Christine Puskas
Post-doc
Ph.D., 2009, University of Utah

Department of Geology and Geophysics
University of Utah
135 South 1460 East Room 510
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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Phone: (801) 581-7856
Fax: (801) 581-7065 (departmental office)
Email: c.puskas@utah.edu
Research group's web page: Seismology and Active Tectonics Research Group
Curriculum Vitae (pdf)  |  Publications  |  Links  |  Personal
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Primary research interests are in ground deformation and forces driving deformation, and in the rheology and strength of the lithosphere. As part of this research I have done field work in Yellowstone, using campaign GPS to measure ground deformation of an active caldera and the nearby major fault zones of the Hebgen Lake fault and Teton fault. Data from Yellowstone has been compiled along with other GPS studies in the western U.S. to analyze the deformation of the Intermountain West, examining the distribution of deformation from a continuum and microplate perspective. I have modeled tectonic stresses for this region, focusing on the stresses from variations in mass in the lithosphere.

Current projects include: 1) modeling the deformation of the western US interior through block and continuum methods, 2) modeling the deviatoric stresses of the western US interior from variations in mass in the crust and upper mantle, and 3) GPS analysis of deformation of the YSRP and Wasatch Front from University of Utah and PBO permanent GPS networks.

 

EDUCATION
Ph.D., 2009, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
M.S., 2000, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
B.S., 1996, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

PUBLICATIONS
Papers
Submitted and in preparation
Pollitz, F. F., P. McCrory, D. Wilson, J. Svarc, C. Puskas, and R. B. Smith, (2009), Viscoelastic-cycle model of interseismic deformation in the northwestern United States, J. Geophys. Res., in review.

Puskas, C. M., L. M. Flesch, and R. B. Smith, Dynamics and effects of the Yellowstone hotspot on regional deformation and stress, in preparation.

Published
Puskas, C. M., R. B. Smith, C. M. Meertens, and W. L. Chang, (2007), Crustal deformation of the Yellowstone-Snake River Plain volcanic system: campaign and continuous GPS observations, 1987-2004, J. Geophys. Res., 112, B03401, doi:10.1029/2006JB004325. (link to reprint)

Puskas, C. M., and R. B. Smith, (2009), Intraplate deformation and microplate tectonics of the Yellowstone Hotspot and surrounding Western U.S. Interior, J. Geophys. Res., 114, B04410, doi:10.1029/2008JB005940. (link to reprint)

Coauthor
Smith, R. B., M. Jordan, B. Steinberger, C. M. Puskas, J. Farrell, G. P. Waite, S. Husen, W. L. Chang, and R. O'Connell, (2009), Geodynamics of the Yellowstone hotspot and mantle plume: Seismic and GPS imaging, kinematics, mantle flow, J. Volc. and Geotherm. Res., 188(103), 26-65, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2009.08.020. (link to reprint)

Vasco, D. W., C. M. Puskas, R. B. Smith, and C. M. Meertens, (2007), Crustal deformation and source models of the Yellowstone volcanic field from geodetic data, J. Geophys. Res., 112, B07402, doi:10.1029/2006JB004641. (link to reprint)

Chang, W. L., R. B. Smith, C. Wicks, J. Farrell, and C. M. Puskas, (2007), Accelerated uplift and magma intrusion of the Yellowstone caldera, 2004-2006, Science, doi:10.1126/science.1146842. (link to reprint)


CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS (2000-PRESENT)
Puskas, C. M., and R. B. Smith, (2009), Stress and Deformation of the Western U.S. and the Effects of the Yellowstone Hotspot, Earthscope National Meeting, Boise, ID.

Puskas, C. M., R. B. Smith, and W. L. Chang, (2009), Kinematics and Geodynamics of the Intermountain Region: Wasatch fault to the Yellowstone Plateau, Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts with Programs, 41(6), 16.

Puskas, C. M., L. Flesch, R. B. Smith, K. Settles, and F. Pollitz, (2007), Geodynamics of the Western U.S. interior, Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts with Programs, 39(6), 202.

Puskas, C. M., L. Flesch, and R. B. Smith, (2007), Kinematics and dynamics of Western U.S. deformation, Earthscope National Meeting, Monterey, CA.

Puskas, C. M., R. B. Smith, L. Flesch, and W. L. Chang (2005), The role of the Yellowstone hotspot in western US deformation and lithospheric stress, Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts with Programs, 37(7), 126.

Puskas, C. M., R. B. Smith, G. Waite, L. Flesch, (2004), Kinematic deformation of the interior Western U.S. extensional regime with mantle flow, Eos Trans. AGU, 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract T31A-1274.

Puskas, C. M., R. B. Smith, C. M. Meertens, (2002), GPS-derived models of intraplate deformation of the Yellowstone Hotspot, Eos Trans. AGU, 83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract S11A-1104.

Puskas, C. M., R. B. Smith, C. M. Meertens, (2001), Crustal deformation of the Yellowstone Hotspot: Unifying GPS and geologic data and intraplate modeling, Eos Trans. AGU, 82(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract S31B-0600.

Puskas, C. M., R. B. Smith, C. M. Meertens, R. A. Harris, S. J. Jackson, (2000), Deformation of the eastern Snake River Plain volcanic field and surrounding faults from GPS measurements, Eos Trans. AGU, 81(48), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V22F-20.

 

Coauthor
Chang, W., C. M. Puskas, G. P. Waite, R. B. Smith, C. M. Meertens, (2001), Rheological properties of lithospheric extension from postseismic GPS observations of the 1959 M=7.5 Hebgen Lake, Montana, earthquake, Eos Trans. AGU, 82(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract G31A-0131.

Chang, W., R. B. Smith, C. Meertens, C. M. Puskas, (2002), Rheologic properties of an extending lithosphere from the inversion of postseismic deformation (EDM and GPS) of the 1959 Hebgen Lake, Montana, earthquake, Eos Trans. AGU, 83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract NG62A-0934.

Chang, W., R. B. Smith, C. M. Puskas, J. M. Farrell, (2006), Source modeling and tectono-volcanic implications of the 2004-2006 rapid deformation at Yellowstone Caldera, Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract G43C-08.

Farrell, J. M., G. P. Waite, R. B. Smith, C. M. Puskas, H. Heasler, B. Bartel, C. Dietel, (2003), Seismic and GPS monitoring of the 2003 Norris Geyser Basin hydrothermal disturbance, Yellowstone National Park, Eos Trans. AGU, 84(46), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V31B-06.

Farrell, J. M., R. B. Smith, T. Taira, C. Puskas, R. Burlacu, J. Pechmann, H. Heasler, and J. Lowenstern, (2009), Source Properties and Deformation Analysis of the 2008-2009 Yellowstone Lake Earthquake Swarm, Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts with Programs, 41(6), 16.

Jordan, M., R. B. Smith, C. Puskas, J. Farrell, G. Waite, (2005), The Yellowstone Hotspot and related plume: Volcano-tectonics, tomography, kinematics, dynamics and mantle flow, Eos Trans. AGU, 86(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract T51D-1388.

Meertens, C. M., R. B. Smith, C. M. Puskas, (2000), Crustal Deformation of the Yellowstone Caldera from Campaign and Continous GPS surveys, 1987-2000, Eos Trans. AGU, 81(48), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V22F-19.

Smith, R. B., E. Humphreys, P. J. Tackley, C. M. Meertens, K. G. Dueker, G. Waite, J. Crosswhite, D. Schutt, C. Puskas, J. W. Hernlund, (2002), Geodynamics of the Yellowstone Hotspot: Plume or not?, Eos Trans. AGU, 83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract S72C-04.

Smith, R. B., G. P. Waite, C. M. Puskas, D. L. Schutt, E. D. Humphreys, (2003), Dynamic and kinematic models of the Yellowstone Hotspot constrained by seismic anisotropy, GPS measurements and fault slip rates, Eos Trans. AGU, 84(46), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract T51G-05.

Smith, R. B., W. Chang, C. Puskas, J. Farrell, (2005), Tectonic and magmatic stress interaction of the Yellowstone volcanic system, Eos Trans. AGU, 86(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V14B-07.

Smith, R. B., M. Jordan, C. Puskas, G. Waite, and J. Farrell, (2005), Geodynamic models of the Yellowstone hotspot contrained by seismic and GPS imaging and volcano-tectonic data, Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts with Programs, 37(7), 126.

Smith, R. B., M. Jordan, C. M. Puskas, J. Farrell, G. P. Waite, (2006), Origin and evolution of the Yellowstone Hotspot from seismic-GPS imaging and geodynamic modeling, Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract S54A-06.

Smith, R. B., C. Puskas, K. Settles, and J. Farrell (2007), Effects of the Yellowstone hotspot and its mantle plume on the western U.S. interior, Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts with Programs, 39(6), 292.

Smith, R. B., and C. M. Puskas, (2009), Contemporary Deformation and kinematics of the Yellowstone Hotspot and its effect on the Western U.S. from GPS, Slip Rates, and Earthquakes, Geol. Soc. Am. Abstracts with Programs, 41(6), 16.

Waite, G. P., R. B. Smith, C. M. Puskas, D. L. Schutt, (2004), Interpreting crust and mantle stress and strain indicators at Yellowstone, Eos Trans. AGU, 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract T33E-07.

White, B. P., R. B. Smith, S. Husen, C. M. Puskas, I. G. Wong, A. G. Sylvester, (2005), Seismotectonics of the Teton fault from a revised earthquake catalog and stress-field inversion, Eos Trans. AGU, 86(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract T51D-1376.