Xiaotao Yang

Assistant Professor
Xiaotao Yang

Research Areas

Every Seismic Wiggle Carries a Secret Story that is Waiting to be Decoded!


Education

  • 2016 Ph.D., Geophysics, Indiana University
  • 2011 M.S., Geophysics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • 2008 B.S., Geophysics, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)

Research Interests

Dr. Yang is a seismologist, using seismological methods to solve geological/tectonic problems and to understand natural hazards. He is interested in a variety of research topics, including intraplate seismicity, structure and evolution of intracratonic basins and uplifts, dynamics of subduction systems, and improvements in seismic data processing methods. As a long-term interest, he aims to integrate results from multidisciplinary research fields, including geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and geodynamics in addressing tectonic questions.

Selected Honors

  • GeoPRISMS Theoretical and Experimental Institute Travel Award (2019)
  • College of Arts and Sciences Travel Award, Indiana University (2015)
  • EarthScope National Meeting Student Scholarship Travel Award (2017, 2015, 2013)

Publications - See Google Scholar for most up-to-date list

Published

  1. Yang, X., Liu, L., & Cao, Z. (2026). Channelized lithospheric erosion shapes the western North American craton margin. Nature Communications . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73462-w
  2. Yang, X., Peng, L., Stevens Goddard, A., & Liu, L. (2026). Lithospheric Delamination Below the North American Midcontinent Ceased Subsidence in Cratonic Basins. AGU Advances , 7 (1), e2025AV002051. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025AV002051 . News report here: https://www.eaps.purdue.edu/news/articles/2026/0422_midcontinent_yang.html .
  3. Sassard, V., Yang, X., Liu, L., & Elliott, J. (2025). Slab tearing along a subducted oceanic plate joint beneath the Alaska Peninsula. Nature Geoscience , 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01749-6
  4. Liu, L., Chen, L., Cao, Z., Yang, X., Goddard, A. S., & Zhu, R. (2025). Periodic instability and restoration of cratonic lithosphere. National Science Review , 12 (3). https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwaf027
  5. Jadamec, M. A., Pavlis, G., Yang, X., Fischer, K. M., Wei, S. S., Mann, M. E., & Schaeffer, A. (2024). Synthesis of the Seismic Structure of the Greater Alaska Region: Geodynamics Implications. In N. A. Ruppert, J. T. Freymueller, & M. A. Jadamec (Eds.), AGU Monograph: Tectonics and Seismic Structure of Alaska and Northwestern Canada: EarthScope and Beyond . American Geophysical Union Wiley.
  6. Pavlis, G. L., Jadamec, M. A., Mann, M. E., Yang, X., Schaeffer, A., Wei, S. S., & Fischer, K. M. (2024). Synthesis of the Seismic Structure of the Greater Alaska Region: Subducting Slab Geometry. In N. A. Ruppert, J. T. Freymueller, & M. A. Jadamec (Eds.), AGU Monograph: Tectonics and Seismic Structure of Alaska and Northwestern Canada: EarthScope and Beyond . American Geophysical Union Wiley.
  7. Yang, X., Mann, M. E., Fischer, K. M., Jadamec, M. A., Wei, S. S., Pavlis, G., & Schaeffer, A. (2024). Synthesis of the Seismic Structure of the Greater Alaska Region: Continental Lithosphere. In N. A. Ruppert, J. T. Freymueller, & M. A. Jadamec (Eds.), AGU Monograph: Tectonics and Seismic Structure of Alaska and Northwestern Canada: EarthScope and Beyond . American Geophysical Union Wiley.
  8. Lü, Z., Lei, J., & Yang, X. (2024). Seismic structure of the Wudalianchi volcanic field in Northeast China: insights into magma reservoir and crustal magmatic plumbing systems. Bulletin of Volcanology , 86 (12), 92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-024-01782-0
  9. *Kupres, C. A., Yang, X., Haney, M., & Roman, D. C. (2024). Sustained co-eruptive increase in seismic velocity below Great Sitkin Volcano due to magma extrusion. Geophysical Research Letters , 51, e2024GL108991. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108991
  10. Yang, X ., Roman, D. C., Haney, M., Kupres, C. A. (2023). Double reservoirs imaged below Great Sitkin Volcano, Alaska, explain the migration of volcanic seismicity, Geophysical Research Letters , 50, e2022GL102438. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102438 *News coverage by Purdue EAPS *
  11. Wang, Y. , Cao, Z., Peng, L., Liu, L., Chen, L., Lundstrom, C., Peng, D., & Yang, X . (2023). Secular craton evolution due to cyclic deformation of underlying dense mantle lithosphere. Nature Geoscience . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01203-5
  12. Yang, X. , Bryan, J., Okubo, K., Jiang, C., Clements, T., & Denolle, M. A. (2022). Optimal stacking of noise cross-correlation functions. Geophysical Journal International , 232 (3), 1600–1618. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggac410 Python package (StackMaster): https://github.com/xtyangpsp/StackMaster
  13. Yang, X. , H. Gao (2020). Segmentation of the Aleutian-Alaska subduction zone revealed by full-wave ambient noise tomography: implications for the along-strike variation of volcanism, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, doi: 10.1029/2020JB019677 * ne ws release by Purdue EAPS and UMASS *
  14. Gao, H., X. Yang , M. Long, and J. Aragon (2020). Seismic Evidence for Crustal Modification Beneath the Hartford Rift Basin in the Northeastern United States, Geophysical Research Letters, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089316
  15. Lü, Z., H. Gao, J. Lei, X. Yang , S. Rathnayaka, C. Li (2019). Crustal and upper mantle structure of
    the Tien Shan orogenic belt from full-wave ambient noise tomography, Journal of Geophysical
    Research-Solid Earth
  16. Yang, X., H. Gao, S. Rathnayaka, C. Li (2019 ) . A comprehensive quality analysis of empirical Green’s functions at Ocean Bottom Seismometers in Cascadia, Seismological Research Letters, doi: 10.1785/0220180273
  17. Gilbert, H., J. Boschelli, C. Chen, X. Yang , G. Pavlis, M. Hamburger, S. Marshak, T. Larson, and J. Rupp ( in revision ). Crustal layering in the U.S. midcontinent and its role in the evolution of the Illinois Basin, Geology
  18. Yang, X. , H. Gao (2018). Full-Wave Seismic Tomography in the Northeastern United States: New Insights into the Uplift Mechanism of the Adirondack Mountains, Geophysical Research Letters , 45, * News coverage in UMass News, Phys.org, AGU GeoSpace blog *
  19. Chen, C., H. Gilbert, K. Fischer, C. Andronicos, G. Pavlis, M. Hamburger, S. Marshak, T. Larson, X. Yang (2018). Lithospheric discontinuities beneath the U.S. Midcontinent - signatures of Proterozoic terrane accretion and failed rifting, Earth and Planetary Science Letters , 481, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2017.10.033
  20. Yang, X. , G. Pavlis, M. Hamburger, H. Gilbert, C. Chen, S. Marshak, T. Larson, S. Carpenter (2017). Detailed Crustal Thickness Variations beneath the Illinois Basin Area: Implications for Crustal Evolution of the Midcontinent, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth , 122, doi: 10.1002/2017JB014150 **Highlighted by the editor " Exploring hypotheses for thick crust under the Illinois Basin "**
  21. Marshak, S., S. L. Domrois, C. Abert, T. Larson, G. L. Pavlis, M. W. Hamburger, X. Yang , H. Gilbert, and C. Chen (2017), The basement revealed: Tectonic insight from a DEM of the Great Unconformity, USA cratonic platform, Geology , doi:10.1130/G38875.1
  22. Yang, X. , G. Pavlis, Y. Wang (2016). A Quality Control Method for Teleseismic P-Wave Receiver Functions, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America , 106(5), 1948–1962, doi:10.1785/0120150347
  23. C. Chen, H. Gilbert, C. Andronicos, M. Hamburger, T. Larson, S. Marshak, G. Pavlis, X. Yang (2016). Shear velocity structure beneath the central United States: implications for the origin of the Illinois Basin and intraplate seismicity. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems , doi: 10.1002/2015GC006206
  24. X. Yi, S. Wang, L. Zhang, X. Yang (2015). Crust and upper mantle structure and its relations with magma activity of the Tengchong volcanic area. Progress in Geophysics (in Chinese) , 30(3), 1034-1038, doi: 10.6038/pg20150306
  25. . Xu, J. Liu, Z. Huang, X. Yang , C. Chen (2014). Upper Mantle Velocity Structure and Dynamic Features of the Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Journal of Geophysics (in Chinese) , 57 (12), 4085-4096, doi: 10.6038/cjg20141220
  26. Yang, X. , G. Pavlis, M. Hamburger, E. Sherrill, H. Gilbert, S. Marshak, J. Rupp, T. Larson (2014). Seismicity of the Ste. Genevieve Seismic Zone based on Observations from the EarthScope OIINK Flexible Array. Seismological Research Letters , 85(6), 1285-1294, doi: 10.1785/0220140079
  27. Y. Xu, X. Yang , J. Liu (2013). Tomographic Study of Crustal Velocity Structures in the Yunnan Region Southwest China. Chinese Journal of Geophysics (in Chinese) , 56(6), 1904-1914
  28. Y. Xu, X. Yang , Z. Li, J. Liu (2012). Seismic Structure of the Tengchong Volcanic Area Southwest China from Local Earthquake Tomography. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research , 239-240, 83-91
  29. Yang, X. , Y. Xu, J. Liu, Z. Li (2011). Seismic Tomography in the Tengchong Volcanic Area and Its Tectonic Implication. Chinese Journal of Geophysics (in Chinese) , 54(8), 2050-2059.

Contact Info

xtyang@purdue.edu

HAMP 2273

765-494-8681

Websites

Google Scholar , Geodata Science Initiative , Computational Seismology and Tectonics , Personal Website