Susan Hough facts for kids

Susan Elizabeth Hough (born March 20, 1961) is a super smart scientist called a seismologist. She works for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Pasadena, California. A seismologist studies earthquakes and how they shake the ground. Susan Hough is also in charge of the USGS office in Pasadena. She has written many articles and five books about earthquakes, including one called Earthshaking Science.

About Susan Hough

Susan Hough is a leading expert in understanding earthquakes. She helps us learn why and how earthquakes happen. Her work helps people stay safer when the ground shakes.

Her Education and Early Career

Susan Hough went to the University of California, Berkeley and graduated in 1982. Later, she earned her Ph.D. in geophysics from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1987. Geophysics is a science that uses physics to study the Earth.

Helping Earthquake Science Groups

Susan Hough has been a leader in important groups that study earthquakes. From 1998 to 2004, she was on the board of directors for the Seismological Society of America. She also served on the board for the Southern California Earthquake Center from 2006 to 2009. These groups help scientists share what they learn about earthquakes.

Her Work After the Haiti Earthquake

After a big earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, Susan Hough led a special team from the United States Geological Survey. Her team helped install equipment called seismic stations and accelerometers. These tools help measure how much the ground shakes during an earthquake.

Improving Earthquake Monitoring

The USGS, with Susan Hough's help, works to improve how we monitor and report earthquakes. This is part of their Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). Her team put portable seismometers in Haiti to record aftershocks, which are smaller earthquakes that happen after a big one.

Helping Haiti Prepare for Future Earthquakes

Susan Hough continues to work with Haitian seismologists. They are setting up permanent earthquake monitoring systems in Haiti. This helps the country be more ready for future earthquakes.

Understanding Ground Shaking

Susan Hough and her team also studied how local ground conditions affect earthquake damage. This is called seismic microzonation. They found that the shape of the land, or topography, played a big role in the damage in Pétion-Ville, Haiti. This discovery changed how scientists think about predicting earthquake damage.

Writing and Sharing Knowledge

Susan Hough has written many articles for popular newspapers like the Los Angeles Times. She has also published over 100 articles in science journals. These journals are where scientists share their discoveries with other experts. She is also a contributing editor for Geotimes Magazine.