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Broadly defined, I am interested in using passive source seismic techniques to characterize the structure of the crust and upper mantle of the Earth. My research goals can be summarized by the questions “How are tectonic events manifested in the character of the lithosphere?” and "How do the seismic characteristics of a region relate to seismic hazard?"

I work on developing new approaches to characterize subsurface structure, primarily body waves and their coda and surface wave dispersion measurements. I have applied these techniques to a variety of locations to understand problems pertaining to:

  1. the relationship between fluids, seismogenesis, and orogenesis in subduction zones
  2. the structure of lithospheric-scale magmatic systems
  3. the geological implications (e.g., volcanism, deformation, and uplift) of subduction termination
  4. the characterization of shallow velocity properties to complement hazard analysis

I am an assistant professor in Purdue University's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences alongside fellow seismologist Xiaotao Yang. We are both looking for motivated graduate students to help us build our Computational Seismology and Tectonics group and maintain the already strong reputation for seismology at Purdue. Don’t hesitate to contact me if interested.

Featured Publications:

Delph JR, Darin MH, Whitney DL, Cosca MA, Teyssier C, Kaymakci N, Eken T, Reid MR, & Beck SL (2024) “Deep lithospheric controls on surface deformation and seismicity around the East Anatolian Fault Zone and A3 Triple Junction”, 34(8), p. 4-12, GSA Today, https://doi.org/10.1130/GSATG584A.1

Whitney D.L., Delph J.R., Thomson S.N., Beck S.L., Brocard G.Y., Cosca M.A., Darin M.H., Kaymakci N., Meijers M.J.M., Okay A.I., Rojay B., Teyssier C., Umhoefer P.J. (2023) “Breaking plates: Creation of the East Anatolian fault, the Anatolian plate, and a tectonic escape system” Geology, https://doi.org/10.1130/G51211.1 

Delph, J.R., Thomas, A.M., Levander, A., 2021, "Subcretionary tectonics: Linking variability in the expression of subduction along the Cascadia forearc" Earth. planet. Sci. Lett., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116724

Delph, J.R., Shimizu, K., Ratschbacher B.C., 2021, "The architecture of the southern Puna magmatic system: integrating seismic and petrologic observations with geochemical modeling" J. Geophys. Res., https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB021550

Most Recent Publications:

Ducea MN, Decelles PG, Chapman JB, Delph JR, Carrapa B, Ene VV, Petrescu L, Ward KM, Rossel P (2026) "The role of crustal magmatism in the formation and the evolution of orogenic plateaus", Geos. Soc. Amer. Bull., https://doi.org/10.1130/B38190.1

Elston HM, Loveless JP, Delph JR (2025) “Influence of Subduction Interface Geometry on Surface Displacements and Slip Processes in Cascadia", Earth and Space Science; https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EA004623

Jonathan R. Delph