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What we do

Research

We investigate Earth's structure and evolution, fault systems, and changes in the subsurface through seismic observations and geophysical inversion. Explore our work by topic or by approach.

Research topics

Earth structure & tectonics

All 28

We image the crust, upper mantle, and lithosphere to investigate continental deformation, magmatism, and plate interactions. Studies of Tibet and East Asia examine lithospheric tearing, crustal partial melting, anisotropy, and the growth of mountain belts.

  1. A southern Tibetan sub-Moho Mw=4.2 earthquake breaking the brittle thermal limit

    Xiaohan Song , Simon L. Klemperer , Danian Shi , Xiaofeng Liang , Jiangtao Li , Shiba Subedi , Lok Bijaya Adhikari

    Tectonophysics · 2026

    Collaboration DOI Scholar

  2. Dual slab stagnation depths controlled by grain-size-induced sporadic low-viscosity zones at around 1000 km depth

    Jing Li , Keqing Li , Jiangtao Li , Hongzhan Fei , Jiashun Hu

    Nature Communications · 2026

    Cited by 1 Collaboration Open access DOI Scholar

  3. Fault Reactivation Above a Fossil Magmatic Structure Revealed by Dense-Array Receiver Functions and High-Resolution Earthquake Catalogs

    Yingjie Zhai , Xu Li , Jiangtao Li , Yudi Pan , Tao Yang , Boru Chen , Hanbing Ai

    Seismological Research Letters · 2026

    Mentee-led Collaboration DOI Scholar

  4. Mini-batch-based joint inversion of surface wave dispersion and gravity anomaly for high-resolution crustal velocity structure of China and its adjacent regions

    Aolin Xiong , Jiangtao Li , Yudi Pan , Hanbing Ai

    Journal of Asian Earth Sciences · 2026

    Mentee-led Collaboration DOI Scholar

Ambient noise & temporal changes

All 9

Ambient seismic noise provides a continuous probe of the subsurface. We develop interferometric methods to retrieve velocity and attenuation, and investigate how stress, hydrology, and environmental processes influence temporal changes in seismic waves.

  1. Constraining temporal changes in seismic velocity at the Xinfengjiang Reservoir using ambient seismic noise interferometry

    Runqing Huang , Yangfan Deng , Zhou Zhang , Jiangtao Li , Ying Chen , Qiu Zhong , Min Xu

    Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors · 2025

    Cited by 2 Collaboration DOI Scholar

  2. Depth-Dependent Stress Sensitivity and Its Influence on Temporal Variations in Low-Frequency Rayleigh-Wave Velocities

    Linxuan Li , Jiangtao Li , Xiaodong Song

    Seismological Research Letters · 2025

    Cited by 2 Collaboration DOI Scholar

  3. Revealing firn structure at Dome A region in East Antarctica using cultural seismic noise

    Zhengyi Song , Yudi Pan , Jiangtao Li , Hongrui Peng , Yiming Wang , Yuande Yang , Kai Lu , Xueyuan Tang , Xiaohong Zhang

    The Cryosphere · 2025

    Cited by 2 Collaboration Open access DOI Scholar

  4. Rayleigh wave attenuation tomography based on ambient noise interferometry: methods and an application to Northeast China

    Hongrui Peng , Jiangtao Li

    Geophysical Journal International · 2024

    Cited by 4 Mentee-led PI first/last Open access DOI Scholar

Earthquakes & fault systems

All 7

We combine seismic imaging and earthquake observations to study fault geometry, aftershock distributions, and the structures that influence earthquake occurrence. Recent work addresses the Gorkha earthquake and fault reactivation in southeastern Tibet.

  1. A southern Tibetan sub-Moho Mw=4.2 earthquake breaking the brittle thermal limit

    Xiaohan Song , Simon L. Klemperer , Danian Shi , Xiaofeng Liang , Jiangtao Li , Shiba Subedi , Lok Bijaya Adhikari

    Tectonophysics · 2026

    Collaboration DOI Scholar

  2. Fault Reactivation Above a Fossil Magmatic Structure Revealed by Dense-Array Receiver Functions and High-Resolution Earthquake Catalogs

    Yingjie Zhai , Xu Li , Jiangtao Li , Yudi Pan , Tao Yang , Boru Chen , Hanbing Ai

    Seismological Research Letters · 2026

    Mentee-led Collaboration DOI Scholar

  3. Constraining temporal changes in seismic velocity at the Xinfengjiang Reservoir using ambient seismic noise interferometry

    Runqing Huang , Yangfan Deng , Zhou Zhang , Jiangtao Li , Ying Chen , Qiu Zhong , Min Xu

    Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors · 2025

    Cited by 2 Collaboration DOI Scholar

  4. Machine learning-based aftershock seismicity of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake controlled by flat-ramp geometry and a tear fault

    Yeyang Kuang , Jiangtao Li

    Earthquake Science · 2025

    Mentee-led PI first/last Open access DOI Scholar

Polar & planetary geophysics

Collaborative studies extend geophysical observations to Antarctica and the Moon. Recent applications include imaging firn with cultural seismic noise, studying ice-shelf rift propagation, and inverting lunar gravity anomalies.

  1. 2.75D source approximation-based lunar gravity anomaly inversion using the Hunger Games Search (HGS) algorithm: application to the Gardner region

    Hanbing Ai , Jiangtao Li , Kejia Su

    Advances in Space Research · 2026

    Cited by 3 Mentee-led Collaboration DOI Scholar

  2. Revealing firn structure at Dome A region in East Antarctica using cultural seismic noise

    Zhengyi Song , Yudi Pan , Jiangtao Li , Hongrui Peng , Yiming Wang , Yuande Yang , Kai Lu , Xueyuan Tang , Xiaohong Zhang

    The Cryosphere · 2025

    Cited by 2 Collaboration Open access DOI Scholar

  3. Spatio‐Temporal Characteristics and Responses to Environmental Forcings of Rift Propagation on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica: Insights From Satellite Imagery and Seismic Observations

    Pei Jiang , Zemin Wang , Jiangtao Li , Baojun Zhang , Qian Li , Mingliang Liu

    Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface · 2025

    Collaboration DOI Scholar

Approaches

Tomography & joint inversion

All 19

We combine surface-wave dispersion, receiver functions, P-wave velocity constraints, and gravity observations to improve structural models. Joint inversion connects complementary measurements to the physical properties of Earth's interior.

  1. 2.75D source approximation-based lunar gravity anomaly inversion using the Hunger Games Search (HGS) algorithm: application to the Gardner region

    Hanbing Ai , Jiangtao Li , Kejia Su

    Advances in Space Research · 2026

    Cited by 3 Mentee-led Collaboration DOI Scholar

  2. Mini-batch-based joint inversion of surface wave dispersion and gravity anomaly for high-resolution crustal velocity structure of China and its adjacent regions

    Aolin Xiong , Jiangtao Li , Yudi Pan , Hanbing Ai

    Journal of Asian Earth Sciences · 2026

    Mentee-led Collaboration DOI Scholar

  3. Crustal Modification Processes of the South China Block by Paleo‐Pacific Plate Subduction: Constraints From High‐Resolution Crustal Structure

    Shitan Nie , Xiaobo Tian , Yunhao Wei , Yibing Li , Liangyu Zhang , Jiangtao Li

    Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth · 2025

    Cited by 3 PI first/last DOI Scholar

  4. Revealing firn structure at Dome A region in East Antarctica using cultural seismic noise

    Zhengyi Song , Yudi Pan , Jiangtao Li , Hongrui Peng , Yiming Wang , Yuande Yang , Kai Lu , Xueyuan Tang , Xiaohong Zhang

    The Cryosphere · 2025

    Cited by 2 Collaboration Open access DOI Scholar

Receiver functions & crustal anisotropy

All 16

Receiver functions resolve major crustal interfaces and seismic properties. Our work includes the H–κ–c method, which corrects harmonic variations before estimating crustal thickness and Vp/Vs, and its applications to anisotropy and dense-array imaging.

  1. Fault Reactivation Above a Fossil Magmatic Structure Revealed by Dense-Array Receiver Functions and High-Resolution Earthquake Catalogs

    Yingjie Zhai , Xu Li , Jiangtao Li , Yudi Pan , Tao Yang , Boru Chen , Hanbing Ai

    Seismological Research Letters · 2026

    Mentee-led Collaboration DOI Scholar

  2. Superimposed Foreland Basin Structure in the Northern Tibetan Plateau from Passive Receiver Function Imaging

    Fuyao Li , Jiangtao Li , Zhuo Ye , Qiusheng Li

    Seismological Research Letters · 2025

    Mentee-led Collaboration DOI Scholar

  3. Crustal and uppermost mantle structure of the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau from joint inversion of surface wave dispersions and receiver functions with P velocity constraints

    Pei Zhang , Xiaodong Song , Jiangtao Li , Xingchen Wang , Xuezhen Zhang

    Earthquake Science · 2024

    Cited by 3 Collaboration Open access DOI Scholar

  4. Joint Inversion of Surface-Wave Dispersions and Receiver Functions Based on Deep Learning

    Feiyi Wang , Xiaodong Song , Jiangtao Li

    Seismological Research Letters · 2024

    Cited by 5 PI first/last DOI Scholar

Machine learning in seismology

We develop and apply learning-based methods for seismic inversion and earthquake analysis, including HkNet estimates of crustal thickness and Vp/Vs, joint inversion of receiver functions and surface waves, and aftershock studies.

  1. Machine learning-based aftershock seismicity of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake controlled by flat-ramp geometry and a tear fault

    Yeyang Kuang , Jiangtao Li

    Earthquake Science · 2025

    Mentee-led PI first/last Open access DOI Scholar

  2. Joint Inversion of Surface-Wave Dispersions and Receiver Functions Based on Deep Learning

    Feiyi Wang , Xiaodong Song , Jiangtao Li

    Seismological Research Letters · 2024

    Cited by 5 PI first/last DOI Scholar

  3. Deep Learning‐Based H‐κ Method (HkNet) for Estimating Crustal Thickness and Vp/Vs Ratio From Receiver Functions

    Feiyi Wang , Xiaodong Song , Jiangtao Li

    Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth · 2022

    Cited by 19 PI first/last DOI Scholar