CRESCENT Topical Workshop

A Holistic Perspective of Slow Slip in Subduction Zones Topical Workshop

May 13-16, 2027
Friday Harbor, WA

Workshop Goals

A Holistic Perspective of Slow Slip in Subduction Zones: Integrating geophysical, geologic, experimental, and modeling insights

This interdisciplinary workshop will bring together a wide range of scientific perspectives and expertise to understand the mechanisms and conditions of slow slip phenomena in subduction zones. Slow slip refers to shallow to deep aseismic transient slippage (slow slip events), which often is accompanied by tectonic tremor, low frequency earthquakes, and earthquake swarms. The rock record also contains evidence of slow slip, and similar phenomena are observed in laboratory experiments, in natural analogs (e.g., landslides, glaciers), and computer models. Slow slip appears most commonly in subduction zones across the globe, with Cascadia being the poster child for (deep) slow slip beneath the seismogenic zone. Despite slow slip being a well-studied topic in subduction science, there are still many open questions about how these events occur, including the role of fluids and geologic heterogeneities, relation to the frictional-viscous transition, and interactions between slip slow events and hazardous megathrust events. We welcome participants focused on slow slip studies of geophysical observations, experimental and geologic constraints, natural analogs, and as relevant to subduction zones.

This topical workshop includes a field trip to several key exposures of subduction interface fault rocks exhumed from slow slip depths on San Juan Island. All participants are expected to attend the entire workshop and participate by sharing their active research on slow slip phenomena through an invited talk or poster.

Application

Participants will stay at Friday Harbor Laboratory on San Juan Island, which has capacity for only 40 people. Participants will be selected based on research expertise and potential contribution to the workshop. Participation will be confirmed via email after application.

Apply To Attend

Please reach out to cascadiaquakes@uoregon.edu for more information.

Travel & Lodging

May 28-29, 2026

Erb Memorial Union (EMU), University of Oregon

Venue

This CRESCENT Topical Workshop will be held at the Erb Memorial Union (EMU) at University of Oregon on the 1^st floor in the Crater Lake Rooms.

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

Book Lodging in the crescent block now

CRESCENT has selected the Residence Inn by Marriott Eugene Springfield as the host hotel. Located 1.6 miles from the meeting venue, the hotel is conveniently located near restaurants and a multi-use path leading to UO campus. Here is a trail map from the hotel to the EMU. PeaceHea lth Rides has a couple of bike share hubs near the hotel. Lyft and UBER are also available in the Eugene area.

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

Poster Session Details

Submit poster info here by May 15

There is an optional opportunity to present a poster at this workshop.

Some key details:

Poster dimensions should be a maximum of 48” (width) by 36″ (height).
Please bring your poster to the workshop on Thursday morning.
CRESCENT will supply you with venue approved tape to hang your poster in the event space.
Posters will be displayed in space adjacent to the general session space for the duration of the workshop, accessible during breaks. Posters can stay up overnight.
We will have a poster session on Friday in conjunction with lunch.
You may remove your poster any time after lunch on Friday.

On Thursday, there will be an optional opportunity for poster presenters to do a lightning talk on their poster content. If you opt into a lightning talk, please submit one PowerPoint slide along with your title/author submission via the link.

submit poster information by May 15

Meeting Resources

Meeting Information Packet

Contents:

Full agenda and discussion questions
Poster presentation list
Participant list

Agenda

Note: All times Pacific Daylight Time. Details subject to change.

Thursday, May 28

8:00a Check-in

8:30a Welcome

8:55a Session 1: Shallow Faulting and Deformation – Geological Perspectives

“Paleoseismic Data for Constraining Models of Cascadia Earthquake Deformation and Tsunamigenesis” presented by Carrie Garrison-Laney, Coastal Hazards Specialist, Washington Sea Grant / NOAA Liaison

“Tectonic context of extreme shallow slip: the example of the Japan Trench” presented by Jamie Kirkpatrick, Associate Professor, University of Nevada, Reno

“Evidence for active splay faulting and sediment subduction in Cascadia’s accretionary wedge” presented by Anna Ledeczi, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Washington

10:35a Session 2: Shallow Faulting and Deformation – Geophysical Sensing Techniques

“Connections between upper and lower plate faulting, fluids, megathrust properties, and slip behavior: Examples from seismic imaging in the Alaska, Aleutian and Mexico subduction zones” presented by Donna Shillington, Professor, Northern Arizona University

“Using high-resolution geophysics to understand shallow megathrust deformation, coseismic faulting, and tsunamigenesis” presented by Janet Watt, Research Geophysicist, United States Geological Survey

“Submarine landslides and tsunami hazards in the Cascadia subduction zone” presented by Jenna Hill, Research Geologist, United States Geological Survey

12:00p Lunch

1:00p Session 3: Physics of Shallow Tsunamigenesis – Modeling 1

“Shallow Rupture Dynamics and Tsunamigenesis: Opportunities and Priorities for Forward and Inverse Modeling” presented by Eric Dunham, Professor, Stanford University

“Nonhydrostatic modeling of tsunamis from earthquake rupture” presented by Kwok Fai Cheung, Professor, University of Hawaii

“Wedge Inelasticity as a Mechanism for Efficient Tsunami Generation and Weak High-Frequency Radiation in Shallow Subduction Zones” presented by Shuo Ma, Professor, San Diego State University

2:30p Poster Lightning Talks

3:30p Session 4: Physics of Shallow Tsunamigenesis – Modeling 2

“Deciphering Tsunami Records to Understand Subduction Earthquakes” presented by Matias Carvajal, Professor, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

“Evaluating dynamic viability of finite-fault slip models of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake using ensemble dynamic rupture simulations” presented by Jeremy Wing Ching Wong, Ph.D. Candidate, Scripps Institution of Oceanography / University of California San Diego

“Reducing Uncertainty in Cascadia Tsunami Forecasting via Bayesian Optimal Experimental Design” presented by Stefan Henneking, Research Associate, University of Texas at Austin

5:00p Closing Remarks

5:30p Day 1 adjourns

The Tsunami Sources for Hazard Assessment (TSHA) Special Interest Group will gather informally on Thursday evening after the workshop.

Friday, May 29

8:00a Check-in

8:30a Welcome

8:45a Session 5: Hazard Implications and Operational Frameworks – Implementation of New Knowledge

“Tsunami Sources for Hazard Assessment” presented by Randall LeVeque, Professor Emeritus, University of Washington

“An Overview of NOAA’s Research on Operational and Long-Term Assessments of Tsunami Inundation Hazards” presented by Yong Wei, Senior Research Scientist, University of Washington / NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory

“Tsunami Hazard Assessment Along the Coast of British Columbia, Canada” presented by Reza Amouzgar, Applied Science Specialist, Ocean Networks Canada / University of Victoria

10:30a Session 6: Hazard Implications and Operational Frameworks – Implementation of New Knowledge Part II

“USGS Powell Center: PTHA in Cascadia” presented by Jason Patton, Engineering Geologist, California Geological Survey

“Preparing for Future Tsunami Impacts Striking the Oregon Coast” presented by Jonathan Allan, Coastal Geomorphologist, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries

Remote participation will end after this session.
All in-person participants are welcome to join the white paper writing session.

11:40a Poster Session and Lunch

1:30p White paper Writing Session

3:30p Closing Remarks

4:00p Workshop concludes

Workshop Planning Committee

The planning committee brings decades of combined research experience and bring multi-disciplinary, global perspectives to guide the planning process.

Cailey Condit
University of Washington

ccondit@uw.edu

Eric Dunham
Stanford University
edunham@stanford.edu

Joan Gomberg
U.S. Geological Survey
gomberg@usgs.gov