Michael Ritzwoller is the Director of the Center for Imaging the Earth's Interior. CV
Professor
Ritzwoller is an observational seismologist. His early work was mainly in normal mode seismology
and helioseismology. Research in the last decade has
concentrated on developing methods to focus seismic models derived from surface wave dispersion
information to tectonic
scales, particularly in the US and China. Recent emphasis has focused on developing methods for exploiting ambient noise and earthquakes in surface wave tomography and combining this information to produce 3-D models of the crust and uppermost mantle. In addition, he has developed Monte Carlo methods for seismic inversions and has worked on applying physical constraints from geodynamical models
and thermodynamics into seismic
inversions. Considerable emphasis
is also placed on developing seismic methods in nuclear monitoring to improve
event locations and the ability to discriminate nuclear explosions from earthquakes.
Recent Classes:
General Physics I&II, Intermediate Mathematical Physics I&II, Earth and Planetary Physics I, Science and Public Policy.
Research: