Erik Fredrickson

Erik Fredrickson is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Geophysics within the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. His work focuses on seafloor geodesy, with expertise in subduction zone dynamics, slow slip events, and tectonic deformation monitoring. He is affiliated with the Institute for Geophysics and uses advanced instrumentation like tilt accelerometers and pressure gauges.

His research emphasizes calibrating seafloor instruments to distinguish tectonic signals from oceanographic noise, particularly in critical zones like Cascadia, Hikurangi, and Alaska margins. Recent studies include analyzing decade-long geodetic datasets to understand near-trench megathrust slip behavior and optimizing sensor configurations for detecting slow-slip earthquakes.

Key contributions include developing self-calibrating tilt measurement methods and advancing circulation-informed geodetic techniques to better characterize plate boundary processes. His work bridges geophysics, oceanography, and tectonics to improve hazard assessment and monitoring strategies.

Erik’s research has been applied to both subduction zone studies (e.g., Hikurangi, Cascadia) and volcanic systems like Axial Seamount. He collaborates extensively on field campaigns deploying seafloor instruments and refining data analysis frameworks to isolate tectonic deformation signals.