Daniel Johnson

Daniel Johnson (1959–2005) was a researcher in the Geodesy Laboratory within the Department of Geological Sciences at Central Washington University (CWU). He specialized in geodesy, focusing on Earth deformation studies, including active faulting, volcanoes, and GPS data analysis. His work contributed to understanding slow earthquakes (episodic tremor and slip) and innovations in GPS analysis for the PANGA Data Analysis Center. Johnson held a B.S. in Geology from the University of Puget Sound (1981) and a Ph.D. in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Hawaii, where he studied magma storage in Kilauea Volcano. He passed away in a 2005 car accident alongside Tony Qamar, a collaborator on the Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array (PANGA).

His research spanned global expeditions to volcanoes in Central America, Kamchatka, Hawaii, and the Cascades, emphasizing large-scale geodetic studies. He played a key role in projects like NASA-funded fault analysis in eastern California and the Gulf of California. His legacy includes advancing geodetic methodologies and fostering collaborations that positioned PANGA as a critical component of EarthScope.