Sep 27, 2025
SZNet for Global Science
SZNet, the international collaboration component of SZ4D, had great engagement in 2025, and as the end of the year approaches, is gearing up for a busy 2026.
International Pilot Projects
Earlier this year, a call for pilot project proposals resulted in many promising ideas for studies in both the Cascades and the Andes. From this pool, two proposals were selected for funding.
During the 2026 boreal summer, SZNet will fund a project investigating cascading hazards at Mount Hood, OR, led by Dr. Leif Karlstrom (University of Oregon).
In the austral summer 2027, SZNet will work with Dr. Pamela Jara (Universidad de Santiago de Chile) on a pilot project in the Southern Central Andes.
Both projects will involve a data collection component, and will approach subduction zone geohazard research questions through an interdisciplinary lens. These projects will engage a diverse participant cohort selected through an open application process.
SZNet has met with both leadership teams this month to begin planning, and will be keeping the scientific community apprised of all projects on our pilot project webpage. Keep an eye out for participant application forms later this year.
US & Chile Exchange Program
The application period for the 2026 US & Chile Exchange Program is ending at the end of the month. The Exchange Program subcommittee will be meeting in October to review all applications, and we are excited to introduce the 2026 cohort soon! With over 30 researchers registered as hosts, we’re looking forward to many qualified applicants!
Meet the third early career researcher from the 2025 US & Chile Exchange Program. Lucas Crisosto (GFZ Potsdam), a grad student studying the Cascadian seismic cycle, traveled to the US to work with Dr. David Schmidt at the University of Washington, Seattle. Learn more about his project and experience in this program below.
▶️ Read about the experiences of our Exchange Program participants
Meet Lucas Crisosto
About Lucas’s research project
Lucas’ research focused on numerical modeling of the seismic cycle to investigate how different rheological behaviors reproduce interseismic deformation in Central Cascadia, in collaboration with Prof. David Schmidt. Using two-dimensional models, he compared elastic, linear viscoelastic, and nonlinear viscoelastic rheologies, showing how variations in rheology generate distinct horizontal and vertical deformation patterns, and underscoring the critical role of subduction zone geometry and material properties in shaping the velocity field.
Also, Lucas explored technical aspects of seafloor geodesy, with particular emphasis on pressure gauges and GNSS-A data, in collaboration with the Applied Physics Lab and William Wilcock’s group. At UW, he examined oceanographic sources of noise and uncertainty, evaluating their influence on offshore geodetic signals and emphasizing the need for sustained offshore geodetic monitoring, especially near the trench where vertical deformation remains uncertain.
During his stay, Lucas also attended the GNSS-Acoustic Processing Short Course at Caltech in Atlanta, Georgia, supported by the SZ4D initiative. There, he gained hands-on training in deployment strategies for offshore GNSS-A, data collection, and processing using the GNATSS software. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity to connect with other researchers working on seafloor geodesy and to strengthen ties with the broader community.
This exchange marked the beginning of Lucas’ PhD research, highlighting the importance of integrating offshore and onshore geodetic observations to improve our understanding of subduction dynamics and enhance seismic hazard assessments. By bridging modelling and observational techniques, Lucas laid the groundwork for cross-disciplinary insights into subduction zone behaviour.
Lucas’ time at the University of Washington, particularly within David Schmidt’s research group, was a transformative experience that allowed him to interact closely with experts from both geophysics and marine sciences. These interactions fostered a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment that broadened his scientific perspective and significantly enriched the direction of his PhD research.
International Attendance at Meetings
SZNet is partnering with SZ4D to leverage resources to organize the 2026 Science Community Meeting, taking place in Long Beach, CA, April 20-22, 2026. This meeting is designed to innovate, break down disciplinary silos, and foster collaborative connections across the community studying geohazards that converge at subduction zones. To encourage international participation and diverse attendance, SZNet has committed to providing travel support. We will be assembling a subcommittee to review financial assistance applications, and aspire to be able to support the travel of many international and early career attendees, who might otherwise not be able to join. A travel assistance application will be released in the coming months, so please keep an eye out on this space.
Increasing Access to Legacy Data
In direct response to the virtual workshop addressing unarchived time series data that could benefit from public, open access, SZNet has compiled an array of subduction zone data repositories under a single umbrella. This resource serves as a convenient and easy way for scientists to access diverse data types to support multidisciplinary research.
This database is constantly being updated. Recent additions include the FEniCS-SZ database, an online, interactive, open-source jupyter book for modeling the thermal state of subduction zones in two-dimensions and EarthScope Earth Model Collaboration (EMC), a repository of Earth models contributed by various researchers.
If you know of relevant data repositories that are missing from this page, please fill out the submission form.
In addition to this database repository, the virtual workshop conveners produced a report outlining the community’s archival needs and proposing potential paths forward. You can read the full report below and watch any of the workshop presentations on the workshop webpage.