Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 12-13-2025

Abstract

A protracted multi-stage tectonic and magmatic evolution combined with low regional crustal strain rates make it challenging to characterize active structure that may host earthquakes in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico. Here, we leverage temporary 1-month deployments of nodal seismometers to gain new insights into seismicity of the Jemez Mountains, which only have continuous seismic monitoring on their eastern flank as a result of the Los Alamos Seismic Network. Our catalog is built using 4 steps: phase picking in continuous seismic data, association of picks to detect unique events, event magnitude estimation, and absolute hypocenter estimation. We detect and locate 349 earthquakes of ML 0.05-3.01, mostly concentrated in two clusters on either side of the Gallina fault, with additional activity along the Nacimiento and Jemez faults. Valles Caldera and the Pajarito fault show very sparse, low-magnitude seismicity. This catalog may help guide future efforts to characterize earthquake hazards and optimize future monitoring in a region that contains a variety of critical infrastructure.

Degree Name

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

First Committee Member (Chair)

Lindsay Worthington

Second Committee Member

Eric Lindsey

Third Committee Member

Brandon Schmandt

Language

English

Keywords

Seismology, Valles Caldera, Dense Array, Nacimiento Fault, Gallina Fault, Jemez Uplift

Document Type

Thesis

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