Teaching Schedule
Tu,Th 9:30-11, EPS 50
M 2-3, EPS 24
Th 3:30-5, EPS 255

Office Hours
W 2:30-5

B.S., 1954 (Geology) Taiwan National University
Ph.D., 1964 (Geological Sciences) Harvard

Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley, 1967-1972
Associate Professor, 1972-1982
Professor, 1982-present

Interaction of water with earthquakes: Earthquake-induced hydrological changes, including liquefaction, groundwater changes and streamflow increases during and after earthquakes. The objective is to understand the mechanism(s) that causes these changes. My basic approach includes data analysis and quantitative testing of the models with data. Work on this aspect has been in collaboration with Michael Manga, Doug Dreger and Alex Wong of the EPS department and Chung-Ho Wang of the Academia Sinica, and Yeeping Chia  of the National University of Taiwan. In collaboration with Michael Manga, I have studied the meteoritic impacts on Mars and the pressurization of the Martain cryosphere as possible mechanisms for causing catastrophic floods that cut the outflow channels.

Active tectonics: Active tectonics of the San Andreas fault system and the Coast Ranges in California and the mountain-building processes in Taiwan, in search of an understanding on the mechanism(s) that controls the active tectonic processes. My approach includes both forward and inverse modeling of the geophysical data and quantitative modeling to test the models. Work on this aspect has been in collaboration with David Jones of this department, Yongen Cai of Peking University, and Jian Zhang of the Graduate School of the National Academy of Science of China in Beijing. I am also interested in the hydrological, mechanical and thermal processes in subduction zones and basins. Work on this aspect has been in collaboration with Yaolin Shi of the National Academy of Science of China in Beijing and Xinong Xie of the China Geological University in Wuhan.  

1964-1967 Geophysicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
1967-1972 Assistant professor, University of California
1972-1982 Associate professor, University of California
1982- Professor, University of California

EQK-streamflow2004.pdf
Europa2007.pdf
Mars-freeze2006.pdf
Mars-impact2005.pdf
water from mtns2004.pdf


Refereed publications in press and in review:

Manga, M. and C.-Y. Wang, 2007, Earthquake hydrology, Treatise of Geophysics, (in press).

Wang, C.-Y., M. Manga, and J. Hanna, 2006, Can freezing cause floods on Mars? Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L20202, doi:10.1029/2006GL027471. 

Wang, C.-Y., A. Wong, D. Dreger, and M. Manga, 2006, Liquefaction Limit during Earthquakes and Underground Explosions - Implications on Ground-motion Attenuation, Bull. Seismo. Soc. Am., 96, 355-363. 

Wang, C.-Y., M. Manga, and A. Wong, 2005, Floods on Mars released from groundwater by impact, Icarus, 175, 551-555. 

Wang, C.-H., C.-Y. Wang, C.-H. Kuo, and W.-F. Chen, 2005, Some isotopic and hydrological changes associated with the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, Taiwan , Island Arc, 14, 37-54. 

Cai, Y., and C.-Y. Wang, 2005, Fast finite-element calculation of gravity anomaly in complex geological regions, Geophys. Journ. Int., 162, 696-708. 

Wang, C.Y., C.-H. Wang, and M. Manga, 2004, Coseismic release of water from mountains: Evidence from the 1999 (Mw = 7.5) Chi-Chi , Taiwan , earthquake, Geology, 32, 769-772. 

Wang, C.Y., D. Dreger, M. Manga, A. Wong, 2004, Streamflow increase due to rupturing of hydrothermal reservoirs: Evidence from the 2003 San Simeon , California , earthquake, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L10502, doi:10.1029/2004GL020124. 

Wang, C.-Y., C.-H. Wang, and C.-H. Kuo, 2004, Temporal change in groundwater level following the 1999 (Mw = 7.5) Chi-Chi earthquake, Taiwan , Geofluids, 4, 210-220. 

Zhang, J., C.-Y. Wang, Y. Shi, Y. Cai, W.C. Chi, D. S. Dreger, W.-B. Cheng, Y.-H. Yuan, 2004, 3D crustal structure of Central Taiwan from gravity inversion with parallel genetic algorithm, Geophysics, 69, 917-924. 

Wang, C.Y., D.S. Dreger, C.-H. Wang, D. Mayeri, J.G., Berryman, 2003, Field relations among coseismic ground motion, water level change and liquefaction for the 1999 Chi-Chi (Mw= 7.5) earthquake, Taiwan , Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, doi:10.1029/2003GL017601. 

Wang, C.-Y., L.-H. Cheng, C.-V. Chin, and S.B. Yu, 2001, Coseismic hydrologic response of an alluvial fan to the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, Taiwan, Geology, 29, 831-834.

Wang, C.-Y., and X. Xie, 1998, Hydrofracturing and episodic fluid flow in shale-rich basins: A numerical study, Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 82, 1857-1869.

Wang, C.Y., and Y. Cai, 1997, Sensitivity of earthquake cycles on the San Andreas fault to small changes in regional compression, Nature, 388, 158-161.

Wang, C.-Y., M.-J. Wang, P.-T. Sun, and G.-P. Liang, 1997, Fluid migration between fault-bound basins on the South China margin, Proc. 30th Int'l Geol. Congr., 8, 1-16.

Shi, Y., and C.-Y. Wang, 1997, Thermo-tectonic effects of the Mendocino triple junction migration, Acta Geophys. Sinica, 40, 231-238.

Shi, Y., and C.-Y. Wang, 1997, Thermal modeling of the formation of the light-colored granites in the high Himalayas, Acta Geophys. Sinica, 40, 667-675.

Wang, C.-Y., Y. Cai, and D.L. Jones, 1995, Predicting crustal failure in the Greater San Francisco Bay area, Geology, 23, 771-774. 

Wang, C.-Y., Hwang, W.T., and Cochrane, G.B., 1994, Tectonic dewatering and mechanics of protothrust zones: Example from the Cascadia accretionary margin, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 20,043-20,050.

Hwang, W.T., and C.-Y. Wang, 1993, Sequential thrusting model for mountain building: Constraints from geology and heat flow from Taiwan, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 9963-9973.

Wang, C.-Y., and Y. Sun, Oriented microfractures in Cajon Pass drill cores: Stress field near the San Andreas fault, J. Geophys. Res., 95, 11135-11142, 1990.

Wang, C.-Y., Y. Shi, W.-T. Hwang, and H. Chen, Hydrogeologic processes in the Oregon-Washington accretionary complex, 95, 9009-9023, 1990.

Wang, C.-Y., Continental lithospheric rifting and thermal evolution - Application to the Tyrrhenian Sea and the North China Plain, in Terrane Analysis of China and the Pacific Rim, eds.: T.J. Wiley, D.G. Howell, and F.L. Wong, CircumPacific Council Energy Mineral Resources, Earth Science Series, 13, 347-354, 1990.

Shi, Y., C.-Y. Wang, and R. von Huene, Modeling of pore pressure, central Peru margin, Proc. Ocean Drilling Program, Sci. Results, 112, 1930-1939, 1990.

Wang, C.-Y., Okaya, D.A., Ruppert, C., Davis, G.A., Guo, T.S., Zhong, Z., and Wenk, H.R., Seismic reflectivity of the Whipple Mountain shear zone in Southern California, J. Geophys. Res., v. 94, 2989-3005, 1989.

Shi, Y., C.-Y. Wang, and W. Hwang, and R. von Huene, Hydrogeological modeling of porous flow in the Oregon accretionary prism, Geology, 17, 321-323, 1989.

Shi, Y., and C.Y. Wang, The effect of steady state creep on quality factor Q, in Advances in Geophysics in China During the 1980s, Acta Geophys. Sinica, 32, 342-349, 1989.

Guo, Z., X. Shi, and C.-Y. Wang, The effect of water on stick-slip sliding in rocks, Acta Geophys. Sinica, 32, 307-312, 1989.

Wang, C.-Y., Hwang, W.T., and Shi, Y., Thermal evolution of a rift basin: the Tyrrhenian Sea, J. Geophys. Res., v.94, 3991-4006, 1989.

Shi, Y., and Wang, C.-Y., Generation of high pore pressures in accretionary prisms: Inferences from the Barbados subduction complex, J. Geophys. Res., v.93, 8893-8910, 1988.

Shi, Y., C.-Y. Wang, M.G. Langseth, M. Hobart, and R. vonHuene, Heat flow and thermal structures of the Washington-Oregon accretionary prism - A study of the lower slope, Geophys. Res. Lett., 93, 8893-8910, 1988.

Shi, Y., and C.-Y. Wang, Two-dimensional modeling of the P-T-t paths of regional metamorphism in simple overthrust terrains, Geology, 15, 1048-1051, 1987.

Wang, C.-Y., R. Fong, Z. Yao, and X. Shi, Gravity anomaly and density structure of the San Andreas fault zone, Pure Appl. Geophys., 124, 127-140, 1986.

Wang, C.-Y., and Y. Shi, volution of pore pressures in the fold-and-thrust belt of western Taiwan, Acta Geol. Taiwan., 24, 211-236, 1986.

Shi, Y., and Wang, C.-Y., Pore pressure generation in sedimentary basins: overloading versus aquathermal, J. Geophys. Res., v.91, 2153-2162, 1986.

Hirsch, L., L.M., and C.-Y. Wang, Carrier mobility in the presence of dislocation, Geophys.. Res. Lett., 13, 487-490, 1986.

Hirsch, L.M., andC.-Y. Wang, Electrical conductivity of olivine during high temperature creep, J. Geophys. Res., 91, 10424-10442, 1986.

Shi, X.J., Z.Q. Guo, C.-Y. Wang and T. Hasegawa, Direct measurements of stick-slip and shear fracture energy of granite at elevated pressures, Geophys. Res. Lett., 13, 1027-1030, 1986.

Shi, Y., and C.-Y. Wang, High pressure generation in sediments in front of the Barbados Ridge complex, Geophys. Res. Lett., 11, 773-776, 1985. 

Wang, C.-Y., On the constitution of the San Andreas fault, J. Geophys. Res., v.89, 5858-5866, 1984.

Shi, J., and C.-Y., Wang, Instability on a weakening fault, PAGEOPH, 122, 478-491, 1984/85.

Wang, C.-Y., and Y. Shi, On the thermal structure of subduction complexes: a preliminary study, J. Geophys. Res., v.89, 7709-7718, 1984.

Wang, C.-Y., Y. Shi, and W. Zhou, The dynamic uplift of the Himalaya, Nature, 298, 553-557, 1982.

Chu, C.L., and C.-Y. Wang, Time-dependent volumatric constitutive relation for fault-gouge and clay at high pressure, in Issues in Rock Mechanics, eds.: R.E. Goodman and F.E. Heuze, Soc. Min. Eng., New York, 1982.

Wang, C.Y., Y. Shi and W.-H. Zhou, On the tectonics of the Himalaya and the Tibet Plateau, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 2949-2957, 1982.

Wang, C.-Y., H.J. Mei, and Y. Chen, A preliminary study of the P-velocities of the Yarlung-Zangbo ophiolites and tentative reconstruction of the structure of the Tethys oceanic crust, in Proc. Symp. Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, Science Press, Beijing, 831-840, 1981.

Chu, C., W. Lin and C.-Y., Wang, Permeability and frictional properties of San Andreas fault gouge, Geophys. Res., Lett., 8, 565-568, 1981.

Dey, T.N., and C.-Y. Wang, Some mechanisms of microcrack growth and interaction in compressive rock failure, Intl. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 18, 199-210. 1980.

Chen, Y., and C.-Y. Wang, Thermally induced acoustic emission in Westerly granite, Geophys. Res. Lett., 7, 10891092, 1980.

Wang, C.-Y., Sediment subduction and frictional sliding in a subduction zone, Geology, 8, 530-533, 1980.

Wang, C.-Y., Mao, N.H., and F.T. Wu, Mechanical properties of clays at high pressure, J. Geophys. Res., 85, 1462-1468, 1980.

Lin, W., and C.-Y. Wang, P-wave velocities in rocks at high-pressure and temperature and the constitutiton of the central California crust, Geophys. J. Roy. Astro. Soc., 61, 379-389, 1980.

Wang, C.-Y., and N.H. Mao, Shearing of saturated clays in rock joints at high-confining pressures, Geophys. Res. Lett., 6, 825-828, 1979.

Wang, C.-Y., N.H. Mao, and F.T. Wu, The mechanical property of montmorillonite clay at high pressure and implications of fault behavior, Geophys. Res. Lett., 6, 476-479, 1979.

Wang, C.-Y., P.M. Sundaram and R.E. Goodman, Electrical resistivity changes in rocks during frictional sliding and fracture, PAGEOPH, 116, 717-728, 1978.

Wang, C.-Y., W. Lin and F.T. Wu, Constitution of the San Andreas fault zone at depth, Geophys. Res. Lett., 5, 741-744, 1978.

Wang, C.-Y., Some aspects of the Tangshan (China) earthquake of 1976, Chinese Geophys., 1, 157-166, 1978.

Nelson, A.S., and C.-Y. Wang, Non-destructive observation of internal cracks in stressed rocks, Intl. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 14, 103-112, 1977.

Sundaram, P.N., R.E. Goodman, and C.-Y. Wang, Precursory and coseismic water pressure variations in stick-slip experiments, Geology, 4, 108-111, 1976.

Wang, C.-Y., The velocity ratio for rocks with oriented microcracks, Nature, 248, 579-582, 1974.

Wang, C.-Y., R.E. Goodman and P.N. Sundaram, Variations of Vp and Vs in granite premonitory to shear rupture and trike-slip slding: Application to earthquake prediction, Geophys. Res. Lett., 2, 309-312, 1975.

Bolt, B.A., and C.-Y. Wang, The present status of earthquake prediction, CRC Critical Rev. Solid State Sci., 5, 125-135, 1975.

Wang, C.-Y., R.E. Goodman, P.N. Sundaram and H.F. Morrison, Electrical resistivity of granite in frictional sliding: Application to earthquake prediction, Geophys. Res. Lett., 2, 525--527, 1975.

Wang, C.-Y., W. Lin and H.-R. Wenk, The effect of water and pressure on velocities of elastic waves in a foliated rock, J. Geophys. Res., 80, 1065-1074, 1974.

Wang, C.-Y., Earthquake prediction and oriented microcracks in rocks, Nature, 251, 405-408, 1974.

Wang, C.-Y., Pressure coefficients of compressional wave velocity for a bronzitite, J. Geophys. Res., 79, 771-780, 1974.

Wang, C.-Y., Shear elastic constant of C44 and phase transformations of KCl, Nature, 243, 294-297, 1973.

Wang, C.-Y., and M. Meltzer, Propagation of sound waves in a rock undergoing phase transitions, J. Geophys. Res., 78, 1293-1298, 1973.

Wang, C.-Y., Temperature in the lower mantle, Geophys. J.R. Astron. Soc., v.27, 29-36, 1972.

Wang, C.-Y., A simple Earth model, J. Geophys. Res., v.77, 4318-4329, 1972.

Wang, C.-Y., Phase change in the upper mantle above 350 km, Nature, 227, 938-941, 1970.

Wang, C.-Y., Density and constitution of the mantle, J. Geophys. Res., 75, 3264-3273, 1970.

Wang, C.-Y., Can mantle minerals have the NiAs structure? In Phase Transformations and the Earth's Interior, eds., A.E. Ringwood and D.H. Green, 213-222, North-Holland Pub., Amsterdam, 1970.

Wang, C.-Y., Equation of state of periclase and some of its geophysical implications, J. Geophys. Res., 74, 1451-1460, 1969.

Wang, C.-Y., Shock-wave data for several minerals and their implication on mineral phases in the lower mantle, Nature, 218, 560-563, 1968.

Wang, C.-Y., Ultrasonic study of phse transition in calcite to 20 kilobars and 180 oC, J. Geophys. Res., 37, 3937-3946, 1968.

Wang, C.-Y., Constitution of the lower mantle as evidenced from shock-wave data for some rocks, J. Geophys. Res., 73, 6456-6465, 1968.

Wang, C.-Y., Electrical reistance of manganin coil to 7 kilobars and 200 oC, Rev. Sc. Instrum., 38, 24-33, 1967.

Wang, C.-Y., Phase transitions in rocks under shock compression, Earth Planet. Lett., 2, 107-116, 1967.

Wang, C.-Y., Velocity of compressional waves in limestones, marbles and a single crystal of calcite to 20 kilobars, J. Geophys. Res., 71, 3543-3552, 1966.

Wang, C.Y., Earth's zonal deformation, J. Geophys. Res., 71, 1713-1720, 1966.

Wang, C.-Y., Westward drift of the satellite geoid, Nature, 211, 504-507, 1966.

Wang, C.-Y., Some geophysical implications from gravity and heat flow data, J. Geophys. Res., 71, 5629-5634, 1965.