Jay Pulliam

Research Scientist

Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (1991);
A.B., Cornell University (1983)

Telephone: 512-471-0376
email: jay at ig.utexas.edu

Jay is currently studying the structure of the deep Earth using earthquake sources, developing seismic methods based on ray perturbation theory, and developing a broadband ocean-bottom seismograph (BBOBS) suitable for recording earthquakes on the ocean floor. He has worked with UTIG's Mrinal Sen to model shear-wave splitting on seismograms recorded at the Hockley seismographic station from deep-focus earthquakes in the southwest Pacific. They interpreted this splitting to be caused by anisotropy in the lowermost mantle beneath the central Pacific. If this interpretation is correct, the anisotropy may indicate chemical heterogeneity in that region of the Earth, which could be caused by mixing of mantle and core materials. Pulliam is also interested in evaluating the effects of seismic data errors on models of Earth structure and exploring the bias introduced by the model parameterization, smoothing and regularization, and the bending of seismic rays. With UTIG's Cliff Frohlich, he is devising ways to monitor compliance with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and is helping the Texas Department of Emergency Management to develop a state-wide earthquake hazard policy.