SCEC Award Number 25264 View PDF
Proposal Category Individual Research Project (Single Investigator / Institution)
Proposal Title Extending the Geologic Framework Model to Northern California
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
Michael Oskin University of California, Davis
SCEC Milestones A1-1, A1-2 SCEC Groups CEM, Geology, Geodesy
Report Due Date 03/15/2026 Date Report Submitted 04/27/2026
Project Abstract
 SCEC5, the final iteration of the Southern California Earthquake Center, featured a geologic framework model (GFM) as part of the larger effort to build a community rheology model (CRM). The CRM characterizes bulk-rock and fault constitutive laws and their implications for strain localization, fault-zone evolution, the brittle-ductile transition, and coupling of crustal deformation to mantle convection. The ultimate goal of the CRM is to support the mechanical modeling of a plate-boundary deformation zone that is permeated by faults, edge-loaded by rigid plate interiors, and basal-loaded by mantle convection. With the expansion of SCEC Statewide, there is an urgent need to extend the geologic framework model to Northern California. In a companion workshop, stakeholders will gather to provide input to the model expansion. This proposal will support UC Davis Ph.D. student, Sierra Rack, to synthesize the literature and stakeholder input to extend the GFM to northern California.
SCEC Community Models Used Community Rheology Model (CRM)
Usage Description This project extended the Geologic Framework Model (GFM) to Northern California. The GFM describes bulk rock properties of the crust and is thus a core component of the CRM.
Intellectual Merit The CRM characterizes bulk-rock and fault constitutive laws and their implications for strain localization, fault-zone evolution, the brittle-ductile transition, and coupling of crustal deformation to mantle convection. This project addressed the need to extend the geologic framework model statewide (and to western Nevada) as a component of the CRM.
Broader Impacts This project supported UC Davis Ph.D. student, Sierra Rack, to synthesize the literature and stakeholder input to extend the GFM to northern California.
Project Participants Sierra Rack, UCD Ph.D. student
Exemplary Figure Figure 2. Map of lithotectonic provinces of the northern California extension of the SCEC geologic framework model.
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