News

What drives atmospheric rivers? Da Yang explains how these "rivers in the sky" gain and lose momentum, and how researchers are studying their physical properties to improve forecasts and reduce risks.

A new AI model detects thousands of previously unseen earthquakes in near real time, helping scientists understand changes in an Italian volcanic area where earthquakes have been intensifying since 2018.

Ettore Biondi uses fiber sensing technologies and dense seismic sensor networks to understand the underlying mechanisms and subsurface structures driving geophysical processes such as volcanic system dynamics and earthquake physics.

Deeply connected to both her discipline and the community of scholars she works with, Chloe Cheng, Geophysics ’25, is contributing to research on complex processes in the ocean and atmosphere.

Paul Segall, an expert in crustal deformation and fault mechanics, will serve a three-year term as chair of the Department of Geophysics starting Sept. 1.

Attendees identified ways to optimize, integrate, and scale data collection for advancing human and planetary health.

Paul Segall, professor of geophysics, and six other Stanford faculty members are among the 250 new members elected to the Academy, which recognizes exceptional scholars from across disciplines who advance knowledge and apply it to the problems of society.

Researchers found that up to 13 million acres of California’s Central Valley may be suitable for recharging groundwater. The largest portion of this area occurs on agricultural land, with most corresponding to orchards, field crops, and vineyards.

Stanford researchers have combined machine learning with high-resolution satellite and airplane observations to understand the physics behind large-scale ice movements in Antarctica. The results show that current models are missing key complexity needed to accurately predict the dynamics and mass loss of the Antarctic ice sheet now and in the future.

Historic rains filled Greater Los Angeles reservoirs and shallow aquifers nearly to capacity in 2023. But drought conditions persisted in deeper aquifers, according to a new analysis of seismic data from California’s earthquake monitoring network.

William Ellsworth, geophysics emeritus professor, on how scientists discovered depleted aquifers after historic L.A. rainfall in 2023.

For geophysicist Jenny Suckale, helping underserved communities navigate the extremes of climate change requires a new perspective on both.

Ermakov combines planetary science and exploration to learn new – and often surprising – details about the structure and evolution of planetary bodies.

A new study from Stanford researchers shows central California’s vast San Joaquin Valley has sunk at a record pace since 2006. Strategic recharging of aquifers could help slow or stop the sinking.

Stanford researchers have created an open-source tool so other scientists can make ice-penetrating radar systems at a fraction of the cost of current methods. Ice-penetrating radar is a core tool used by glaciologists monitoring how ice sheets contribute to rising sea levels.

The possibility of detecting a pocket of habitable water under the surface of Europa is just one of the reasons to be excited about NASA's mission, says Dustin Schroeder, an expert in using radar to assess glaciers and a member of Clipper's science team.

A fixture at Stanford for more than four decades, Nur was pivotal in establishing rock physics as a critical part of modern geophysics, bridged the intersection of earthquakes and archaeology, and mentored dozens of graduate students on approaching science with creativity. 

Researchers and collaborators in a densely populated California floodplain developed a way to help planners see how infrastructure designs, sea-level rise, and severe storms fueled by climate change will affect flood risk at the local level.

The fellowship “recognizes and rewards outstanding early-career faculty who have the potential to revolutionize their fields of study.”

His citation reads, ‘for developing radar interferometry for space-born sensors that measure meter-scale topography and millimeter-scale surface deformation.'

Ching-Yao Lai combines her passion for physics with climate science to better understand Earth’s polar ice sheets and how they contribute to climate change.

Every month VPGE puts a spotlight on one graduate student in order to highlight the many achievements and experiences of the Stanford graduate population. This month we are featuring Ethan Lopes, a PhD student in Geophysics. Ethan is a 2021 EDGE Fellow.