Vita

Vernon F. Cormier

Professor, Department of Physics

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT 06269-3046

Phone:   (860)-486-3547

Fax: (860) 486-3346

E-mail vernon.cormier@uconn.edu

URL: www.phys.uconn.edu/~cormier

Areas of interest:

            Deep earth structure, earthquake ground motion, nuclear verification, wave propagation

Education:

            PhD.,1976, Columbia University 

            MPhil.,1973, Columbia University

            B.S. with honors, 1970, California Institute of Technology.

Professional Experience:

            1990-present      Professor, University of Connecticut

            2000-present       Visiting Professor, MIT

            2000                 Visiting Associate, California Institute of Technology

            1994                 Green Scholar, IGPP, University of California, San Diego

            1990                 Visiting Associate Professor, University of Utrecht, Netherlands

            1987-1990         Associate Professor, University of Connecticut

            1987- 2000        Research Affiliate, M.I.T.

            1984-1987         Principal Research Scientist, M.I.T.

            1982-1984         Research Scientist, M.I.T.

            1980-1982         Staff Scientist, M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory

            1979-1980         Research Associate, Harvard University

1976-1979 Research Associate, CIRES, University of Colorado

1970 (summer)  Engineer, ARCO

 1969 (summer)  Geophysicist, Texaco

Significant Professional Service:

SEDI AGU Interest Group, Secretary, 2005-present
Vice President, Seismological Society of America, 1996--1998

Board Member, Seismological Society of America, 1994--2000

Head, Publication Committee, Seismological Society of America, 1995-2000

Secretary, Seismology Section, American Geophysical Union, 1992 --1994.

Editor and Head of the American Office of the Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1983--1986
Member AGU Committee on International Participation, 1983--1985
Member IASPEI Commission on Theoretical Seismology/Lateral Heterogeneity,  1985--1995

Refereed Publications:

Zou, Z., K. Koper, and V.F. Cormier (2008), The structure of the base of the outer core inferred from seismic waves diffracted around the inner core, J. Geophys. Res., 113, doi:10.1029/2007JB005316.

Cormier, V.F. (2007) Texture of the uppermost inner core from forward and back scattered seismic waves, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. , 258, 442-453, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2007.04.003.

Cormier, V.F., (2007) Forward modeling: Synthetic body wave seismograms, In: Treatise on Geophysics, G. Schubert (ed.),Volume I, Seismology and Structure of the Earth, A. Dziewonski and B. Romanowicz (eds.), pp.157-190, Oxford: Elsevier Ltd.

Hirose, K, S-I. Karato, V.F. Cormier, J. P. Brodholt, and D.A. Yuen, (2006) Unsolved problems in the lowermost mantle, Geophys. Res. Lett.,  33, L12S01, doi:10.1029/2006GL025691.

Tkalcic, H., M. P. Flanagan, and V.F. Cormier, (2006) Observation of near-podal P'P' precursors: Evidence for back scattering from the 150 to 220 km zone in the Earth's upper mantle, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, doi: 10.1029/2005GL024645.

Cormier, V.F., and A. Stroujkova, (2005) Waveform search for the innermost inner core, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett ., 236, 96-105, 10.1016/j.epsl.2005.05.016.

Stroujkova, A., and V.F. Cormier,  (2004) Regional variations in the uppermost 100 km of the Earth's inner core, J. Geophys. Res., 109(B10), doi: 10.129/2004JB002976, (8 pp.).

Cormier, V.F., and T. S. Anderson, (2004) Efficiency of Lg propagation from SmS ray tracing in three-dimensionally varying crustal wavegudies, Pure and Appl. Geophys.,161(8), 1613-1633, doi:10.1007/s00024-004-2524-3.

Ni, S., V.F. Cormier, and D.V. Helmberger (2003) A comparison of synthetic seismograms for 2-D structures: semianalytical versus numerical, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 93, 2752- 2757.

Li, X, and V.F. Cormier, (2002) Frequency dependent attenuation in the inner core: Part I.
A viscoelastic interpretation, J. Geophys. Res. 107(B12),  doi: 10.1029/2002JB001795, (20 pp)

Cormier, V.F., and X. Li (2002) Frequency dependent attenuation in the inner core: Part II. A scattering and fabric interpretation, J. Geophys. Res . 107(B12),  doi: 10.1029/2002JB1796, (15 pp.)

Xu, L.,   V.F. Cormier, and M.N Toksoz, (2002), Complex source mechanism of the 17 August 1999 Izmit, Turkey, earthquake, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.,  92, 267-277.

Cormier, V.F., (2000). D" as a transition in the heterogeneity spectrum of the lowermost mantle., J. Geohys. Res ., 105, 16,193-16,205.

Cormier, V.F., (1999). Anisotropy of heterogeneity scale lengths in the lower mantle from PKIKP precursors, Geophys. J. Int., 136, 373-384.

Cormier, V.F., L. Xu, and G.L. Choy, (1998). Seismic attenuation of the inner core:  viscoelastic or stratigraphic? Geophys. Res. Lett., 25 , 4019-4025.

Cormier, V.F., (1995). Time domain modeling of PKIKP precursors for constraints on the heterogeneity in the lowermost mantle, Geophys. J. Int. , 121, 725-736.

Cormier, V.F., and Su, W-J., (1994).  Effects of three-dimensional crustal structure on the estimated slip histroy and ground motion of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.,  84,  284-294.

Cormier, V.F., B. Mandal and D. Harvey (1991).  Incorporation of velocity gradients in the synthesis of complete seismograms by the locked mode method, Bull. Seism.Soc. Am., 81 , 897-930.

Cormier, V.F., and W. Kim, (1990).  Vicinity ray tracing:   an alternative to dynamic ray tracing, Geophys. J. Int., 103, 639-656.

Cormier, V.F., Slab diffraction of S waves, (1989). J. Geophys. Res., 94 , 3006-3024.

Engdahl, E.R., J.E. Vidale, and V.F. Cormier (1989).  Wave propagation in subducted lithospheric slabs, Proceedings of the 6th Course:Digital Seismology and Fine Modeling of the Lithosphere, International School of Applied Geophysics, Majorana Center, Erice, Sicily, Plenum Publishing Co.

Cormier, V.F., (1989).    Seismic attenuation:  observation and measurement, In: Encyclopedia of Geophysics , D.E. James (ed.), Van Nostrand, pp.1005-1018. 

Cormier, V.F.,   and P.G. Richards (1988). Spectral synthesis of body waves in Earth models specified by vertically varying layers, In: Seismological Algorithms, D. Doornbos (ed.), Academic Press, pp. 3-45.

Cormier, V.F., (1987). The focusing and defocusing of teleseismic P waves by known three-dimensional structure beneath Pahute Mesa, Nevada Test Site, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 77, 1688-1703.

Cormier, V.F., and G.C. Beroza, (1987). Calculation of strong ground motion due to an extended earthquake source in a laterally varying structure, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 77 , 1-13.

Cormier, V.F., and G.L. Choy, (1986).  A search for lateral heterogeneity in the inner core  from differential travel times near PKP-D and PKP-C, Gephys. Res. Lett. , 13, 1553-1556.

Cormier, V.F., (1986).   An application of the propagator matrix of dynamic ray tracing: The focusing and defocusing of body waves by three-dimensional velocity structure in the source region, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc., 87 , 1159-1180.

Cormier, V.F., (1986).   Synthesis of body waves in transversely isotropic earth models, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 76 , 231-240.

Choy, G.L., and V.F. Cormier (1986).  Direct measurement of the mantle attenuation operator from broadband P and S waves, J. Geophys. Res., 91, 7326-7342.

Der, Z.A., A.C. Lees, V.F. Cormier, and L.M. Anderson (1986).  Frequency dependence of Q in the mantle underlying the shield areas of Eurasia, Part I:  analysis of short and intermediate period data, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc. , 87, 1057-1084.

Lees, A.C., Z.A. Der, V.F. Cormier, M.E. Marshall, and J.A. Burnetti (1986). Frequency  dependence of Q in the mantle underlying the shield areas of Eurasia, Part II: analyses of long period data, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc., 87, 1085-1101.

Der, Z.A., A.C. Lees, and V.F. Cormier (1986).  Frequency dependence of Q in the mantle underlying the shield areas of Eurasia, Part III: the Q model, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc., 87, 1103-1112.

Cormier, V.F., (1985).   Some problems with S, SKS, and ScS observations for the  structure of the base of the mantle and outer core, J. Geophys. , 57, 14-22.

Esmersoy, C., V.F. Cormier, and M.N. Toksoz (1985).  Three-component array processing, In:   The Vela Program, a Twenty Five Year Review of BasicResearch , A.U. Kerr (ed.), Executive Graphic Services.

Cormier, V.F., (1984).   The polarization of S waves in a heterogeneous isotropic earth model, J. Geophys., 56, 20-23.

Cormier, V.F., and M.H. Mellen (1984).  Application of asymptotic ray theory to synthetic vertical seismic profiling, In:   Vertical Seismic Profiling:  Advanced Concepts,  Toksoz and Stewart(eds.), Geophysical Press.

Cormier, V.F., and P. Spudich (1984).  Amplification of ground motion and waveform complexity in fault zones:   examples from the San Andreas and Calaveras faults,  Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc. , 79, 135-152.

Bullitt, J.T., and V.F. Cormier (1984).  Relative performance of m b and alternative measures of elastic energy in estimating source size and explosion yield, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 74 , 1863-1882.

Choy, G.L., and V.F. Cormier (1983).  The structure of the inner core inferred from short-period and broad-band GDSN data, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc., 72 , 1-21.

Cormier, V.F., Deep earth structure (1983).  Revs. Geophys. Space Phys., 21 ,1277- 1285.

Cormier, V.F. (1982). The effect of attenuation on seismic body waves, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 72B , 143-174.

Cormier, V.F. (1981). Short period PKP and the anelastic mechanism of the inner core, Phys. Earth Planet Int., 24, 291-301.

Cormier, V.F., and G.L. Choy (1981), Theoretical body wave interactions with upper mantle structure, J. Geophys. Res., 86, 1673-1678.

Lundquist, G.M., and V.F. Cormier (1980), Constraints on the absorption band model of Q,  J. Geophys. Res. , 85, 5244-5256.

Cormier, V.F., (1980).   The synthesis of complete seismograms in an earth model  specified by radially inhomogeneous layers, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 70 , 691-716.

Rial, J.A., and V.F. Cormier (1980).  Seismic waves at the epicenter's antipode, J. Geophys. Res., 85, 2661-2668.

Choy, G.L., V.F. Cormier, R. Kind, G. Muller, and P.G. Richards (1980).  A  comparison of synthetic seismograms of phases generated by the full wave theory and by the reflectivity method, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc., 61 , 21-39.

Cormier, V.F., and P.G. Richards (1977).  Full wave theory applied to a discontinuous velocity increase:  the inner core boundary, J. Geophys., 43, 3-31.

Cormier, V.F., and P.G. Richards (1976).  Comments on "The Damping of Core Waves" by Anthony Qamar and Alfredo Eisenberg, J. Geophys. Res. , 81, 3066-3068.

Cormier, V.F., (1975).   Tectonics near the junction of the Aleutian and Kuril-Kamchatka  arcs and a mechanism for middle Tertiary magmatism in the Kamchatka Basin,  Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. , 86, 443-453.

Dev, S., J.E. Anderson, V. Cormier, N.P. Damodaran, and J.D. Roberts (1968). Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The conformational mobility of humulene and zerumbone, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 90, 1246-1248.