Recent cee_ucla_oapdeposits items

Ground Motion Intensity Measures at Liquefaction Field Case History Sites

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ground Motion Intensity Measures at Liquefaction Field Case History Sites

Charging ahead unfairly: An examination of temporal Shifts in electric vehicle supply equipment accessibility across California's communities

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Charging ahead unfairly: An examination of temporal Shifts in electric vehicle supply equipment accessibility across California's communities

Response to “Comment on ‘State-of-the-Science Data and Methods Need to Guide Place-Based Efforts to Reduce Air Pollution Inequity’”

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Response to “Comment on ‘State-of-the-Science Data and Methods Need to Guide Place-Based Efforts to Reduce Air Pollution Inequity’”

Panel Review of the USGS 2025 Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Time-Independent Earthquake Rupture Forecast

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In August 2024, the National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) Steering Committee appointed a 14-member panel (herein referred to as “The Panel” or “Panel”) to review the time-independent earthquake rupture forecast (ERF) for the 2025 update of the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands (PRVI) component of the NSHM (herein referred to as “PRVI25-ERF”). This report summarizes the Panel’s findings and recommendations. The primary materials for Panel review were nine papers documenting the PRVI25-ERF draft model. The Panel was also informed about the process to update the ERF in three briefings by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) development team (herein referred to as the “USGS Team” or “Team”). The PRVI25-ERF model is a substantial improvement over the current model, which was released in 2003 (PRVI03-ERF; Mueller et al., 2003, 2010). The USGS Team has incorporated substantial new information obtained about the region and its tectonic environment over the past twenty years, and they have...

Assessing Transportation Barriers to Maternal Care for Black Women in Los Angeles County

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The United States ranks among the worst high-income countries for maternal health outcomes, with Black women experiencing disproportionately high and alarming rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. In Los Angeles County, Black women are four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than women of other racial and ethnic groups. These disparities may partially be attributed to social determinants of health, including transportation access. Lack of transportation can hinder access to healthcare, with significant consequences for reproductive health. This study investigates how transportation barriers affect Black birthing people's access to maternal healthcare in Los Angeles. In partnership with Black Women for Wellness, we conducted a descriptive, observational study using an online survey completed by 235 respondents, all of whom self-identified as women. Findings reveal that Black women in Los Angeles face substantial transportation barriers when seeking maternal...

Review of the 2025 Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands National Seismic Hazard Model

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The National Seismic Hazard Model Program Steering Committee (NSHM-SC) conducts participatory peer-review during the development of NSHM products, working with the NSHM development team in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This report documents the review processes and outcomes related to the development of NSHM products for application to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (PRVI). The committee consists of nine members who were selected by the USGS, based on expertise and experience. The USGS requested a written report from the NSHM-SC answering the following questions relevant to publication of the 2023 NSHM for PRVI: • Was the National Seismic Hazard Model adequately reviewed? • Did the USGS respond appropriately to the review comments and recommendations? • Is the model suitable for release and to serve as the basis for hazard mitigation? The SC responses to the three main questions are: Was the National Seismic Hazard Model adequately reviewed? The NSHM-SC, and earthquake...

Earthquake Loss Estimates and Policy Implications for Nonductile Concrete Buildings in Los Angeles

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The collapse potential of nonductile concrete buildings represents a substantial life safety hazard globally that can be mitigated through carefully crafted policy. Mitigation policy should be approached incrementally by (1) understanding problem scale, (2) screening for low‐ and high‐risk buildings, (3) performing engineering analysis for potentially vulnerable buildings, and (4) retrofit or replacement of high‐risk structures. This research addresses initial stages of this sequence for Los Angeles, California. The intent was to investigate approaches for informing mitigation priorities by: characterizing the inventory of approximately 1,500 pre‐1976 concrete buildings; estimating risk, including identification of building types that contribute most substantially to the risk; and investigating the impact of retrofit policy alternatives. Loss estimates for scenario events are based on the HAZUS™ Advanced Engineering Building Module. Depending on model assumptions, losses range...

Deep Ensemble Learning for Rapid Large-Scale Postearthquake Damage Assessment: Application to Satellite Images from the 2023 Türkiye Earthquakes

Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Extensive field reconnaissance damage surveys, publicly available after the Türkiye earthquake sequence of 2023, provided a unique opportunity to devise and validate a rapid postevent damage assessment framework that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to overcome typical challenges encountered in rapid regional damage assessment efforts. By analyzing publicly available satellite images of the significantly impacted city of Antakya, we manually identified and segmented fully or partially collapsed buildings and buildings with visible damage. These were then paired with the various damage state labels in the government data. An AI-based framework was subsequently developed to automate segmentation and damage assessment processes, delivering damage state estimates for other affected regions. The resulting tool, dubbed rapid postearthquake aerial imagery damage assessment (RAPID-A), is an ensemble of various deep segmentation models that work on satellite image channels...

Resilient high-temperature reverse osmosis desalination membranes

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Conventional thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes experience irreversible performance loss at high temperatures, restricting their use in industries with high-temperature streams, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, electronics, power generation, food production, and hybrid desalination plants. However, the mechanisms driving the performance decline of TFC membranes at high temperatures remain poorly understood. Herein, we combine controlled experiments, molecular dynamics simulations, and micromechanical modeling to elucidate TFC failure mechanisms and to evaluate thermally resilient thin-film cross-linked (TFX) composite membrane. Upon exposure to elevated temperatures (>60°C), salt rejection of TFC dropped from ~99 to <90%, with irreversible structural damage in the polysulfone layer, confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. In contrast, the TFX membrane maintained ~99% salt rejection and showed no signs of physical degradation up to 80°C. Our...

Early Results from GLASS-JWST. I: Confirmation of Lensed z ≥ 7 Lyman-break Galaxies behind the Abell 2744 Cluster with NIRISS

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We present the first search for z ≥ 7, continuum-confirmed Lyman break sources with NIRISS/WFS spectroscopy over the Abell 2744 Frontier Fields cluster, as part of the GLASS-JWST-ERS survey. With ∼15 hr of preimaging and multiangle grism exposures in the F115W, F150W, and F200W filters, we describe the general data handling (i.e., reduction, cleaning, modeling, and extraction processes) and analysis for the GLASS-JWST survey. We showcase the power of JWST to peer deep into reionization, when most intergalactic hydrogen is neutral, by confirming two galaxies at z = 8.04 ± 0.15 and z = 7.90 ± 0.13 by means of their Lyman breaks. Fainter continuum spectra are observed in both the F150W and F200W bands, indicative of blue (−1.69 and −1.33) UV slopes and moderately bright absolute magnitudes (−20.37 and −19.68 mag). We do not detect strong Lyα in either galaxy, but do observe tentative (∼2.7–3.8σ) He ii λ1640 Å, O iii]λλ1661,1666 Å, and N iii]λλ1747,1749 Å line emission in one, suggestive...

The nature of an ultra-faint galaxy in the cosmic dark ages seen with JWST

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the first billion years after the Big Bang, sources of ultraviolet (UV) photons are believed to have ionized intergalactic hydrogen, rendering the Universe transparent to UV radiation. Galaxies brighter than the characteristic luminosity L* (refs. 1,2) do not provide enough ionizing photons to drive this cosmic reionization. Fainter galaxies are thought to dominate the photon budget; however, they are surrounded by neutral gas that prevents the escape of the Lyman-α photons, which has been the dominant way to identify them so far. JD1 was previously identified as a triply-imaged galaxy with a magnification factor of 13 provided by the foreground cluster Abell 2744 (ref. 3), and a photometric redshift of z ≈ 10. Here we report the spectroscopic confirmation of this very low luminosity (≈0.05 L*) galaxy at z = 9.79, observed 480 Myr after the Big Bang, by means of the identification of the Lyman break and redward continuum, as well as multiple ≳4σ emission lines, with...

A massive interacting galaxy 510 million years after the Big Bang

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

James Webb Space Telescope observations have spectroscopically confirmed the existence of galaxies as early as 300 Myr after the Big Bang and with a higher number density than what was expected based on galaxy formation models and Hubble Space Telescope observations. Yet, most sources confirmed spectroscopically so far in the first 500 Myr have rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) luminosities below the characteristic luminosity (MUV*$${M}_\mathrm{UV}^{* }$$), limiting the signal-to-noise ratio for investigating substructure. Here we present a high-resolution spectroscopic and spatially resolved study of a bright galaxy (MUV = −21.66 ± 0.03, ~2MUV*$$\sim 2{M}_\mathrm{UV}^{* }$$) at a redshift z = 9.3127 ± 0.0002 (510 Myr after the Big Bang) with an estimated stellar mass of 1.6−0.4+0.5×109M⊙$$\left(1.6_{-0.4}^{+0.5}\right)\times 10^{9}\,M_{\odot }$$, forming 19−6+5$$1{9}_{-6}^{+5}$$ solar masses per year and with a metallicity of about one tenth that of solar. The system has a morphology...

Early Results from GLASS-JWST. IV. Spatially Resolved Metallicity in a Low-mass z ∼ 3 Galaxy with NIRISS* *Based on observations acquired by the JWST under the ERS program ID 1324 (PI T. Treu).

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We report the first gas-phase metallicity map of a distant galaxy measured with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). We use the NIRISS slitless spectroscopy acquired by the GLASS Early Release Science program to spatially resolve the rest-frame optical nebular emission lines in a gravitationally lensed galaxy at z = 3.06 behind the A2744 galaxy cluster. This galaxy (dubbed GLASS-Zgrad1) has stellar mass ∼108.6 M ⊙, instantaneous star formation rate ∼8.6 M ⊙ yr−1 (both corrected for lensing magnification), and global metallicity one-fourth solar. From its emission-line maps ([O iii], Hβ, Hγ, [Ne iii], and [O ii]), we derive its spatial distribution of gas-phase metallicity using a well-established forward-modeling Bayesian inference method. The exquisite resolution and sensitivity of JWST/NIRISS, combined with lensing magnification, enable us to resolve this z ∼ 3 dwarf galaxy in ≳50 resolution elements with sufficient signal, an analysis hitherto not possible. We find that the...

Early Results from GLASS-JWST. XVIII. A First Morphological Atlas of the 1 < z < 5 Universe in the Rest-frame Optical

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We present a rest-frame optical morphological analysis of galaxies observed with the NIRCam imager on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as part of the GLASS-JWST Early Release Science program. We select 388 sources at redshifts 0.8 < z < 5.4 and use the seven 0.9–5 μm NIRCam filters to generate rest-frame gri composite color images, and conduct visual morphological classification. Compared to Hubble Space Telescope (HST)–based work we find a higher incidence of disks and bulges than expected at z > 1.5, revealed by rest-frame optical imaging. We detect 123 clear disks (58 at z > 1.5) of which 76 have bulges. No evolution of bulge fraction with redshift is evident: 61% at z < 2 (N = 110) versus 60% at z ≥ 2 (N = 13). A stellar mass dependence is evident, with bulges visible in 80% of all disk galaxies with mass >109.5 M ⊙ (N = 41) but only 52% at M < 109.5 M ⊙ (N = 82). We supplement visual morphologies with nonparametric measurements of Gini and asymmetry...

The GLASS-JWST Early Release Science Program. I. Survey Design and Release Plans

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The GLASS-JWST Early Release Science (hereafter GLASS-JWST-ERS) Program will obtain and make publicly available the deepest extragalactic data of the ERS campaign. It is primarily designed to address two key science questions, namely, “what sources ionized the universe and when?” and “how do baryons cycle through galaxies?”, while also enabling a broad variety of first look scientific investigations. In primary mode, it will obtain NIRISS and NIRSpec spectroscopy of galaxies lensed by the foreground Hubble Frontier Field cluster, Abell 2744. In parallel, it will use NIRCam to observe two fields that are offset from the cluster center, where lensing magnification is negligible, and which can thus be effectively considered blank fields. In order to prepare the community for access to this unprecedented data, we describe the scientific rationale, the survey design (including target selection and observational setups), and present pre-commissioning estimates of the expected sensitivity....

Ultrahigh pressure compaction-resistant thin film crosslinked composite reverse osmosis membranes

Tue, 3 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In this study, we present a class of thin-film crosslinked (TFX) composite reverse osmosis (RO) membranes that resist physical compaction at ultrahigh pressures (up to 200 bar). Since RO membranes experience compaction at virtually all pressure ranges, the ability to resist compaction has widespread implications for RO membrane technology. The process described herein involves crosslinking a phase inverted porous polyimide (PI) support membrane followed by interfacial polymerization of a polyamide layer, thereby forming a fully thermoset composite membrane structure. We explore a range of phase inversion membrane formation parameters such as PI concentration, solvent-cosolvent ratios, coagulation bath composition, and crosslinking methods in addition to interfacial polymerization reaction chemistry and conditions. Overall, TFX membranes exhibit significantly less compaction compared to hand-cast and commercial high-pressure RO membranes, experiencing less than 10% decline in water...

Regional Data Sets Included in the NGA-West3 Ground Motion Database

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Next Generation Attenuation (NGA)-West3 Program database builds upon that of NGA-West2 for shallow crustal earthquakes in active tectonic regimes to provide a robust data set to develop the next iteration of NGA ground motion models (GMMs). Researchers from Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, and the United States, amongst others, have collaborated to develop consistently processed data with uniform metadata from the respective regions, with data for other regions drawn from literature (e.g., Greece, Japan, and Türkiye). Over 80,000 three-component ground motions from 632 events with magnitudes generally greater than 4.0 across the Western United States (mostly in California) have been newly added, and the total database size is over 175,000 ground motions (generally three-component except for two-component records from KiK-Net stations in Japan). The database is being used by several teams of NGA GMM developers and will be publicly released sometime in...

MSA-3D: Dissecting Galaxies at z ∼ 1 with High Spatial and Spectral Resolution

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Integral field spectroscopy (IFS) is a powerful tool for understanding the formation of galaxies across cosmic history. We present the observing strategy and first results of MSA-3D, a novel JWST program using multi-object spectroscopy in a slit-stepping strategy to produce IFS data cubes. The program observed 43 normal star-forming galaxies at redshifts 0.5 ≲ z ≲ 1.5, corresponding to the epoch when spiral thin-disk galaxies of the modern Hubble sequence are thought to emerge, obtaining kiloparsec-scale maps of rest-frame optical nebular emission lines with spectral resolution R ≃ 2700. Here we describe the multiplexed slit-stepping method, which is >15 times more efficient than the NIRSpec IFS mode for our program. As an example of the data quality, we present a case study of an individual galaxy at z = 1.104 (stellar mass M* = 1010.3M⊙, star formation rate, SFR = 3M⊙ yr−1) with prominent face-on spiral structure. We show that the galaxy exhibits a rotationally supported...

Extrapolation Algorithm for Computing z1.0 from Shallow Measured Velocity Profile

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Ground motion models (GMMs) use depth to shear wave velocity (VS) isosurfaces to quantify site response effects arising from sediment thickness, with z1.0 (i.e., the depth to Vs = 1,000 m/s) often used. However, direct measurements of z1.0 are rare, and z1.0 is poorly resolved in tomographic measurements often used to develop community velocity models (CVMs), particularly in shallow layers and near basin edges. To address this challenge, we present an algorithm for estimating z1.0 for shear wave velocity profiles that do not reach VS = 1,000 m/s. The model is conditioned on the shear wave velocity at the bottom of the profile, VS (zp), and the average gradient near the bottom of the profile (dVS/dz). Using 253 direct z1.0 measurements from the shear wave velocity profile database (VSPDB), we regressed coefficients for VS (zp) = 500 to 1,000 m/s. We then used the algorithm to extend 622 VS profiles that reach ≥500 m/s, but not 1,000 m/s, and quantify distributions of z1.0 based...

BEACON: JWST NIRCam Pure-parallel Imaging Survey. I. Survey Design and Initial Results

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We introduce the Bias-free Extragalactic Analysis for Cosmic Origins with NIRCam (BEACON) survey, a JWST Cycle 2 program allocated up to 600 pure-parallel hours of observations. BEACON explores high-latitude areas of the sky with JWST/NIRCam over ∼100 independent sight lines, totaling ∼0.3 deg2, reaching a median F444W depth of ≈28.2 AB mag (5σ). Based on existing JWST observations in legacy fields, we estimate that BEACON will photometrically identify 25–150 galaxies at z > 10 and 500–1000 at z ∼ 7–10 uniquely enabled by an efficient multiple filter configuration spanning 0.9–5.0 μm. The expected sample size of z > 10 galaxies will allow us to obtain robust number density estimates and to discriminate between different models of early star formation. In this paper, we present an overview of the survey design and initial results using the first 19 fields. We present 129 galaxy candidates at z ≳7 identified in those fields, including 11 galaxies at z ≳10 and several UV-luminous...

Relationship between Factors of Safety against Soil Liquefaction Triggering and Liquefaction Effects on Ground Motions

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We assess soil liquefaction effects on ground surface motions as a function of factor of safety against liquefaction triggering (FSliq) The effects of soil liquefaction on ground motions are quantified by the ratio of acceleration response spectra (AFliq) calculated based on one-dimensional effective- and total-stress simulations conducted in a finite-difference code. Three methods for computing FSliq are explored: one from a liquefaction triggering model, including a magnitude scaling factor, and two from cycle counting for ground surface motion or shear stresses at depth. Our results indicate that soil liquefaction leads to a predominant amplification of ground motions in the short- and long-period ranges and de-amplification of ground motions in the intermediate period range, approximately from 0.1 to 0.9 s. We found that FSliq is a promising indicator of the liquefaction effects on ground motions and that ground motions at sites with FSliq higher than 0.9 are only moderately...

Sub-Regional Site Response in the San Francisco Bay Area

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Initial results of an ongoing project to develop a site response model specific to Northern California are presented, focusing on the San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA). Although current NGA-West2 ground motion models were developed for application across broad regions (such as California), they have the potential to be biased when applied to particular sub-regions. This study investigates the impacts of the unique geology in the SFBA on site response features. A model conditioned on time-averaged shear-wave velocity in the upper 30 m (VS30) and broad geomorphic categories (future iterations of the model will also consider depths to shear-wave velocity isosurfaces, z1.0) is used in this study. A critical element in the modeling process is to reflect the impact of different geologic conditions through the selected geomorphic categories, including (from rock to soil) Franciscan, Great Valley Sequence, and Tertiary rock, shelf deposits, valleys, and basins. When all sites are grouped,...

Identification of Site Response Features Using Microtremor HVSR

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Frequency-dependent horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVSR) of three-component recordings provide information on-site resonant frequencies, which are potentially useful for predicting site response. We compute microtremor-derived HVSR (mHVSR) from Fourier amplitude spectra (FAS) using a relational database for site data, mainly in California. Using these data, we identify sites with peaks, sites with no peaks, and characteristics of peaks for sites that have them. Using a separate relational database for earthquake ground motion studies, we identify period-dependent response-spectra site terms, which reflect the mean offsets of site-specific ground motions from predictions of a ground motion model (GMM). Those site terms may have peaks, no peaks, or transitions from low-to-high values (with or without peaks) over some period range. This paper evaluates the degree to which features of site terms can be mapped to features of mHVSR at the same site. This is an important step...

Application of Liquefaction Susceptibility Criteria within a Logic Tree Framework

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The probabilistic assessment of seismic ground failure hazards at any given site typically follows a three-step process that includes (1) estimating the probability of a given soil unit being susceptible to liquefaction (with the complement representing the probability of strength loss associated with cyclic softening); (2) estimating the probability that liquefaction would be triggered (if susceptible) or that cyclic softening would occur (if non-susceptible) given soil characteristics and anticipated ground shaking levels; and (3) estimating the potential impacts (surface manifestation, deformations, instabilities) from liquefied or softened strata. The three-stage liquefaction and cyclic softening hazard assessment process can be illustrated using a logic tree to allow different models and model weights to be considered in each step. We propose a logic tree formulation in which different weights are used for cyclic strength evaluation procedures for susceptible and non-susceptible...

Using Laboratory Data to Model the Cyclic Strength Transition from Clean Sands to Fines-Dominated Soils

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Existing fine corrections in liquefaction triggering models are generally formulated as an additive or multiplicative factor applied to the penetration resistance and were derived from liquefaction case history databases. Fines influence both the measured tip resistance and the cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) of the soil to varying extents. However, the fine corrections currently used in triggering models simultaneously represent the effect of fines on CRR and on penetration resistance through a single correction factor. Our long-term research objective is to develop separate fine corrections for CRR and penetration resistance. This paper focuses on the effect of fines on CRR. We present a framework that envisions modeling the CRR of clean sands based on relative density, DR, and represents the CRR of fines-dominated soils using a cyclic softening framework. An interpolation function will then bridge the gap between these two extremes, using regression of the gathered laboratory...

Panel Review of Ground Motion Characterization Model for the 2025 Update of the NSHM for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The 2025 update of the National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (PRVI) replaces a previous version of the model from 2003. The 2025 update has two major components – a seismic source characterization (SSC) model and a ground motion characterization (GMC) model. In August 2024, the Steering Committee for the NSHM formed this Panel to review the GMC component of the NSHM work for PRVI. The panel is advisory, meaning that we provide input on technical issues for consideration by the Steering Committee and the USGS NSHM team, but we do not have decision making authority. Final modeling decisions are presented in separate USGS documents, including Shumway et al. (2025), Moschetti et al. (2025), Moschetti (2025), and Withers et al. (2025). Where modeling decisions depart from our recommendations, the rationale is explained in those publications.

Evaluation of Vertical Seismic Load Effects Specified in the United States Building Code

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study evaluates the efficacy of two alternative methods for estimating vertical seismic load effects (Ev), which are specified in United States building codes (e.g., ASCE 7-22) and guidelines, and employed in the seismic design of structures. In both approaches, the vertical seismic load is computed as a percentage of the nominal dead load. One method uses 20% of the horizontal short-period design spectral acceleration (SDS) as the dead load factor, while the other computes the dead load factor as 30% of the vertical spectral acceleration value at the (vertical) structural period of interest (Sav). The two approaches are evaluated and compared using (1) the results of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis carried out by the USGS (which is the backbone data for ASCE 7-22) for 19,316 sites in California, and (2) the NGA-West2 ground motion models for over 3,000 seismic scenarios. The results are presented in terms of the probability distribution of the ratio of the Ev values...

Nonlinear Structural Model Parameter Updating Using Residual Drift Measurements from Sequential Seismic Events

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Model parameter updating can enhance the use of nonlinear structural response simulation to guide decision-making in the postearthquake environment. Since most structures in high seismic regions are not instrumented with sensors, the response history during ground shaking is usually not available after an earthquake. Nevertheless, technologies such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and drone-mounted imaging devices have made it possible to more effectively measure residual deformations after the shaking has subsided. It is within this context that a framework for performing nonlinear structural model parameter updating based only on residual drift measurements is proposed. The considered setting is one where a structure is subjected to a sequence of ground motions (without repairs), whereby after each event, the structural model parameters are updated using a Bayesian formulation and the measured residual drift. The methodology is demonstrated by using experimental data from...

Preliminary Ergodic Site Response Model for California Conditioned on mHVSR

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Traditional ergodic ground motion models (GMMs), typically conditioned on the time-averaged shear-wave velocity in the upper 30 m of soil (VS30), exhibit high site-to-site variability due to their inability to capture site-specific features such as resonances caused by impedance contrasts. Microtremor-based horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (mHVSR), which can contain peaks linked to site resonances, offer a useful supplement to VS30 for site response prediction. We use peak features from mHVSR spectra from 685 sites across California and neighboring regions (e.g., Nevada, Oregon) to develop mHVSR-conditioned site response models, which reduce site-to-site variability compared to a baseline linear site amplification model.

Not just PAH3.3: Why galaxies turn red in the near-infrared

Wed, 8 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We measured the spectral properties of a sample of 20 galaxies at z ∼ 0.35 selected for having surprisingly red JWST/NIRCAM F200W-F444W colors. Of these, 19 galaxies were observed with JWST/NIRSpec in the PRISM configuration, while the remaining galaxy was observed with the high-resolution gratings. Of the 20 galaxies in our sample, 17 exhibit strong 3.3 μm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission (equivalent width (EW) (PAH3.3) ≥ 0.03 μm). In these galaxies, the strength of the color excess does not depend on environment and correlates with EW(PAH3.3). Nonetheless, the presence of the PAH3.3 alone cannot fully explain the color excess, as an EW of ∼0.1 μm is able to increase the color of galaxies by only 0.13 mag. A contribution from a hot dust component is required to explain the excess. Both the PAH3.3 EW and flux correlate with the Hα EW and flux, suggesting that they are produced by the same mechanism. Five of the galaxies of our sample showing PAH3.3 would be classified...

JWST NIRSpec Spectroscopy of the Remarkable Bright Galaxy GHZ2/GLASS-z12 at Redshift 12.34

Wed, 8 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We spectroscopically confirm the M UV = −20.5 mag galaxy GHZ2/GLASS-z12 to be at redshift z = 12.34. The source was selected via NIRCam photometry in GLASS-JWST Early Release Science data, providing the first evidence of a surprising abundance of bright galaxies at z ≳ 10. The NIRSpec PRISM spectrum shows detections of N iv, C iv, He ii, O iii, C iii, O ii, and Ne iii lines and the first detection at high redshift of the O iii Bowen fluorescence line at 3133 Å rest frame. The prominent C iv line with rest-frame equivalent width (EW) ≈ 46 Å puts GHZ2 in the category of extreme C iv emitters. GHZ2 displays UV lines with EWs that are only found in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) or composite objects at low/intermediate redshifts. The UV line-intensity ratios are compatible with both AGNs and star formation in a low-metallicity environment, with the low limit on the [Ne iv]/[N iv] ratio favoring a stellar origin of the ionizing photons. We discuss a possible scenario in which the high...

Emission-line galaxies at z ∼ 1 from near-IR HST slitless spectroscopy: metallicities, star formation rates, and redshift confirmations from VLT/FORS2 spectroscopy

Wed, 8 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We follow up emission line galaxies identified through the near-infrared slitless HST/WFC3 WISP survey with VLT/FORS2 optical spectroscopy. Over 4 WISP fields, we targeted 85 of 138 line emission objects at 0.4 < z < 2 identified in WFC3 spectroscopy. Half the galaxies are fainter than HAB = 24 mag, and would not have been included in many well-known surveys based on broad-band magnitude selection. We confirm 95 per cent of the initial WFC3 grism redshifts in the 38 cases where we detect lines in FORS2 spectroscopy. However, for targets which exhibited a single emission line in WFC3, up to 65 per cent at z < 1.28 did not have expected emission lines detected in FORS2 and hence may be spurious (although this false-detection rate improves to 33 per cent using the latest public WISP emission line catalogue). From the Balmer decrement, the extinction of the WISP galaxies is consistent with A(H α) = 1 mag. From SED fits to multiband photometry including Spitzer 3.6 μm, we...

Addressing the Needs and Challenges in Evaluating Liquefaction: A Survey of the State-of-Practice

Wed, 1 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper presents results from a survey investigating the current state-of-practice in liquefaction evaluations. Practitioners completed the survey during presentations of a Next Generation Liquefaction modeling team at local professional society chapters. The survey contained questions on topics within four general categories: site characterization, methods for liquefaction evaluation, approaches to layered and profile-based analyses, and general background information about the survey respondent. Key findings are that (i) practitioners use a wide mix of different site investigation techniques to evaluate liquefaction, (ii) most practitioners in at least some of their projects apply a depth cutoff below which they do not consider liquefaction, (iii) few practitioners modify cone penetration test data based on findings from collocated borings, and (iv) a significant majority apply liquefaction procedures to every layer in the profile rather than identifying and analyzing a critical...

A decade of DesignSafe: enabling open science in natural hazards

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A decade of DesignSafe: enabling open science in natural hazards

Engineering attributes of ground motions from February 2023 Türkiye earthquake sequence

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The 2023 Türkiye earthquake sequence includes the 6 February M7.81 mainshock followed approximately 9 h later by an M7.74 event, and many smaller aftershocks including M6.81 and M6.37 events on 6 and 20 February, respectively. These events occurred in a region near the plate boundary of the East Anatolian Fault, in the proximity of which numerous ground motion recording stations had been installed north of the Türkiye–Syria border. As a result, the events were well recorded both near the fault and at rupture distances up to 582 km. We describe the available recordings and component-specific data processing performed with the aim of optimizing usable bandwidth. The resulting database includes 337, 365, 284, and 229 usable three-component recordings from the M7.81, M7.74, M6.81, and M6.37 events, respectively. We also present source, path, and site metadata that were compiled according to uniform protocols. Comparisons to a global ground motion model (GMM) for active tectonic regions...

Proxy-Based VS30 Estimation for Utah Conditioned on Surface Geology and Surface Gradient

Sat, 6 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The shear-wave velocity profile database was augmented with 259 profiles from 205 unique sites in Utah to facilitate the assignment of site parameters for 95 ground motion recording sites in this region as part of the NGA-West3 project. Three profiles were paired with Utah ground motion stations but 92 other stations lack a co-located profile. A proxy-based model to predict the time-averaged velocity in the upper 30 m of the site (VS30) was developed that considers surface geology and surface gradient for Quaternary units in Utah. The Quaternary surface geologic units considered are Holocene alluvium (Ha), fill (Hf), Pleistocene or undifferentiated Quaternary alluvium (Pa/Qal), alluvium/deltaic (Pad), deltaic (Pd), deltaic-lacustrine or lacustrine (Pdl/Pl), glacial (Pg), undifferentiated Quaternary alluvium - deltaic - eolian (Qa/Qdel/Qe), undifferentiated Quaternary alluvium/deltatic/lacustrine and Holocene deltaic/lacustrine (Qalm/Qdl/Hdl), and lacustrine (Ql). For each unit,...

Ground-motion models for inelastic response spectra using NGA-West2 database

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article presents ground-motion models (GMMs) for inelastic response spectra using the NGA-West2 database. The inelastic response spectra are defined in terms of constant ductility. The GMMs are used to observe the effect of event scenarios, site conditions, and oscillator properties on maximum displacement. Using a large database enabled us to quantify the magnitude scaling of inelastic response as compared to that for the traditional elastic GMMs. We observe that using the magnitude scaling of elastic GMM for hazard analysis of inelastic structural response can be unconservative for large magnitudes and large ductility ratios. To compare our models with models in the literature, we use the developed GMMs to compute the Reduction Factor due to inelasticity. Comparison of this model with models in the literature shows the importance of considering the effect of magnitude on the Reduction Factor. We also observe that the ratio of RotD100/RotD50 is larger for inelastic single-degree-of-freedom...

Response of BART’s Berkeley Hills tunnel to fault displacement and impact on system functionality

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Response of BART’s Berkeley Hills tunnel to fault displacement and impact on system functionality

Fault Displacement Hazard Initiative research program

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Fault Displacement Hazard Initiative research program

Residual displacement ground-motion model

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Residual displacement ground-motion model

A Global Application Programming Interface–Enabled Earthquake Ground Motion Relational Database for Engineering Applications

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We present a application programming interface (API)-enabled relational database of global earthquake ground motion intensity measures, associated metadata, and processed time-series data. Raw ground motion records were processed by the authors using either manual or semi-automated processing procedures, and every processed record has passed a quality review by a trained analyst. Computed intensity measures include peak acceleration and velocity, pseudo-spectral acceleration response spectra, cumulative absolute velocity, Arias Intensity, and Fourier amplitude spectra. The processed time-series data, associated metadata, and ground motion intensity measures were organized into a web-served relational database consisting of 32 tables connected by primary/foreign key pairs. Ground motion metadata and intensity measures (but not time-series) from the Next-Generation Attenuation (NGA)-East and NGA-West2 projects and the Hellenic Strong-Motion Database are also contained in the database....

Analysis of Near-Surface Shear Wave Velocity Data for Site Response Applications in the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta Region of California

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Analysis of Near-Surface Shear Wave Velocity Data for Site Response Applications in the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta Region of California

Next Generation Liquefaction Laboratory Database for Susceptibility and Cyclic Strength Assessment

Wed, 9 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Next Generation Liquefaction Laboratory Database for Susceptibility and Cyclic Strength Assessment

Reliability-based quantification of the benefits of machine learning predictive models in seismic structural design and performance assessment

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Reliability-based quantification of the benefits of machine learning predictive models in seismic structural design and performance assessment

Evaluation of a modified IDEXX method for antimicrobial resistance monitoring of extended Beta-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli in impacted waters near the U.S.-Mexico border

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As part of a One Health approach, the World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed extended beta-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec) as an appropriate proxy for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human, animal, and environmental samples. Traditional methods for ESBL-Ec quantification involve a labor-intensive process of membrane filtration, culturing in the presence and absence of antibiotics, and colony confirmation. The emerging modified IDEXX method utilizes IDEXX Colilert-18 test kits, recognized by the USEPA for the enumeration of total coliforms and E. coli in water samples, modified with cefotaxime for measurement of ESBL-Ec in environmental samples. However, this method has yet to be validated for ocean or sewage-contaminated water and has not been compared against the plate-based method with mTEC for surface water. In this study, ESBL-Ec in ocean and river waters of the Tijuana River Estuary were analyzed by three methods: membrane filtration using...

Monitoring Coastal Water Turbidity Using Sentinel2—A Case Study in Los Angeles

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Los Angeles coastal waters are an ecologically important marine habitat and a famed recreational area for tourists. Constant surveillance is essential to ensure compliance with established health standards and to address the persistent water quality challenges in the region. Remotely sensed datasets are increasingly being applied toward improved detection of water quality by augmenting monitoring programs with spatially intensive and accessible data. This study evaluates the potential of satellite remote sensing to augment traditional monitoring by analyzing the relationship between in situ and satellite-derived turbidity data. Field measurements were performed from July 2021 to March 2024 to build synchronous matchup datasets consisting of satellite and field data. Correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship between satellite-derived and field-measured turbidity (R2 = 0.451). Machine learning models were assessed for predictive accuracy, with the random forest model...

Implications of Pyrolytic Gas Dynamic Evolution on Dissolved Black Carbon Formed During Production of Biochar from Nitrogen-Rich Feedstock

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Gases and dissolved black carbon (DBC) formed during pyrolysis of nitrogen-rich feedstock would affect atmospheric and aquatic environments. Yet, the mechanisms driving biomass gas evolution and DBC formation are poorly understood. Using thermogravimetric-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, we correlated the temperature-dependent primary noncondensable gas release sequence (H₂O → CO₂ → HCN, NH₃ → CH₄ → CO) with specific defunctionalization stages in the order: dehydration, decarboxylation, denitrogenation, demethylation, and decarbonylation. Our results revealed that proteins in feedstock mainly contributed to gas releases, and low-volatile pyrolytic products contributed to DBC. Combining mass difference analysis with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, we showed that 44-60% of DBC molecular compositions were correlated with primary gas-releasing reactions. Dehydration...

Spatial distribution of damage potential of the 2023 Pazarcik Turkey earthquake using inelastic-response spectra of recorded and simulated ground motions

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On 6 February 2023, a devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck the southeastern part of Turkey, followed by multiple aftershocks. The sequence of earthquakes caused extensive damage in Southern Turkey and Northern Syria. This study evaluates the destructive potential of ground shaking resulting from the Pazarcik mainshock by developing spatial distribution of inelastic demand spectra across the region by using the recorded ground motions. These spectra provide an additional step toward more realistic estimates of the damage potential of ground shaking than the traditional elastic response spectra. Given the recorded ground motions, we also developed simulated ground-motion time series at numerous un-instrumented sites. We used these recorded and simulated motions to estimate ductility demands across the affected area. Constant-ductility spectra were derived using recording stations within 100 km of the fault rupture. The results indicated that in the near-fault area, and...

Mitigating CaCO3 crystal nucleation and growth through continuous ion displacement via alternating electric fields

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Mineral crystal formation poses a challenge on surfaces (e.g., heat exchangers, pipes, membranes, etc.) in contact with super-saturated fluids. Applying alternating currents (AC) to such surfaces can prevent surface crystallization under certain conditions. Here, we demonstrate that ion displacement induced by periodic charging and discharging of the electrical double layer (EDL) inhibits both heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation (and crystal growth) of CaCO3. Titanium sheets (meant to simulate metallic heat exchanger surfaces) are immersed in super-saturated CaCO3 solutions with a saturation index >11. We show that at relatively high AC frequencies, incomplete EDL formation leads to an alternating electric field that propagates far into the bulk solution, inducing rapid ion migration that overwhelms the Brownian motion of ions. Electrochemical characterization reveals EDL charging/discharging under AC conditions that greatly inhibits precipitation. Operating at 4 Vpp,...

An Integrated Framework for Infectious Disease Control Using Mathematical Modeling and Deep Learning

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Infectious diseases are a major global public health concern. Precise modeling and prediction methods are essential to develop effective strategies for disease control. However, data imbalance and the presence of noise and intensity inhomogeneity make disease detection more challenging. Goal: In this article, a novel infectious disease pattern prediction system is proposed by integrating deterministic and stochastic model benefits with the benefits of the deep learning model. Results: The combined benefits yield improvement in the performance of solution prediction. Moreover, the objective is also to investigate the influence of time delay on infection rates and rates associated with vaccination. Conclusions: In this proposed framework, at first, the global stability at disease free equilibrium is effectively analysed using Routh-Haurwitz criteria and Lyapunov method, and the endemic equilibrium is analysed using non-linear Volterra integral equations in the...

NUMOSIM: A Synthetic Mobility Dataset with Anomaly Detection Benchmarks

Thu, 5 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

NUMOSIM: A Synthetic Mobility Dataset with Anomaly Detection Benchmarks

ZeroCAL: Eliminating Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Limestone’s Decomposition to Decarbonize Cement Production

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Limestone (calcite, CaCO₃) is an abundant and cost-effective source of calcium oxide (CaO) for cement and lime production. However, the thermochemical decomposition of limestone (∼800 °C, 1 bar) to produce lime (CaO) results in substantial carbon dioxide (CO_2(g)) emissions and energy use, i.e., ∼1 tonne [t] of CO₂ and ∼1.4 MWh per t of CaO produced. Here, we describe a new pathway to use CaCO₃ as a Ca source to make hydrated lime (portlandite, Ca(OH)₂) at ambient conditions (p, T)-while nearly eliminating process CO_2(g) emissions (as low as 1.5 mol. % of the CO₂ in the precursor CaCO₃, equivalent to 9 kg of CO_2(g) per t of Ca(OH)₂)-within an aqueous flow-electrolysis/pH-swing process that coproduces hydrogen (H_2(g)) and oxygen (O_2(g)). Because Ca(OH)₂ is a zero-carbon precursor for cement and lime production, this approach...

The multi-scale damage evolution of nano-modified concrete under the cold region tunnel environment based on micromechanical model

Thu, 7 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The multi-scale damage evolution of nano-modified concrete under the cold region tunnel environment based on micromechanical model

Topological controls on the dissolution kinetics of glassy aluminosilicates

Mon, 4 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Fly ash which encompasses a mixture of glassy and crystalline aluminosilicates is an abundant supplementary cementitious material (SCM), valuable for replacing ordinary portland cement (OPC) in the binder fraction in concrete. Because higher OPC replacement levels are desired, it is critically important to better understand and quantify fly ash reactivity. By combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and vertical scanning interferometry (VSI), this study establishes that the reactivity of the glassy fractions in a fly ash with water (i.e., their aqueous dissolution rate) is controlled by the number of constraints placed on atoms within the disordered aluminosilicate network. More precisely, an Arrhenius-like dependence of dissolution rates on the atomic network topology is observed. Such topological controls on fly ash reactivity are highlighted for a range of U.S. commercial fly ashes spanning CaO-enriched and SiO₂-enriched compositions. The structure-property...

Monolithic Polyepoxide Membranes for Nanofiltration Applications and Sustainable Membrane Manufacture

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The present work details the development of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy membranes with excellent rejection of small-molecule dyes. It is a proof-of-concept for a more sustainable membrane design incorporating carbon fibers, and their recycling and reuse. 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine) (MBCHA) polymerized with either bisphenol-A-diglycidyl ether (BADGE) or tetraphenolethane tetraglycidylether (EPON Resin 1031) in polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used to make monolithic membranes reinforced by nonwoven carbon fibers. Membrane pore sizes were tuned by adjusting the molecular weight of the PEG used in the initial polymerization. Membranes made of BADGE-MBCHA showed rejection of Rose Bengal approaching 100%, while tuning the pore sizes substantially increased the rejection of Methylene Blue from ~65% to nearly 100%. The membrane with the best permselectivity was made of EPON-MBCHA polymerized in PEG 300. It has an average DI flux of 4.48 LMH/bar and an average rejection of 99.6%...

CEERS: 7.7 μm PAH Star Formation Rate Calibration with JWST MIRI

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

We test the relationship between UV-derived star formation rates (SFRs) and the 7.7 μm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon luminosities from the integrated emission of galaxies at z ∼ 0-2. We utilize multiband photometry covering 0.2-160 μm from the Hubble Space Telescope, CFHT, JWST, Spitzer, and Herschel for galaxies in the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) Survey. We perform spectral energy distribution (SED) modeling of these data to measure dust-corrected far-UV (FUV) luminosities, L FUV, and UV-derived SFRs. We then fit SED models to the JWST/MIRI 7.7-21 μm CEERS data to derive rest-frame 7.7 μm luminosities, L 770, using the average flux density in the rest-frame MIRI F770W bandpass. We observe a correlation between L 770 and L FUV, where log L 770 ∝ ( 1.27 ± 0.04 ) log L FUV . L 770 diverges from this relation for galaxies at lower metallicities, lower dust obscuration, and for galaxies dominated by evolved stellar populations. We derive a “single-wavelength”...

Proteomics insights into the fungal-mediated bioremediation of environmental contaminants

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As anthropogenic activities continue to introduce various contaminants into the environment, the need for effective monitoring and bioremediation strategies is critical. Fungi, with their diverse enzymatic arsenal, offer promising solutions for the biotransformation of many pollutants. While conventional research reports on ligninolytic, oxidoreductive, and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, the vast potential of fungi, with approximately 10 345 protein sequences per species, remains largely untapped. This review describes recent advancements in fungal proteomics instruments as well as software and highlights their detoxification mechanisms and biochemical pathways. Additionally, it highlights lesser-known fungal enzymes with potential applications in environmental biotechnology. By reviewing the benefits and challenges associated with proteomics tools, we hope to summarize and promote the studies of fungi and fungal proteins relevant in the environment.

Implications of mHVSR Spatial Variability on Site Response Predictability

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

One-dimensional ground response analyses (GRA) can introduce model error to site response estimates when wave propagation is not dominated by vertically propagating shear waves. We identify sites suitable for GRA based on microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (mHVSRs). We analyzed 300 microtremor recordings from 17 vertical array sites in California, comparing mHVSRs at varying spatial separations. We find that low mHVSR spatial correlation, as measured using Longest Common Subsequence, tends to occur at vertical array sites that are poorly modeled by GRA. Conversely, stronger mHVSR correlations tend to occur at sites where GRA is relatively effective.

Deciphering the controlling factors for phase transitions in zeolitic imidazolate frameworks

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) feature complex phase transitions, including polymorphism, melting, vitrification, and polyamorphism. Experimentally probing their structural evolution during transitions involving amorphous phases is a significant challenge, especially at the medium-range length scale. To overcome this challenge, here we first train a deep learning-based force field to identify the structural characteristics of both crystalline and non-crystalline ZIF phases. This allows us to reproduce the structural evolution trend during the melting of crystals and formation of ZIF glasses at various length scales with an accuracy comparable to that of ab initio molecular dynamics, yet at a much lower computational cost. Based on this approach, we propose a new structural descriptor, namely, the ring orientation index, to capture the propensity for crystallization of ZIF-4 (Zn(Im)₂, Im = C₃H₃N₂^-)...

Edge-based graph neural network for ranking critical road segments in a network

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Transportation networks play a crucial role in society by enabling the smooth movement of people and goods during regular times and acting as arteries for evacuations during catastrophes and natural disasters. Identifying the critical road segments in a large and complex network is essential for planners and emergency managers to enhance the network's efficiency, robustness, and resilience to such stressors. We propose a novel approach to rapidly identify critical and vital network components (road segments in a transportation network) for resilience improvement or post-disaster recovery. We pose the transportation network as a graph with roads as edges and intersections as nodes and deploy a Graph Neural Network (GNN) trained on a broad range of network parameter changes and disruption events to rank the importance of road segments. The trained GNN model can rapidly estimate the criticality rank of individual road segments in the modified network resulting from an interruption....

Cultivating climate resilience in California agriculture: Adaptations to an increasingly volatile water future

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

California agriculture will undergo significant transformations over the next few decades in response to climate extremes, environmental regulation and policy encouraging environmental justice, and economic pressures that have long driven agricultural changes. With several local climates suited to a variety of crops, periodically abundant nearby precipitation, and public investments that facilitated abundant low-priced irrigation water, California hosts one of the most diverse and productive agroecosystems in the world. California farms supply nearly half of the high-nutrient fruit, tree nut, and vegetable production in the United States. Climate change impacts on productivity and profitability of California agriculture are increasing and forebode problems for standard agricultural practices, especially water use norms. We highlight many challenges California agriculture confronts under climate change through the direct and indirect impacts on the biophysical conditions and ecosystem...

User-interaction with a web-served global ground motion relational database