My research interests, to date, have focused on regional seismology -- a broad field where
one typically analyzes seismic signals recorded at a few tens of kilometers to a couple thousand
kilometers to infer geologic structure of the Earth's upper layers, including the crust, to quantify
the seismic sources and their implications on regional tectonics, and to characterize the nature of the
seismic sources. The results of the analyses have diverse applications in earth science and they
offer important contributions to our society and environment. For example, I analyzed regional
seismic signals from earthquakes in Scandinavia to determine regional intraplate stress fields to
evaluate earthquake hazard for nuclear power plants and for high-level nuclear waste depository. I
analyzed regional signals in Eastern North America and in former Soviet Union to characterize
various types of seismic source, which is an important issue in seismic monitoring for compliance
of the comprehensive test ban treaty (CTBT).
In the next few years I would like to broaden my experience in seismology by branching
into global body wave seismology. In particular, I am interested in pursuing the interpretation of
seismic array data which can constrain upper mantle structure and the Earth's deep interior,
including outer core and inner core. As the PI of the Lamont-Doherty/National Nuclear Center (NNC) of
Kazakhstan joint seismic experiment in Kazakhstan, I have been operating eight-station broadband
seismographic network and a 21-element seismic array in Kazakhstan since the summer of 1994.
These broadband stations and the array at very quiet sites provide some of the best observational
seismic data in the world. Analysis of these excellent data will constitute a large part of my
research work in the next few years.
I would like also to broaden my research work in the geodynamics of central Asia, Tien-
Shan and Altai Mts., and the seismic hazard associated with occurrences of strong earthquakes in
the newly independent countries of the former Soviet Union in central Asia.
My research interests at present and in near future may be summarized as following:
Return to Kim's Home