Margaret S. Boettcher
Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences
Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping
Chase Building, Room 163
Phone: 603-862-0580
Fax: 603-862-0839
Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology/
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program, 2005
email address: margaret.boettcher@unh.edu
Research Interests:
My research is focused on understanding the physics of earthquakes and the mechanics of fault slip. I utilize techniques from observational seismology, laboratory rock-mechanics experiments, and numerical modeling. Currently I am investigating earthquake and faulting processes on Mid-Ocean Ridge Transform Faults and in Deep Gold Mines in South Africa. These two, completely different tectonic environments, are both relatively simple in terms of composition and thermal structure, and are ideal environments for studying the earthquake source itself. Please contact me if you are a student interested in joining my research team.
Teaching:
Our Dynamic Earth (Physical Geology)- ESCI 401
Geophysics- ESCI 734/834
Publications:
- Boettcher, M. S., and J. J. McGuire, Scaling relations for seismic cycles on mid-ocean ridge transform faults, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L21301, doi:10.1029/2009GL040115, 2009.
- McGarr A., M. Boettcher, J. B. Fletcher, R. Sell, M. J. S. Johnston, R. Durrheim, S. Spottiswoode, and A. Milev, Broadband Records of Earthquakes in Deep Gold Mines and a Comparison with Results from SAFOD, California, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 99, pp. 2815–2824, doi: 10.1785/0120080336, 2009.
- Boettcher, M. S., A. McGarr, and M. Johnston, Extension of Gutenberg-Richter distribution to MW -1.3, no lower limit in sight, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L10307, doi:10.1029/2009GL038080, 2009.
- Behn, M.D., M.S. Boettcher, and G. Hirth, On the Thermal Structure of Oceanic Transform Faults, Geology,35, p. 307-310, doi: 10.1130/G23112A.1, 2007.
- Boettcher, M.S., G. Hirth, and B. Evans, Olivine Friction at the Base of Oceanic Seismogenic Zones, J. Geophys. Res., 112, B01205, doi: 10.1029/2006JB004301, 2007.
- McGuire, J.J., M.S. Boettcher, and T.H. Jordan, Foreshock Sequences and Short Term Earthquake Predictability on East Pacific Rise Transform Faults, Nature, 434, p. 457-461, 2005.
- Boettcher, M.S., and T.H. Jordan, Earthquake Scaling Relations for Mid-Ocean Ridge Transform Faults, J. Geophs. Res., 109, B12302, doi: 10.1029/2004JB003110, 2004.
- Boettcher, M.S., and C. Marone, Effects of Normal Stress Variation on the Strength and Stability of Creeping Faults, J. Geophys. Res., 109, B03406, doi: 10.1029/203JB002824, 2004.
- Morgan, J.K., and M.S. Boettcher, Numberical Simulations of Granular Shear Zones Using the Distinct Element Method: I. Shear Zone Kinematics and the Micromechanics of Localization, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 104., p. 2703-2719, 1999.
- Fischer, K.M., M.J. Fouch, D.A. Wiens, and M.S. Boettcher, Anisotropy and flow in Pacific Subduction zone back-arcs, Pure and Applied Geophysics, v. 151, p. 463-457, 1998.