Linda A. Reinen

Professor of Geology; On leave Fall 2024
With 6VµçÓ°Íø Since: 1995
  • Expertise

    Expertise

    As a scholar in structural geology with a deep interest in the origin and impact of earthquakes, Linda Reinen is an expert in the mechanics of fault systems and a knowledgeable speaker on the potential for major earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault in Southern California.

    In her research, she employs numerical models to study earthquake initiation in serpentinite, a rock commonly found along major faults. She recently received an NSF grant to conduct experiments assessing serpentinite’s role in the initiation of deep-focus earthquakes within subducting tectonic plates. Her primary interest is in determining in how slip (geology-speak for any relative movement between the earth's tectonic plates) is accommodated on faults, either through the generation of earthquakes or by stable fault creep.

    In addition to numerical modeling of earthquake cycles, her work includes laboratory experiments to determine physical processes during earthquake generation, and field studies of naturally deformed fault rocks. 

    Research Interests

    • The mechanics of fault systems
    • How slip is accommodated on faults

    Areas of Expertise

    GEOLOGY

    • Structural Geology
    • Rock Mechanics
    • Earthquakes
    • Research in Undergraduate Education
  • Work

    Work

    "The Role of Serpentinite in Slow Precursory Slip to Large Earthquakes," Proceedings of the International Symposium on Slip and Flow Processes in and below the Seismogenic Region, Nov 5-8, 2001, Sendai, Japan, p. 41-1 through 41-7, 2001

    "Slip Styles in a Spring-slider Model with a Laboratory-derived Constitutive Law for Serpentinite," Geophysical Research Letters, 27, 2037-2040, 2000

    "Seismic and Aseismic Slip Indicators in Serpentinite Gouge," Geology, 28, 135-138, 2000

    With T.E. Tullis and J.D. Weeks, "The Frictional Behavior of Antigorite and Lizardite Serpentinite: Experiments, Constitutive Models, and Implications for Natural Faults," Pure Appl. Geophys., 143, 317-358, 1994

    With J. D. Weeks, "Determination of Rock Friction Constitutive Parameters using an Iterative Least-squares Inversion Method," Journal of Geophys. Research, 98, 15937-15950, 1993

    With T.E. Tullis and J.D. Weeks, "Two-mechanism Model for Frictional Sliding of Serpentinite," Geophysical Research Letters, 19, 1535-1538, 1992

    With J. D. Weeks and T. E. Tullis, "The Frictional Behavior of Serpentinite: Implications for Aseismic Creep on Shallow Crustal Faults," Geophysical Research Letters, 18, 1921-1924, 1991

  • Education

    Education

    Ph.D.
    Brown University

    Master of Science
    University of Massachusetts

    Bachelor of Science
    University of Massachusetts

    Recent Courses Taught

    • Hydrogeology
    • Independent Research in Geology
    • Introduction to Geology: Geohazards with Laboratory
    • Senior Project in Geology
    • Structural Geology with Lab
    • Tectonics
  • Awards & Honors

    Awards & Honors

    Geological Society of America, Biggs Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching, 2003

    International Symposium on Slip and Flow Processes in and below (near) the Seismogenic Region, invited speaker, Sendai Japan, November 5-8, 2001

    Council on Undergraduate Research, Geology Division, Counselor, 1999-present

    Physical Properties of Earth Materials (subset of the American Geophysical Union), Steering Committee Member, 1998-2001