RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Over my career, my research has spanned a variety of seismological subjects, including earthquake source modeling, seismotectonics, earthquake hazards, and nuclear treaty monitoring research (seismic event detection, location, and discrimination). I have also studied hydroacoustic wave propagation and explored military applications of seismology. Since arriving at the University of Texas at El Paso in January 2002, I have been able to expand my research goals and pursue projects that were inconceivable to me just a few years ago.

My current projects include: seismic hazard analyses through the study of historic and recent earthquakes in the Bhutan Himalayas and Cape Mendocino, California; determining Earth structure from analysis of a data recorded by a temporary seismic network in Bhutan; studying the earthquake rupture processes of the Nov. 8, 2002 Denali Fault, Alaska earthquake; and studying regional wave propagations from mining explosions in eastern Arizona for nuclear explosion monitoring. I plan to continue developing a strong research program at UTEP. Thus, I am also seeking funding for the following: improving seismic techniques utilizing Wavelet Transforms; studying earthquake rupture processes of large earthquakes to understand the earthquake cycle; improving regional seismic detection, location, and discrimination; studying the evolution of the Rio Grande Rift near El Paso, TX using both passive seismic data and geological investigations; increasing field capabilities through the purchase of broadband seismometer systems; and further developing field projects in the Bhutan Himalayas and in the Alps in Austria.

Committee Chair, Masters Thesis


• Vicki Gee, Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP),2003-present
• Todd Theiner, Geological Sciences, UTEP 2003-present
• Marina Rodriguez-Moya, Computer Sciences, UTEP 2003-present

Committee Chair, Ph.D. Thesis


• Eva Rumpfhuber, Geological Sciences, UTEP 2003-present
• Cleit Zeiler, Geological Sciences, UTEP 2004-present

Committee Member, Masters Thesis


• Katy Wiest, Geological Sciences, UTEP 2003-present
• Cara Schiek, Geological Sciences, UTEP 2003-present
• Claudia Flores, Geological Sciences, UTEP 2002-2003
• Roberto A. Saenz, Mathematical Sciences, UTEP 2003

Committee Member, Ph.D. Thesis


• Wesley Brown, Geological Sciences, UTEP 2003-2004
• Annette Veilleux, Geological Sciences, UTEP 2003-present
• Nicholas Mariita, Geological Sciences, UTEP 2003-2004

Mentored Research


• Leandro Trevino Graduate Student, UTEP 2003-present
• Daniel Hernandez, Undergraduate Student, UTE 2002-present
• Thomas VanDeMark, Undergraduate Student, UTEP 2002-present
• Monica Maceira, Graduate Student, Penn. State University/Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)2000-present
• Matt Averill, Graduate Student, UTEP 2003
• Tiffini Bond, Graduate Student, UTEP 2003
• Eric Hernandez, High School Student, UTEP 2003
• Melissa Brophy, Undergraduate Student, UTEP 2003
• Dowchu Drukpa, Graduate Student, UTEP 2002
• Jill Franks, Undergraduate Student, University of Saint Louis/LANL 2002
• Claudia Flores, Graduate Student, UTEP/LANL 2001-2002
• Moira Pyle, Undergraduate Student, University of Saint Louis/LANL 2001
• Claudia Aprea, Postdoctoral Researcher, LANL 2000
• Michael Begnaud, Postdoctoral Researcher, LANL 1999-2000
• Craig Whitted, Graduate student, University of Arizona 1999
• Brett Ketter, Graduate student, University of Saint Louis 1998

TEACHING:

• Digital Signal Processing, (GEOP 5460), 4 hours, Graduate, Lecture/Lab, Spring 2004
• Principles of Earth Science (GEOL 1303), 3 hours, Undergraduate, Lecture, Fall 2003, Spring 2004
• Advanced Physical Geology (GEOL 4315/5315), 3 hours, New Course, Lecture co-taught with C. Andronicos, Fall 2003
• Advanced Seismology (GEOP 5356), 3 hours, Graduate, Lecture, Spring 2003
• Introduction to Physical Geology (GEOL 1301), 3 hours, Undergraduate, Lecture, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Fall 2004
• Seismology, (GEOP 5354), 3 hours, Graduate, Lecture, Fall 2002, Fall 2004
• Pathways Summer Camp, High School Students, 2-days of Geophysics, Summer 2002, 2003, 2004
• Introduction to Seismology and Nuclear Explosion Monitoring, 2-day workshop, LANL, Summer 2002

• Schiek, C., J. M. Hurtado, and A. A. Velasco, 2004, Fourier analysis terrain change detection using ASTER optical satellite imagery along the Kunlun fault, Tibet, J. Photogrammetry Remote Sensing, submitted.
• VanDeMark, T., W. Brown, D. I. Doser, A. A. Velasco, 2004, Regional wave propagation in the Lybia region, Bull. Seis. Soc. Am., submitted.
• Drukpa, D., A. A. Velasco, and D. I. Doser, 2004, Seismicity of the Bhutan region (1937-2003): Evidence for deep transcurrent deformation, J. Geophys. Res., submitted.
• Maceira, M., S. R. Taylor, C. J. Ammon, X. Yang, A. A. Velasco, 2004, High resolution surface wave slowness tomography in central Asia, J. Geophys. Res., accepted upon revision.
• Andronicos, C. L., and A. A. Velasco, 2004, Large scale deformation in the India-Asia collision constrained by earthquakes and topography, GSA Bull., accepted upon revision.
• Ketter, B., A. A. Velasco, C. J. Ammon, and G. E. Randall, 2003, Path specific velocity structure of western China from surface-wave dispersion, Pure App. Geophys., accepted upon revision.
• Velasco, A. A., C. J. Ammon, J. Farrell, and K. Pankow, 2004, Rupture directivity of the November 3, 2002 Denali fault earthquake determined from surface waves, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., in press.
• Velasco, A. A., H. E. Hartse, and G. E. Randall, 2003, Propagation or source? Analysis of a moderate sized event in the Qinghai Province, China, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 93, 2281-2288.
• Taylor, S. R., A. A. Velasco, Hartse, W. S. Phillips, and W. R. Walter, 2002, Amplitude corrections for regional seismic discriminants, Pure App. Geophys., 159, 623-650.
• Steck, L. K., A. A. Velasco, A. H. Cogbill, and H. J. Patton, 2001, Improving regional seismic event location in China, Pure and Appl. Geophys., 158, 211-240.
• Phillips, W. S., H. E. Hartse, S. R. Taylor, A. A. Velasco, and G. E. Randall, 2001, Amplitude tomography for regional seismic verification, Pure and Appl. Geophys., 158, 1189-1206.
• Velasco, A. A., C. J. Ammon, and S. L. Beck, 2000, Broadband source modeling of the November 8, 1997 Tibet (Mw = 7.5) earthquake and its tectonic implications, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 28065-28080.
• Whitted, C. A., S. R. Taylor, A. A. Velasco, H. E. Hartse, and G. Zandt, 2001, A path specific crustal study in central Asia from group velocity inversions and full waveform modeling, submitted to Geophys. Res. Lett.
• Velasco, A. A., C. J. Ammon, T. Lay, and M. Hagerty, 1996, Rupture process of the 1990 Luzon, Philippines (Mw = 7.7) earthquake, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 22419-22434.
• Velasco, A. A., T. Lay, and J. Zhang, 1996, Long period surface observations of the October 18, 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake, in The Loma Prieta, California, earthquake of October 17, 1989--Main-shock characteristics, U. S. G. S. Loma Prieta professional paper 1550-a, ed. Paul Spudich, A209-A214.