Susan Hough

Susan Hough is a seismologist with the United States Geological Survey who specializes in earthquake hazards and historical seismicity. Her work includes compiling historical earthquake catalogs and analyzing seismic activity patterns, particularly in Southern California, to better understand earthquake risk.

Yes, Hough has authored several books for general audiences, including "Predicting the Unpredictable: The Tumultuous Science of Earthquake Prediction" and "Earthshaking Science." She is known for making complex seismological topics accessible to non-specialists.

Hough has been a prominent voice in the scientific debate over whether reliable earthquake prediction is achievable. She has generally expressed skepticism about short-term prediction, arguing that the current state of science supports probabilistic forecasting of hazard rather than precise predictions of individual events.

Much of Hough's research centers on Southern California and the broader Pacific Ring of Fire, where she studies active fault systems like the San Andreas Fault. She also works on compiling and reanalyzing catalogs of historical earthquakes, including significant 19th-century events predating modern instrumentation.