Víctor Manuel Cruz‑Atienza

Research

Curiosity, creativity, intuition, passion and discipline.

I’m interested in the physics of earthquakes, from the rupture process to the seismic site effects. I develop theory to look for and interpret observations in terms of physically-consistent fault processes and properties of the solid earth. Data inversion techniques and forward modeling are my primary tools. I’m involved with the earthquake source dynamics, slow earthquakes, wave propagation and the earth structure.

Scientific projects

Ongoing

• NSFQuantifying incoming plate hydration and role of fluids on megathrust properties in and around the Guerrero Gap, offshore Mexico Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (Columbia University, USA) and Instituto de Geofísica, UNAM · 2022–2025 · co-PI · Video: Normal modes of marine geophysics
• SATREPSHazard Assessment of Large Earthquakes and Tsunamis in the Mexican Pacific Coast for Disaster Mitigation Mexico–Japan bilateral cooperation (JICA-JST-UNAM-CENAPRED) · 2016–2022 · Mexican PI · Documentary, National Journalism Award 2018
• CONACyTEstimación del Peligro Sísmico y Tsunamigénico en la Brecha Sísmica de Guerrero para la Prevención de Desastres No. 6471, Problemas Nacionales · 2019–2022 · PI
• PAPIITSlow Slip Events (SSE) and interplate coupling in the Mexican subduction zone and La Venta-Chacalapa fault system as the constituents of the seismic cycle No. IG100921 · 2021–2023 · co-PI

Former

• PAPIITAssessment of the Seismic and Tsunamigenic Potentials in the Guerrero Seismic GapNo. IG100617 · 2017–2019 · co-PI
• CONACyTSeismic and Tsunamigenic Hazard Assessment in the Guerrero Seismic GapNo. 273832 · 2016 · PI
• PAPIITAnalysis of tectonic tremors in south-central Mexico and poroelastic modeling of the associated slow earthquakesNo. IN113814 · 2014–2016 · PI
• CONACyTDeterministic modelling of strong motions from large expected earthquakes in the Himalayas and Central MexicoNo. 164056, Mexico–India bilateral cooperation · 2011–2013 · Mexican PI
• Marie CurieHigh Performance Computing for Geophysical Applications (HPC-GA)International Research Staff Exchange Scheme, No. 295217, European Commission · 2012–2014 · Mexican PI
• CONACyTToward the integration of a regional velocity model for numerical simulation of ground motions in the Valley of MexicoNo. 80205 · 2009–2011 · PI
• PAPIITDynamic source inversion of Mexican earthquakesNo. IN119409 · 2009–2011 · PI
• InternalThe seismic cycle: aftershocks, rupture speed and friction2008 · PI

A glance at earlier work

• The 1992 Landers earthquake: effects of fault geometry during the 3D spontaneous rupture
• Dynamically consistent 3D ground motion predictions: earthquake simulations
• Dynamic rupture scenarios for Southern California: stochastic stresses in realistic media
• 3D wave propagation in the Nice area: topographic and bathymetric effects
• 2D dynamic rupture: numerical modeling of nonplanar faults in heterogeneous media
• 3D non-planar rupture under tectonic load: homogeneous space and heterogeneous half space

Team

Teaching

Scientific outreach

Los Sismos. Una Amenaza Cotidiana

Book · La Caja de Cerillos Ediciones, 2013 · ISBN 978-607-8205-05-9 · more than 25,000 copies sold

• Book presentation press release (PDF)
• Interview on CNN with Carmen Aristegui (link)
• Interview on Canal 22 with Laura Barrera (link)
• Interview on Canal 11 with Javier Solórzano (link)
• Interview on TV Azteca with Iván Carrillo (link)

• Television, radio and magazine interviews
• Sismociones Libres