assessment, and geotechnical applications. Dan’s 44-year career in industry has been with geophysical service companies in positions ranging from geophysicist to company administration. Dan is a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, American Geophysical Union and the Seismological Society of America.
