Assembly and Validation of a Multi-scale Community Velocity Model (CVM) for the South-central Alaska Region, SCAR-CVM V1.0

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $222,338 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Eleven percent of the world's recorded earthquakes occur in Alaska, with many notable historical events including the 1964 M9.2 Alaska earthquake, the second largest earthquake ever recorded, as well as the 2018 M7.1 Anchorage earthquake. Earthquake hazards in south-central Alaska are a serious concern because the area includes the city of Anchorage where more than a third (~280,000 people) of the state’s population live. To facilitate estimating seismic hazard for the region from future large earthquakes, this project will assemble the first version of a multi-scale three-dimensional Community Velocity Model (CVM) of the subsurface of south-central Alaska. The CVM will be built with existing model components, calibrating its parameters by comparison of simulated and recorded waveforms for small local earthquakes. The CVM will be freely available to local agencies, scientists, and communities, bridging advanced modeling with practical applications such as assessing the seismic hazard to critical infrastructure in this region. The project will train a graduate student in seismic wave propagation simulation, fostering the next generation of geoscientists. The researchers plan to assemble and distribute the first version of a multi-scale Community Velocity Model (CVM) for the south-central Alaska Region, SCAR-CVM V1.0, from existing model features. The accuracy of such a CVM is fundamental to estimates of ground motions for seismic hazard analysis using physics-based wave pr

Key facts

NSF award ID
2523957
Awardee
San Diego State University Foundation (CA)
SAM.gov UEI
H59JKGFZKHL7
PI
Kim B Olsen
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
NATIONL EARTHQK HZRD REDCT PRG
Estimated total
$222,338
Funds obligated
$222,338
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2027