Faculty
Dr. Yu received his bachelor and master degrees in geophysics from Peking University in 2007 and 2010, respectively. He earned his PhD degree in geophysics from MIT in 2016. Between 2016 and 2018, he was a postdoctoral researcher in the Caltech Seismological Laboratory. In early 2019, he joined the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at Southern University of Science and Technology as an Associate Professor. Dr. Yu’s main research interests include observational seismology, seismic imaging of Earth’s internal structures and earthquake source characterization. He has published more than 30 papers in journals such as Nature, Science Advances, Nature Communication, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, EPSL, GRL, JGR, GJI, SRL, BSSA etc. Currently, he serves as an Associate Editor for the AGU journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems (G-Cubed) and general secretary of the Seismological Commission of the Chinese Geophysical Society.
Education
Ph.D Geophysics Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA 2010 - 2016
MSc. Geophysics Peking University China 2010
BSc. Geophysics Peking University China 2007
Experience
Associate professor Earth and Space Sciences, SUSTech 2019-now
Postdoctoral scholar Seismological Laboratory, Caltech 2016 - 2018
Professional internship Chevron 2014 summer
Honors & Awards
Shell-MIT Energy Fellowship 2011-2012
MIT Presidential Fellowship 2010-2011
Outstanding Person Award of SinoPec 2009
Beijing Outstanding Graduate Award 2007
Research
Observational seismology: seismic data acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation
Seismic imaging of Earth's interior: crust-mantle structure, mantle transition zone structure
Earthquake source properties: earthquake depth determination, earthquake focal mechanism
Publications
37. Yu, C., Goes, S., Day, E. A., & Van Der Hilst, R. D. (2023). Seismic evidence for global basalt accumulation in the mantle transition zone. Science Advances, 9(22), eadg0095. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg0095
36. Yu, C.Q., Li J., Yang F., Zhang Y., (2022). Advances in seismic imaging of mantle transition zone discontinuities. Reviews of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, 53(0): 1-21 (in Chinese). doi:10.19975/j.dqyxx.2022-034.
35. Goes, S., Yu, C.Q., Ballmer M.D., Yan J., and van der Hilst R. D., (2022), Compositional heterogeneity in the mantle transition zone, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1–18, doi: 10.1038/s43017-022-00312-w.
34. Zhou, P., Chevrot, S., Lehujeur, M., Xia, S., & Yu, C.Q., (2022). Eikonal surface wave tomography of central and eastern China. Geophys. J. Int. 231(3), 1865-1879.
33. Yu, C.Q., Castellanos, J.C., Zhan, Z., (2020). Imaging strong lateral heterogeneities across the contiguous US using body‐to‐surface wave scattering. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB020798
32. Lai, V.H., Graves, R.W., Yu, C.Q., Zhan, Z., Helmberger, D.V., (2020). Shallow basin structure and attenuation are key to predicting long shaking duration in Los Angeles Basin. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth, 125. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB019663
31. Liu, T., Klemperer, S.L., Yu, C.Q., Ning, J., (2020). Post-critical SsPmp and its applications to virtual deep seismic sounding (VDSS)—3: back-projection imaging of the crust–mantle boundary in a heterogeneous lithosphere, theory and application. Geophys. J. Int., 223, 2166–2187. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaa332
30. Liu, T., Klemperer, S. L., Ferragut, G., & Yu, C.Q. (2019). Post-critical SsPmp and its applications to virtual deep seismic sounding (VDSS) 2. 1D imaging of the crust/mantle and joint constraints with receiver functions. Geophys. J. Int., 219(2), 1334–1347. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggz370
29. Yu, C.Q., Hauksson, E., Zhan, Z., Cochran, E. S., & Helmberger, D. V. (2019). Depth determination of the 2010 El Mayor‐Cucapah earthquake sequence (M ≥ 4.0). J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth, 2018JB016982. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016982
28. Yu, C.Q., Zhan, Z., Hauksson, E., Cochran, E. S., & Helmberger, D. V. (2019). Determining Moho depth beneath sedimentary basins using regional Pn multiples. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 109(3), 1171–1179. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120180325
27. Yu, C.Q., Zhan Z., Lindsey Nathaniel J., Ajo-Franklin Jonathan B., Robertson Michelle. (2019), The potential of DAS in teleseismic studies: Insights from the Goldstone experiment. Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, doi: 10.1029/2018GL081195.
26. Chao, K., Yu, C.Q.(2018), A MATLAB GUI for examining triggered tremor: A case study in New Zealand, Seismol. Res. Lett., doi:10.1785/0220180057.
25. Liu, T., Klemperer S.L., Yu, C.Q., Ning, J. (2018), Post-critical SsPmp and its applications to virtual deep seismic sounding (VDSS)--1: sensitivity to lithospheric 1-D and 2-D structure, Geophys. J. Int., doi: 10.1093/gji/ggy307.
24. Yu, C.Q., Day, E.A., de Hoop, M.V., Campillo, M., Goes S., Blythe R.A., van der Hilst, R.D. (2018), Compositional heterogeneity near the base of the mantle transition zone beneath Hawaii. Nat. Commun., 9(1), 1266, doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03654-6
23. Yu, C.Q., Day, E.A., de Hoop, M.V., Campillo, M., van der Hilst, R.D. (2017), Mapping mantle transition zone discontinuities beneath the Central Pacific with array processing of SS precursors. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth, doi: 10.1002/2017JB014327.
22. Yu, C.Q., Zhan Z., Hauksson E., Cochran E. (2017), Strong SH-to-Love wave scattering off the Southern California Continental Borderland. Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, doi: 10.1002/2017GL075213.
21. Yue, H., Castellanos, J.C., Yu, C.Q., Meng, L., Zhan, Z. (2017), Localized water reverberation phases and its impact on backprojection images, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, doi:10.1002/2017GL073254.
20. Prieto G.A., Froment B., Yu, C.Q., Poli P., Abercrombie R. (2017), Earthquake rupture below the brittle-ductile transition in continental lithospheric mantle, Science Advances, 3(3), doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1602642.
19. Yu, C.Q., Zheng, Y.C., Shang, X.F. (2017), Crazyseismic: A MATLAB GUI-based software package for passive seismic data preprocessing, Seismol. Res. Lett., 88(2A), 410-415, doi: 10.1785/0220160207.
18. Zhang, H., Zhao J., Zhao D., Yu, C.Q., Liu H., Hu Z. (2016), Complex deformation in western Tibet revealed by anisotropic tomography, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 451, 97-107, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.07.020.
17. Zhang, H., Zhao D., Yu, C.Q., Zhao J. (2016), Varying deformation patterns in central Tibet revealed by radial anisotropy tomography, J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth, 121, doi:10.1002/2016JB012832.
16. Yu, C.Q., Chen, W.-P., Van der Hilst, R.D. (2016), Constraints on residual topography and crustal properties in the western United States from virtual deep seismic sounding, J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth, 121, doi: 10.1002/2016JB013046.
15. Kang, D., Yu, C.Q., Ning, J., Chen, W.-P. (2016), Simultaneous determination of crustal thickness and P wavespeed by virtual deep seismic sounding (VDSS), Seismol. Res. Lett., 87(5), 1104-1111, doi: 10.1785/0220160056
14. Poli, P., Prieto, G., Yu, C.Q., Florez, M., Agurto-Detzel, H., Mikesell, T., Dionicio, V., Pedraza, P. (2016), Complex rupture of the M6.3 March 10, 2015 Bucaramanga earthquake: evidence of strong weakening process, Geophys. J. Int., 205(2), 988-994, doi: 10.1093/gji/ggw065
13. Becker, T.W., Lowry A.R., Faccenna C., Schmandt B., Borsa A., Yu, C.Q.(2015), Western US intermountain seismicity caused by changes in upper mantle flow, Nature, 524(7566), 458-461, doi: 10.1038/nature14867
12. Rader, E., Emry, E., Schmerr N., Frost D., Cheng C., Menard J., Yu, C.Q., Geist D. (2015), Characterization and petrological constraints of the midlithospheric discontinuity, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 16(10), 3484-3504, doi: 10.1002/2015gc005943
11. He, R.Z., Shang, X.F., Yu, C.Q., Zhang, H.J., Van der Hilst, R.D. (2014), A unified map of Moho depth and Vp/Vs ratio of continental China by receiver function analysis, Geophys. J. Int., 199(3), 1910-1918, doi: 10.1093/gji/ggu365
10. Tian Y., Ning J.Y., Yu C.Q., Cai C., and Tao K. (2013), Focal mechanism solutions of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake sequence from P-wave polarities and SH/P amplitude ratios: new results and implications, Earthquake Sci., 26, 357-372, doi: 10.1007/s11589-014-0067-y
9. Yu, C.Q., Chen, W.-P., Van der Hilst, R.D. (2013), Removal of source-side scattering for virtual deep seismic sounding (VDSS), Geophys. J. Int., 195(3), 1932-1941, doi: 10.1093/gji/ggt359
8. Chen, W.-P., Yu, C.Q., Tseng, T.-L., Yang, Z.H., Wang, C.-Y., Ning, J.Y., Leonard, T. (2013), Moho, seismogenesis, and rheology of the lithosphere. Tectonophysics, 609, 491-503, doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.12.019
7. Yu, C.Q., Chen, W.-P., Ning, J.Y., Tao, K., Chen, Y.S., Teng, T.-L., Fang, X.D., and Van der Hilst, R.D. (2012), Thick crust beneath the Ordos Plateau: Implications for instability of the North China craton, Earth and Planet. Sci. Lett., 357, 366-375, 10.1016/j.epsl.2012.09.027
6. Cai C., Yu C.Q., Tao K., Hu X.P., Tian Y., Zhang H., Cui X.F., and Ning J.Y. (2011), Spatial distribution and focal mechanism solutions of the Wenchuan earthquake series: Results and Implications, Earthquake Sci., 24, 115-125, doi: 10.1007/s11589-011-0775-5
5. Tang, Y. C., Feng, Y. G., Chen, Y. S. J., Zhou, S. Y., Ning, J. Y., Wei, S. Q., et al. (2010). Receiver function analysis at Shanxi Rift. Chinese J. Geophys. -CH, 53(9), 2102–2109. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0001-5733.2010.09.010
4. Liu J., Tang Y., Tao K., Yu C.Q., Chen, J., Ning, J., Chen Y.J., Feng, Y. (2010), A new stacking technique in ambient noise tomography, Earthquake Sci., 23(6), 627–636, doi: 10.1007/s11589-010-0761-3.
3. Yu C.Q., Tao K., Cui X.F., Hu X.P, and Ning J.Y. (2009), P-wave first-motion focal mechanism solutions and their quality evaluation, Chinese J. Geophys. -CH, 52,1402-1411.
2. Lou X.T., Cai C., Yu C.Q., and Ning J.Y. (2009), Intermediate-depth earthquakes beneath the Pamir-Hindu Kush region: Evidence for collision between two opposite subduction zones, Earthquake Sci., 22, 659-665, doi: 10.1007/s11589-009-0659-0
1. Hu X.P., Yu C.Q., Tao K., Cui X.F., Ning J.Y., and Wang Y.H. (2008), Focal mechanism solutions of Wenchuan earthquake and its strong aftershocks obtained from initial P wave polarity analysis, Chinese J. Geophys. -CH, 51, 1711-1718.