- Benjamin S. Murphy
- Geology & Geophysics
- ben@murphygeo.com
- Resume
- Links
Resume
Scientific Interests and Expertise
- Electromagnetic Geophysics
- Synthesizing Geophysical, Geochemical, and Geological Data and Observations
- Geoelectric Hazards and Space Weather
- GIS for Geological and Geophysical Applications
- Python for Scientific Computing
Education
- Ph.D., Geology & Geophysics, Oregon State University (Summer 2019)
- International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) School (Summer 2019)
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (seismic reflection short course) (Summer 2015)
- B.A., Geology and Physics, Pomona College (Spring 2013)
- Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience (SAGE) (Summer 2012)
- University of New Mexico Geology Field Camp (Summer 2012)
- Arizona State University (GIS coursework) (Summer 2011)
Experience
- Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow at the U.S. Geological Survey
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- geophysics for mineral system exploration · geoelectromagnetic hazards
- (September 2019 - Present)
- Consultant for QuakeFinder (R&D division of Stellar Solutions, Inc.)
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- long-term frequency-domain magnetic field data processing and analysis
- (January 2017 - June 2018)
- Staff Scientist at S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc.
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- data analysis and management · groundwater modeling support · software development
- (June 2013 - August 2014)
Fellowships, Awards, and Honors
- Phi Kappa Phi (2019)
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (2016 - 2019)
- Oregon State University Wrolstad Memorial Geophysics Scholarship (2017)
- Oregon State University Maurice Mundorff Memorial Fellowship (2016)
- Sigma Xi (2013)
- Phi Beta Kappa (2013)
- Pomona College Mason L. Hill Memorial Award in Geology (2013)
- Pomona College Richard P. Edmunds Physics Prize (2013)
- Barry M. Goldwater Scholar (2012)
- Pomona College Richard E. Strehle Memorial Award for Field Geology (2012)
- Mineralogical Society of America Undergraduate Prize (2012)
- Pomona College Tileston Freshman and Sophomore Physics Prizes (2010, 2011)
- National Merit Scholar (2009)
- Eagle Scout (awarded 2006)
Scientific Publications
- M.D. Hartinger, X. Shi, G.M. Lucas, B.S. Murphy, A. Kelbert, J.B.H. Baker, E.J. Rigler, P.A. Bedrosian Simultaneous Observations of Geoelectric and Geomagnetic Fields Produced by Magnetospheric ULF Waves. Geophysical Research Letters 47(18), (2020).
- J.J. Love, A. Kelbert, B.S. Murphy, E.J. Rigler, K.A. Lewis, Geomagnetism Program Research Plan, 2020-2024. United States Geological Survey Circular 1469, (2020).
- E. Marshalko, M. Kruglyakov, A. Kuvshinov, B.S. Murphy, L. Rastaetter, C. Ngwira, A. Pulkkinen, Exploring the influence of lateral conductivity contrasts on the storm time behavior of the ground electric field in the eastern United States. Space Weather 18(3), (2020).
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Synthesizing Seemingly Contradictory Seismic and Magnetotelluric Observations in the Southeastern United States to Image Physical Properties of the Lithosphere. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 20(6), 2606-2625 (2019).
- B.S. Murphy, L. Liu, G.D. Egbert, Insights Into Intraplate Stresses and Geomorphology in the Southeastern United States. Geophysical Research Letters 46(15), 8711-8720 (2019).
- A. Kelbert, P.A. Bedrosian, B.S. Murphy, The First 3D Conductivity Model of the Contiguous United States: Reflections on Geologic Structure and Application to Induction Hazards. In Geomagnetically Induced Currents from the Sun to the Power Grid, Geophysical Monograph Series 244 (American Geophysical Union).
- M.S. DeLucia, B.S. Murphy, S. Marshak, G.D. Egbert, The Missouri High-Conductivity Belt, revealed by magnetotelluric imaging: Evidence of a trans-lithospheric shear zone beneath the Ozark Plateau, Midcontinent USA? Tectonophysics 753, 111-123 (2019).
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Source biases in midlatitude magnetotelluric transfer functions due to Pc3-4 geomagnetic pulsations. Earth, Planets and Space 70:12 (2018).
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Electrical conductivity structure of southeastern North America: Implications for lithospheric architecture and Appalachian topographic rejuvenation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 462, 66-75 (2017).
- B.S. Murphy, R.R. Gaines, J.S. Lackey, Co-Evolution of Volcanic and Lacustrine Systems in Pleistocene Long Valley Caldera, California, USA. Journal of Sedimentary Research 86(10), 1129-1146 (2016).
- R.J. Mawhorter, B.S. Murphy, A.L. Baum, T.J. Sears, T. Yang, P.M. Rupasinghe, C.P. McRaven, N.E. Shafer-Ray, L.D. Alphei, J.U. Grabow, Characterization of the ground X1 state of 204Pb19F, 206Pb19F, 207Pb19F, and 208Pb19F. Phys. Rev. A 84, 022508 (2011).
- L.D. Alphei, J.U. Grabow, A.N. Petrov, R. Mawhorter, B. Murphy, A. Baum, T.J. Sears, T.Zh. Yang, P.M. Rupasinghe, C.P. McRaven, N.E. Shafer-Ray, Precision spectroscopy of the 207Pb19F molecule: Implications for the measurement of P-odd and T-odd effects. Phys. Rev. A 83, 040501 (2011).
Popular Publications
Conference Abstracts
- B.S. Murphy, G.M. Lucas, J.J. Love, A. Kelbert, P.A. Bedrosian, E.J. Rigler, The Effect of Magnetotelluric Spatial Data Sampling in Geoelectric Hazard Estimation. AGU Fall Meeting, GP14-09 (2020). [Virtual Poster Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, M.S. DeLucia, S. Marshak, P.A. Bedrosian, D. Ravat, Geoelectric Images of the Eastern US Midcontinent: Implications for Tectonic History and Mineral Resource Potential. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 52, 6 (2020). [Virtual Poster Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, J.M. Huizenga, P.A. Bedrosian, Tracing Crustal-Scale Fluid Pathways Under Cover with Magnetotelluric Imaging. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 52, 6 (2020). [Virtual Poster Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, P.A. Bedrosian, A. Kelbert, Magnetotelluric Insights into the Lithospheric Architecture and Geodynamic History of the Appalachian Domain. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 52, 6 (2020). [Invited Virtual Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, L. Liu, G.D. Egbert, Integrating Seismic and Magnetotelluric Constraints on Lithospheric Properties to Explore the Geodynamic Origin of the Southeastern US Stress Field. Seismological Research Letters (SSA Annual Meeting) 91, 2B (2020). [Invited Oral Presentation; Meeting Canceled]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, P.A. Bedrosian, A. Kelbert, Magnetotelluric Insights into the Lithospheric Architecture and Geodynamic History of the Eastern United States. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 52, 2 (2020). [Meeting Canceled]
- B.S. Murphy, L. Liu, G.D. Egbert, Geodynamic Origin of the Southeastern US Stress Field and Large-Scale Appalachian Geomorphology. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 52, 2 (2020). [Meeting Canceled]
- B.S. Murphy, A. Kelbert, G.D. Egbert, Electromagnetic Induction Forward Modeling with Non-Uniform Ionospheric Sources to Explore Spatial Patterns in Three-Dimensional MT Arrays. AGU Fall Meeting, GP11A-04 (2019). [Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Synthesizing Seemingly Contradictory MT and Seismic Results to Image Lithospheric Properties beneath the Southeastern United States. 27th IUGG General Assembly, IUGG19-3693 (2019). [Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Building a Continent: Using Array Processing and Visualization to Map the Geoelectric Expression of Major Crustal Sutures across the US. 27th IUGG General Assembly, IUGG19-3695 (2019). [Invited Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, L. Liu, G.D. Egbert, Using 3D electrical conductivity as a proxy for lithospheric viscosity in geodynamic modeling: An example from the southeastern United States. 27th IUGG General Assembly, JA08p-340 (2019). [Poster Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Resolving Thick Thermal Lithosphere beneath the Southeastern United States: The Importance of Anelasticity in Synthesizing Seemingly Contradictory MT and Seismic Results. AGU Fall Meeting, T53B-02 (2018). [Oral Presentation]
- E. Ivannikova, M. Kruglyakov, A.V. Kuvshinov, L. Rastaetter, A.A. Pulkkinen, C. Ngwira, B.S. Murphy, 3-D Storm Time Ground Geoelectric Field Modeling for the Northeastern United States. AGU Fall Meeting, IN43B-06 (2018). [Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Lithospheric magnetotelluric imaging for regional mineral resource exploration. Society of Economic Geologists 2018 Meeting (Keystone, CO) (2018). [Poster]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Synthesizing Seemingly Contradictory MT and Seismic Results to Image Thick Thermal Lithosphere beneath the Southeastern United States. 24th EM Induction Workshop (Helsingør, Denmark), S6.0-P609 (2018). [Poster]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Source Biases in Magnetotelluric Transfer Functions due to Pc3/4 (~10-100s) Geomagnetic Pulsations at Mid-Latitudes. 24th EM Induction Workshop (Helsingør, Denmark), S1.0-P120 (2018). [Poster]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Mapping Induced Electromagnetic Fields across the Continental United States. 24th EM Induction Workshop (Helsingør, Denmark), S1.0-T114 (2018). [Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Surprises from the Magnetotelluric Component of the USArray in the Eastern United States: Perplexing Anticorrelations with Seismic Images and Puzzling Insights into Continental Dynamics. AGU Fall Meeting, S42A-04 (2017). [Invited Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Source Biases in Magnetotelluric Transfer Functions due to Pc3/Pc4 (~10-100s) Geomagnetic Activity at Mid-Latitudes. AGU Fall Meeting, GP31A-06 (2017). [Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Sutures and an Anomalous Deep Lithospheric Electrical Resistor in the Southeastern United States as Revealed by EarthScope Magnetotelluric Data. AGU Fall Meeting, T51G-3018 (2016). [Poster]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Electrical Conductivity Signature of the New York - Alabama Lineament as Revealed by Initial 3D Inversions of EarthScope Magnetotelluric Data. 23rd EM Induction Workshop (Chiang Mai, Thailand), (2016). [Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, Application of the Matrix Logarithm to Interpretation of Magnetotelluric Impedance Tensor Data. 23rd EM Induction Workshop (Chiang Mai, Thailand), (2016). [Poster]
- B.S. Murphy, Intracaldera Sedimentation in the Miocene Cottonwood Creek Caldera, Nevada, USA. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 48, (2016). [Oral Presentation]
- B.S. Murphy, G.D. Egbert, E.D. Humphreys, Testing Magnetotelluric Constraints on the Physical State of the Yellowstone Plume. AGU Fall Meeting, V31E-3070 (2015). [Poster]
- B.S. Murphy, PyKrige: Development of a Kriging Toolkit for Python. AGU Fall Meeting, H51K-0753 (2014). [Poster]
- K.W. Murphy, B.S. Murphy, A.W. Ellis, Dual Heuristics for Assessment of Hydrologic Sensitivities to Climate Change in Watersheds of the Lower Colorado Basin. AGU Fall Meeting, H11G-0958 (2014). [Poster]
- J.S. Lackey, J.S. Miller, G.R. Davies, J.L. Eisenberg, B.S. Murphy, Deconvoluting magma mixing and source characteristics of a long lived (approximately 9 M.Y.) Sierra Nevada magmatic complex; O, Hf and trace elements of zircon from the John Muir Suite. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 45, 390 (2013). [Poster]
- J.S. Lackey, C.L. Sendek, J.S. Miller, B.S. Murphy, A.A. Fulton, I.N. Bindeman, R. Economos, A. Kylander-Clark, G.R. Davies, A Mojave perspective on volcanic-plutonic systems in California's Middle Jurassic arc. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 45, 691 (2013). [Poster]
- L. Pellerin, M. Gallegos, M. Goebel, B.S. Murphy, J. Smith, D. Soto, J. Swiatlowski, C. Volk, M. Welch, D.W. Feucht, B. Hollingshaus, P.A. Bedrosian, D.K. McPhee, Mapping the edge of the Cerros del Rio volcanic field, New Mexico: a piece of the puzzle to understanding a potential geothermal resource. AGU Fall Meeting, NS23A-1645 (2012). [Poster]
- B.S. Murphy, R.R. Gaines, J.S. Lackey, Soft Rocks in a Restless Caldera: The Long Valley Caldera-Fill Sediments. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 44, (2012). [Oral Presentation]
- A.R. Zilberfarb, J.S. Lackey, C.L. Sendek, J.L. Eisenberg, B.S. Murphy, L.A. Ferguson, N.A. Raschick, N.D. Simpson, I.N. Bindeman, Variable Recycling of Anomalous Low-δ18O Proterozoic Crust in the Ord Mountains, Mojave Desert, CA. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 44, 281 (2012). [Poster]
- B.S. Murphy, K.S. Metcalfe, G. Ruiz, L.G. Curtin, S.R. Chestler, J.C. Penido, J.K. Muller, E.B. Grosfils, Magma reservoir rupture beneath a Venusian edifice: When does lithospheric flexure become significant? 43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 1060 (2012). [Poster]
- J.S. Lackey, J.S. Miller, B.S. Murphy, D.S. Coleman, A. Schmitt, G.R. Davies, Sources and assembly of the John Muir intrusive suite, Sierra Nevada, USA: Single zircon oxygen and hafnium isotope records. Hutton Symposium on the Origin of Granites 7, 85 (2011). [Poster]
- A. Baum, R. Mawhorter, B. Murphy, T.J. Sears, T.Zh. Yang, P.M. Rupasinghe, C.P. McRaven, N.E. Shafer-Ray, L.D. Alphei, J.U. Grabow, High Resolution Rotational Spectroscopy Study of the Zeeman Effect in the 2Π1/2 Molucule PbF. 66th International Symposium On Molecular Spectroscopy (2011). [Poster]
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Links
- rock collecting sites across the US and the globe · popular-science musings · Arizona geology · western history
- ordinary kriging, universal kriging, and more in pure Python · now part of the GeoStat-Framework
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If a volcano erupts in the Archean and leaves no geologic record, did it really happen?
Page last updated on 4/5/2020