Martin C. Chapman

Research Assistant Professor of Geophysics

1059 Derring Hall

+1.540.231.5036 (Phone)

+1.540.231.3386 (FAX)

Department of Geosciences
4044 Derring Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Ph.D., Geophysics, Virginia Tech, 1998
M.S., Geophysics, Virginia Tech, 1979
B.S., Geophysics, Virginia Tech, 1977

Research Interests

I work in two distinct topical areas. The first is the study of seismicity and tectonics of plate interiors. The second is strong-motion seismology. My goal is to combine results from both areas and contribute an improved scientific basis for assessment and mitigation of earthquake hazards, particularly for plate-interior areas such as eastern North America. There is a strong observational element in my work. I am director of the Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory (VTSO). I study the geologic causes of the earthquakes and the characteristics of seismic wave propagation in the region using data from VTSO stations as well as other seismic stations in eastern North America. As a strong-motion seismologist, I make extensive use of the world-wide collection of strong motion data from large earthquakes to characterize and predict damaging motions in the near-fault distance range in a variety of tectonic environments.

Professional Experience

Assistant Research Professor, Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, 1998 - Present.
Research Associate, Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, 1983 - 1998.
Seismologist with Law Engineering Testing Company, Marietta, Georgia, 1979 - 1983.

Service to Professional Societies

Associate Editor, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 1995-Present.
Editor, Eastern Section Pages, Seismological Research Letters, 1998-Present.

Selected Publications

Chapman, M.C. (2006). Near-source Vertical Ground Motions at Soil Sites: S to P Conversion at the Soil-rock Interface, Seismological Research Letters, 78, no. 1, pp. 163.

Chapman, M.C., J.R. Martin, C.G. Olgun, and J.N. Beale (2006). Site-Response models for Charleston, South Carolina, and vicinity developed from shallow geotechnical investigations, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. Vol 96, 467-489.

Chapman, M. C., P. Talwani and R.C. Cannon (2003) Ground motion attenuation in the Atlantic Coastal Plain near Charleston, South Carolina,  Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 93, 998-1011.

Chapman, M.C., (2005). The August 25, 2005 Hot Springs, North Carolina Earthquake: Extensional Faulting in the Detached Alleghenian Overthrust Belt of the Southern Appalachians, Seismological Research Letters, 77, no.1, pp. 99.

Chapman, M. C., (2005). The Seismicity of Central Virginia, Seismological Research Letters, 76, no.1 pp. 115.

Chapman, M. C., J.R. Martin, G. Olgun and B. Regmi,(2004). Site Response Mapping in Charleston, South Carolina, Seismological Research Letters, 75. no. 3, pp. 441.

Chapman, M. C., J.R. Martin, G. Olgun and B. Regmi,(2004). Site Response in Charleston, South Carolina and Vicinity, Seismological Research Letters, 75, no. 2, pp.287.

Chapman, M.C., P. Talwani, R. Cannon ((2002). Anelastic Attenuation in the South Carolina Coastal Plain, Seismological Research Letters, 73. no. 3, pp. 423.

Chapman, M. C, J.W. Munsey, C.A. Powell, S.C. Whisner and J. Whisner (2002), The Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone: Summary after 20 Years of Network Monitoring, Seismological Research Letters, 73, no. 2, pp. 245.

Chapman, M. C. (2001) Constraints on Anelastic attenuation in the South Carolina Coastal Plain from Spectral Analysis of converted phases, Seismological Research Letters, 72, no. 2, pp. 288.

Chapman, M. C. (2001).  1886 Ground motion in Charleston, South Carolina: scenarios using finite rupture models, Seismological Research Letters, 72, no. 1, pp126.

Chapman, M. C. (1999), On the Use of Elastic Input Energy for Seismic Hazard Analysis, Earthquake Spectra, Vol.15, no. 4, 607-635.

Chapman, M. C., C. A. Powell, G. Vlahovic and M. S. Sibol (1997), A statistical analysis of earthquake focal mechanisms and epicenter locations in the eastern Tennessee seismic zone, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. Vol 87, 1522-1536.

Chapman, M. C., (1995), A probabilistic approach to selection of ground motions for engineering design, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 85, 937-942.

Chapman, M. C., G. A. Bollinger, and M. S. Sibol, (1992), Modeling delay-fired explosion spectra at regional distances, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 82, pp. 2430-2447.

Chapman, M. C., G. A. Bollinger, M. S. Sibol, and D. E. Stephenson, (1990), The influence of the Coastal Plain sedimentary wedge on strong ground motions from the 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, Earthquake, Eqke. Spectra, 6, no. 4, pp. 617-640.

Chapman, M. C. and M. J. B. Rogers, (1989), Coda Q in the southern Appalachians, Geophys. Res. Letters, 16, no. 6, pp. 531-534.

Chapman, M. C., J. A. Snoke, and G. A. Bollinger, (1988), A procedure for calibrating short-period telemetered seismograph systems, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 78, pp. 2077-2088.

Chapman, M. C. and G. A. Bollinger, (1984), Reliability of focal depth estimates from a small network, Earthquake Notes, 55, no. 4, pp. 16-25.