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Luis Rivera

Self Introduction

Hi, my name is Luis Rivera, I am a professor of seismology at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg; France (IPGS, Louis Pasteur University). My main scientific interest is to better understand the soource mechanics of large earthquakes. With this purpose, I spend most of my research time in modeling different kind of earthquake related data such us teleseismic, strong-motion, gravity, free oscillations, permanent deformation, historical records, etc. Some of the events I have studied are Sumatra (1935), Spitak (1988), Racha (1991), Erzincan (1992), Antofagasta (1995), Tauramena (1995), Hector Mine (1999), Kokoxilli (2001) and Sumatra-Andaman (2004). The stresses in the crust and their relation to focal mechanisms as well as the energy flux and energy balance associated with the earthquake phenomenon are some of the questions I have more specifically addressed in the past.

I have been recently working with Professor H. Kanamori on developping a method to use the W-phase (a very long period early arriving seismological phase) for a fast retrieval of the source parameters of large earthquakes. Applications at global and regional scale are very promising. This can be particularly useful for implementing a seismic early Tsunami warning. During my two months stay at ERI I plan to interact in particular with Dr. H. Kawakatsu and his group to implement our W-phase method within the real-time moment tensor inversion developed by them. I am also interested in the work done by Dr. K. Satake and his colleagues on the excitation mechanism of Tsunamis. This is my first time in Japan and I am entushiastic about learning the very wide geophysical research landscape here at ERI and about exploring research collaborations. I am also eager to learn about Japan and its culture.