Dr. Sheehan's research is focused on the geophysical study of earthquakes, tsunamis, and the crust and upper mantle of the Earth and its relation to earthquake hazards and tectonic deformation. Sheehan's projects include geophysical studies in New Zealand, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and the Rocky Mountains and Rio Grande Rift of Colorado and New Mexico. Much of Sheehan's work includes the deployment of portable seismometers both on-land and in oceanic regions (ocean bottom seismometers). The seismometers record both distant and local earthquakes. The earthquakes are used as signals to image subsurface structure and to study earthquake source characteristics. Sheehan has led experiments that use ocean bottom seismometers offshore New Zealand and Alaska. Sheehan is an expert on earthquakes in the Rocky Mountain region, including those induced by human activities.
keywords
geophysics, earthquakes, tsunamis, deep Earth structure, crust and mantle structure, seismology, geology, mountains, plate tectonics, induced earthquakes
