Research at Weston Observatory

  • Earthquake Seismology -- Weston Observatory is the center for earthquake monitoring in New England. Observatory personnel study earthquakes both regionally and worldwide, conduct seismic hazard analyses, and are involved in earthquake hazard mitigation measures.
  • The New England Seismic Network -- A recent report submitted to the USGS describing the Weston Observatory regional seismic network.
  • Paleobotany & Palynology -- 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.
  • Geographic Information System (GIS)-- GISes are used as an important research tool to assist investigations in seismic hazard, geotechnical engineering, geology and environmental research. The GIS center at Weston Observatory is extremely outdated, we are hoping to secure funding to update our GIS hardware (computers, digitizers, and plotters) and software (ArcView, ArcGIS).
  • Earthquake/Geotechnical Engineering -- Weston Observatory is developing a research program in geotechnical engineering, particularly in problems related to non-linear soil behavior in earthquake shaking.
  • Engineering/Environmental Geophysics -- Shallow geophysical investigations are carried out by the faculty and students at Weston Observatory. Today, this research is focusing increasingly on environmental problems.
  • Geomagnetism -- Weston Observatory operated a continuously-recording geomagnetic station for over 30 years. These data are used in analysis of changes in the earth's magnetic field.
  • Regional Geology -- 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.
  • Global Tectonics -- 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.