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Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
Home  /  People  /  Zhongwen Zhan

Zhongwen Zhan

Professor of Geophysics
B.S., University of Science and Technology of China, 2006; M.S., 2008; Ph.D., Caltech, 2013. Assistant Professor, Caltech, 2015-22; Professor, 2022-.

Research Options

Geophysics; 

Profile

2002-2006 Bachelor of Science in Geophysics, Special Class for the Gifted Young, USTC
2006-2008 Master of Science in Geophysics, Department of Geophysics, USTC
2008-2013 Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics, California Institute of Technology

My research interests lie in the broad area of seismology and emphasize two geophysical research topics, ambient seismic noise and subduction zone processes. I am mostly interested in seismic imaging of Earth structure using dense arrays, rupture processes and controlling factors of shallow and deep earthquakes, and ambient noise imaging of glacier structures.

Please see my research page for a description of my research projects.

Publications

Please see Zhongwen Zhan 's publication page: http://zhan.caltech.edu/publications/index.html

Ge 162. Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2023-24. Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab or equivalent. Review of concepts in classical seismology. Topics to be covered: basic theories of wave propagation in the earth, instrumentation, Earth's structure and tomography, theory of the seismic source, physics of earthquakes, and seismic risk. Emphasis will be placed on how quantitative mathematical and physical methods are used to understand complex natural processes, such as earthquakes.
Instructor: Zhan
Ge 261. Advanced Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2023-24. Continuation of Ge 162 with special emphasis on particular complex problems; includes generalizations of analytical methods to handle nonplanar structures and methods of interfacing numerical-analytical codes in two and three dimensions; construction of Earth models using tomographic methods and synthetics. Requires a class project.
Instructor: Zhan
Ge 162. Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2022-23. Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab or equivalent. Review of concepts in classical seismology. Topics to be covered: basic theories of wave propagation in the earth, instrumentation, Earth's structure and tomography, theory of the seismic source, physics of earthquakes, and seismic risk. Emphasis will be placed on how quantitative mathematical and physical methods are used to understand complex natural processes, such as earthquakes.
Instructor: Zhan
Ge 261. Advanced Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2022-23. Continuation of Ge 162 with special emphasis on particular complex problems; includes generalizations of analytical methods to handle nonplanar structures and methods of interfacing numerical-analytical codes in two and three dimensions; construction of Earth models using tomographic methods and synthetics. Requires a class project.
Instructor: Zhan
Ge 162. Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2021-22. Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab or equivalent. Review of concepts in classical seismology. Topics to be covered: basic theories of wave propagation in the earth, instrumentation, Earth's structure and tomography, theory of the seismic source, physics of earthquakes, and seismic risk. Emphasis will be placed on how quantitative mathematical and physical methods are used to understand complex natural processes, such as earthquakes.
Instructor: Zhan
Ge 261. Advanced Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2021-22. Continuation of Ge 162 with special emphasis on particular complex problems; includes generalizations of analytical methods to handle nonplanar structures and methods of interfacing numerical-analytical codes in two and three dimensions; construction of Earth models using tomographic methods and synthetics. Requires a class project.
Instructor: Zhan
Ge 162. Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2020-21. Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab or equivalent. Review of concepts in classical seismology. Topics to be covered: basic theories of wave propagation in the earth, instrumentation, Earth's structure and tomography, theory of the seismic source, physics of earthquakes, and seismic risk. Emphasis will be placed on how quantitative mathematical and physical methods are used to understand complex natural processes, such as earthquakes.
Instructor: Zhan