Education & Research
Weston Observatory conducts multidisciplinary research into seismic hazards, seismic risk, seismotectonics, seismic wave propagation, regional geology, geotechnical engineering, and paleobiology. Although the primary focus of Weston Observatory is on the study of earthquakes and seismic waves, other Earth Science related studies are also pursued at the Observatory, such as geological studies and paleobotany studies.
Areas of Research
Weston Observatory is the center for earthquake monitoring in New England. Observatory scientists study earthquakes both regionally and worldwide, conduct seismic hazard analyses, and are involved in earthquake hazard mitigation measures.
The regional seismic network for monitoring earthquakes in New England and around the world.
Weston Observatory scientist conduct research in geotechnical engineering, particularly in problems related to non-linear soil behavior in earthquake shaking.
Shallow geophysical investigations are carried out by the faculty and students at Weston Observatory. This research is focusing increasingly on environmental problems.
Geologists at Weston Observatory map and analyze the regional geology of the Appalachians. They study the structure, geochemistry, paleontology, and evolution of eastern North America.
Geologists at Weston Observatory, in their study of the assembly and breakup of supercontinents through time, map and analyze the regional geology of selected localities in terranes surrounding the Atlantic Ocean.
The paleobotany Laboratory at Weston Observatory is engaged in research on the origin and early evolution of land plants based on fossil spores from lower Paleozoic rocks from around the world.