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., Columbia University, 1976
MPhil., Columbia University, 1973
B.S. with honors, California Institute of Technology, 1970
Professional
Experience:
1990-present
Professor, University of Connecticut
1987-1990 Associate Professor,
University of Connecticut
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
Visiting
and Sabbatical Appointments:
2000-present Visiting Professor, MIT
2008
Visiting Fellow, RSES, Australian National University
2000 Visiting Associate, California Institute
of Technology
1994 Green Scholar, IGPP, University of
California, San Diego
1990 Visiting Associate Professor, University
of Utrecht, Netherlands
Significant
Professional Service:
Editor, Physics of the Earth and
Planetary Interiors, 2013-
American
Geophysical Union SEDI Focus Group, Chair, 2008--2010
American Geophysical Union SEDI Focus Group, Secretary, 2005-2008
American Geophysical Union, Lehmann Medal Committee,
2008--2010; chair 2010- 2012
Royal Astronomical Society, International Committee,
2009--present
Head, Publication Committee, Seismological Society of
America, 1995-2000
Vice President, Seismological Society of America, 1996--1998
Board Member, Seismological Society of America, 1994--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:
(published or accepted)
Attanayake, J., V.F. Cormier, and S.M. de Silva, (2013) Uppermost Inner Core Seismic Structure - New Insights from Body Waveform Inversion, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 385, 49-58.
Cormier, V.F., (2013) Forward modeling: Synthetic body wave seismograms, In: Treatise on Geophysics, 2nd edition, G Schubert (ed.),Volume I, Seismology and Structure of the Earth, A. Dziewonski and B. Romanowicz (eds.), Oxford: Elsevier Ltd., in press.
Cormier,
V.F., and J. Attanayake (2013), EarthÕs Solid Inner Core:
Seismic Implications of Freezing and Melting,
J. Earth Sci., 24(5), 683-698, doi: 10.1007/s12583-013-0363-9.
Geballe, Z.M., M. Lasbleis, V.F. Cormier, and E.A. Day (2013), Sharp hemisphere boundaries in a translating inner core, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 1-5, doi: 10.1002/grl.50372.
Cormier,
V.F., J. Attanayake, and K. He, (2011) Inner core freezing and melting:
constraints from seismic body waves, Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 188,
163-172, doi: 10.1016/j.pepi.2011.07.007.
Cormier,
V.F., (2011) Seismic viscoleastic attenuation, In: Encylopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics, H. Gupta (ed.), pp. 1279-1290, doi: 10.1007/978-90-481-8702-7, Springer.
Ivan,
M., and V.F. Cormier (2010), High frequency PKKP-BC around 2.5
Hz recorded globally, Pure. Appl. Geophys., doi: 10.1007/s00024-010-0192-z
Rondenay, S., V.F. Cormier, and E. Van
Ark, (2010) SKS and SPdKS sensitivity to two-dimensional ultra-low velocity
zones, J.
Geophys. Res., 115, B04311, doi:10.1029/2009JB006733.
Tkalcic, H., V.F. Cormier, B.L.N.
Kennett, and K. He (2010) Steep reflections from the
Earth's core reveal small-scale heterogeneity in the upper mantle, Phys.
Earth Planet. Int.,
178, 80-91, doi:
10.1016/j.pepi.2009.08.004.
Cormier,
V.F., (2009) A glassy lowermost outer core, Geophys.
J. Int., 179, 374-380, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04283.x
Tkalcic, H., B.L.N. Kennett, and V.F.
Cormier (2009) On the inner-outer core density contrast from PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratios and uncertainties caused by seismic
noise, Geophys. J. Int., 179, 425-443, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04294.x.
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., 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.,
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 150–220 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 mb 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.
Grants
as PI:
(TCÕs
listed for period including 2005-present)
EAR
11-60917, Combined Geodynamical and Seismological Modeling of the Inner Core
Boundary Region, 05/01/12-04/30/15,
$239,604
EAR 07-38492, Solidification Texture of Earth's Inner
Core, 1/01/08-12/31/10, $300,000
EAR 02-36721, Acquisition of Computational and Analytical
Facilities for 3-Dimensional Imaging and Visualization in Geophysics,
Petrology, and Hydrogeology, 04/15/2003 -- 03/31/2006
EAR 02-29586, Heterogeneity, Anisotropy, and Seismic Attenuation
in Earth's Inner Core and Lower Mantle , 01/01/2003 --
12/31/2007
EAR 99- 80355, Heterogeneity, Anisotropy, and Anelasticity
in the Lowermost Mantle and Inner Core , 03/01/2000 --
02/28/2003
EAR 96-14525 Heterogeneity, Anisotropy, and Anelasticity
in the Lowermost Mantle and Inner Core , 03/01/1997 --
06/30/2000
EAR 95-- 06613, Upgrade of the Geophysics Computing Facility at
the University of Connecticut , 09/01/1995 --
08/31/1997
EAR 92-18693 , Waveform Modeling Applied
to Three Deep Structure Problems: Slabs, D", and the Inner Core ,
04/01/1993 -- 09/30/1997
EAR 90-11439 , Fault Zone and Laterally
Heterogeneous Structure: Effects on the Rupture History and Strong Ground
Motion of the Loma Prieta Earthquake , 08/15/1990
--07/31/1992
EAR 89-16253 , Upgrade of Computer
Equipment in Support of Research in DeepEarth
Structure and Seismic Wave Propagation, 02/15/1990 -- 07/31/1991
EAR 89- 04236, Determination of the Deep Structure of Descending
Lithospheric Slabs from Their Effects on Seismic Body Waves, 09/01/1989 --
07/31/1992
EAR 87-09456 , Slab Diffracted S Waves ,
09/01/1987 -- 02/28/1990
EAR 85-18151, Prediction of Strong Ground Motion Due to Extended
Earthquake Sources in a Three-Dimensionally Varying Medium ,
02/01/1986 -- 07/31/1988
EAR 84-16921, Seismic Velocity Structure Surrounding the Inner
Core Boundary 05/01/1985 -- 10/31/1987
EAR 82-18737 A Study of the Lateral Variation in the Structure of
the Earth's Lower Mantle From the Synthesis of Seismic Body Waves in a
Three-Dimensionally Varying Medium, 05/01/1983 -- 10/31/1984
(list incomplete before 1990)
AFRL,
FA9453-12-C-0207, Modeling the Combined Effects of Deterministic and
Statistical Structure for Optimization of Regional Monitoring, 05/01/12- 04/30/15, $307,000
DTRA
(Defense Thread Reduction Agency), DTRA01-00-C-0029, Seismic Calibration for
IMS stations in Eastern Asia (Group 1: Table 1), 3/26/00--3/26/03
AFGL,
F49620-94-1-0059, Investigation of Lg Attenuation and
Blockage in Models of the Eurasian Crust, 1994-1996
AFGL,
Crust and Upper Mantle Gradients in the Vicinity of the East Kazakh Test Site, 1990-1992
AFGL,
Effects of a Descending Lithospheric Slab on Yield Estimates of Underground
Nuclear Tests, 1990-1992
Recent
and Current PhD Students (2005- present)
Januka Attanayake,
GSCI, PhD completed 2012
Kuang He, PHYS, PhD completed 2011
Michele
Fitzpatrick, GSCI
Christopher
Sanborn, PHYS
Susini de Silva, PHYS