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Seismological Laboratory
Home  /  People  /  Robert W. Clayton

Robert W. Clayton

Professor of Geophysics, Emeritus
B.A.Sc., University of Toronto, 1973; M.Sc., University of British Columbia, 1976; Ph.D., Stanford University, 1981. Assistant Professor of Exploration Geophysics, Caltech, 1981-85; Associate Professor, 1985-89; Professor of Geophysics, 1989-2023; Professor Emeritus, 2023-. Executive Officer for Geophysics, 1987-94; Acting Director, Seismological Laboratory, 1989; 2008-09; Deputy Director, 1989-90; Academic Officer, 2008-19.

Research Overview


Goal: Imaging the Earth's Interior
Using seismic waves recorded on dense arrays to determine the structure of the subsurface.

Examples of current research

  • Imaging the subduction zone in central and southern Mexico
  • Determining the structure of the Los Angeles Basin
  • Imaging the subduction zone in southern Peru
  • Building the Community Seismic Network

Why it matters
Knowing the structure of the Earth is essential to understanding how it works.

Clayton Research

San Gabriel and San Bernardino Basins.
The top panel shows the lines of a survey done 2017-2019. The background is Bouguer gravity and the color along the lines is the delay times of receiver functions. The lower panel shows the depth to basement determined from gravity receiver functions. Figures by Valeria Villa.

Publications

View more publications on feeds.library.caltech.edu

Related Courses

2023-24
Ge 111 ab – Applied Geophysics Seminar and Field Course