Dr. Xiaotao Yang

Assistant Professor

xtyang@purdue.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Associated website(s):

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

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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

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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, doi: 10.1029/2018GL078438. * news coverage in UMass News, Phys.org, and AGU GeoSpace
   blog (See Media links on personal website for details)*
4. 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
5. Yang, X. , G. Pavlis, M. Hamburger, S. Marshak, H. Gilbert, T. Larson, C. Chen, N. 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 as “Exploring hypotheses for thick crust
   under the Illinois Basin” on July 13, 2017*
6. 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
7. 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
8. Chen, C., 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
9. Xu, Y., 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
10. Xu, Y., J. Liu, Z. Huang, X. Yang (2014). Upper Mantle Velocity Structure and Dynamic Features of
    the Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Journal of Geophysics (in Chinese) , 57 (12), 4085-4096
11. 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 *news coverage in Indiana
    University News and St. Louis Public radio (See Media links on my website for details)*
12. Xu, Y., 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
13. Xu, Y., 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
14. 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.