CRESCENT Topical Workshop

At the Shallow Frontier: Faulting, Deformation, and Tsunamigenesis in Cascadia

May 28-29, 2026, University of Oregon, Eugene

Workshop Goals

At the Shallow Frontier: Faulting, Deformation, and Tsunamigenesis in Cascadia

This interdisciplinary workshop aims to integrate experimental, field, and modeling results on shallow faulting, deformation, and tsunamigenesis for the Cascadia Subduction Zone.  We welcome interdisciplinary participants interested in tsunami generation and shallow frictional fault properties, seismic and aseismic slip, fluids, splay faulting, off-fault deformation and subduction zone structure. We welcome contributions focusing on methodological advances using acoustic laboratory studies, geophysical imaging, paleoseismology, seafloor geodesy and remote sensing, tsunami source characterization and inversion, community modeling benchmarks, and offshore distributed acoustic sensing (DAS).

The goal of the workshop is to discuss recent advances and outline research priorities for Cascadia on the following topics:

1) Physics of shallow tsunamigenesis

2) Shallow faulting and deformation

3) Implications for hazard and operational frameworks

A key outcome of the workshop will be a community white paper outlining priorities for future research needed to capture the full complexity of shallow rupture, deformation processes, and tsunami generation to improve tsunami hazard assessments for Cascadia.

Application

APPLICATION COMING SOON

Apply To Attend

There is no registration fee for this CRESCENT Topical Workshop.

Travel & Lodging

May 28-29, 2026

Erb Memorial Union, University of Oregon

Venue

This CRESCENT Topical Workshop will be held in the EMU at the Erb Memorial Union, University of Oregon

Local information

The EMU is located at the heart of the University of Oregon campus, within easy reach of downtown Eugene and surrounding places of interest. Click here for information on where to eat, drink and recreate, or check this map for more ideas.

Flights and ground transportation

Eugene airport (EUG) is a ~20 minute drive from the meeting venue. There is no public transportation from the airport to the university, though several taxi, shuttle and rideshare options are available.

Parking

The University of Oregon has two main parking garages that are an eight-minute walk from the workshop venue: 13^th St Garage and Millrace Drive Garage. Daily visitor permits for other campus lots, including ADA parking spaces, are available via the University’s parking portal.

Lodging

The Hayward Inn and Best Western New Oregon are hotel options less than a 10-minute walk from the venue.

Meeting Resources

Meeting Information Packet

Contents:

Full agenda and discussion session titles
Poster presentation list
Pre-workshop questionnaire results
In-person attendees list

Presentation slides and recordings

See links in Agenda below for available slide decks and session recordings.

Agenda

Note: all times Pacific Time

Day 1: Thursday, November 7

Catching up on the state of the field

7:30 am: Check-in and light breakfast (EMU 230 | Swindells)

8:00 am: Welcome and introduction to workshop (EMU 231-232 | Cedar and Spruce Combined)

8:25 am: Session 1 – Geophysics science of earthquakes and tsunamis
- Lydia Staisch, US Geological Survey – “Paleoseismologic data as constraints on subduction zone earthquake recurrence and rupture characteristics”
- Harold Tobin, University of Washington – “New observations and shifting paradigms for Cascadia megathrust and splay faults”
- Eric Lindsey, University of New Mexico – “Locked or Coupled? The semantics and science of future earthquake potential on the shallow megathrust”
- Discussion Session

Day 1, Session 1 recording

10:20 am: Session 2 – Probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment (PTHA): the methodology of how we quantify uncertain hazards
- Diego Melgar, Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center – “Earthquake Source Complexity and its Impact in PTHA”
- Ignacio Sepulveda, San Diego State University – “PTHA AND COASTAL PROCESSES: Non-stationary statistics and compounding hazards”
- Robert Weiss, Virginia Tech
- Discussion Session

Day 1, Session 2 recording

Noon: Lunch (EMU 230 | Swindells)

1:00 pm: Lightning talks on posters (EMU 231-232 | Cedar and Spruce Combined)

1:35 pm: Session 3 – Fragility analysis: from hazard to risk
- Ruben Vescovo, Tohoku University – “Tsunami Fragility estimates for damage quantification”
- Katsu Goda, Western University Canada – “Fragility Curves from Hazard to Risk: Tofino, British Columbia, Canada subjected to Cascadia Subduction Earthquakes”
- Dan Cox, Oregon State University and Fabian Lucero, Oregon State University – “Estimating tsunami risk”
- Discussion Session

Day 1, Session 3 recording

3:30 pm: Session 4 – Implementation: How do our models/estimates make it into policy and industry applications?
- David Goldbloom-Helzner, US Environmental Protection Agency – “Tsunami Threats to Water & Wastewater Utilities in Pacific Northwest”
- Ron Eguchi, ImageCat, Inc – “How do our models/estimates make it into policy and industry applications?”
- Gary Chock, Martin, Chock & Carden, Inc – “Tsunami Resilient Design for High Hazard Regions”
- Discussion Session

Day 1, Session 4 recording

5:00 – 7:00 pm: Poster session, and reception (EMU 145-146 | Crater Lake Rooms Combined)

Day 2: Friday, November 8

Case studies – present and future applications

8:00 am: Light breakfast (EMU 230 | Swindells)

8:15 am: Opening remarks (EMU 231-232 | Cedar and Spruce Combined)

Day 2, Opening Remarks recording

8:40 am: Session 1 – Implementation of hazards assessment
- Jonathan Allan, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries – ” In Preparation for the Next Megathrust Cascadia Earthquake and Tsunami” and Jason Patton, California Geological Survey – “Cascadia PTHA Updates”
- Corina Allen, NOAA – “Working with partners to turn science into action, policy, warning, and risk reduction”
- Discussion Session

Day 2, Session 1 recording

10:30 am: Session 2 – Determining risk parameter and mapping
- Steven Gibbons, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute – “Global Tsunami Model – Tsunami Hazard Assessment –the way forward towards Tsunami Risk analysis and mitigation”
- Kara Jacobacci, FEMA – “FEMA’s conceptualization of tsunami risk”
- Ankit Dubey, Aon plc – “Tsunami Risk: Perspective of Insurance/Reinsurance Industry”
- Discussion Session

Day 2, Session 2 recording

Noon: Lunch (EMU 230 | Swindells)

1:00 pm: Session 3 – Engineering design and policy (EMU 231-232 | Cedar and Spruce Combined)
- Elyssa Tappero, Washington Emergency Management Division – “Tsunami Evacuation Planning in Washington State”
- Althea Rizzo, Oregon Department of Emergency Management
- Discussion Session

Day 2, Session 3 recording

2:30 pm: Discussion sessions and closing remarks

4:00 pm: Adjourn

Day 2, Closing Discussion recording

Workshop Planning Committee

The Shallow Rupture and Tsunamigenesis Topical Workshop conveners have decades of combined research experience and bring multi-disciplinary, global perspectives to guide the planning process.