Sergio Leon-Rios

Sergio Leon-Rios is a Researcher at the Advanced Mining Technology Center (AMTC) within the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile. He specializes in seismology and geophysics, focusing on subduction zone dynamics and earthquake mechanics. His work involves seismic tomography, coseismic slip modeling, and Vp/Vs ratio analysis to understand rupture propagation and seismic hazard assessment.

His recent research compares seismic velocity anomalies with coseismic slip distributions for megathrust earthquakes in the South American subduction zone, particularly the 2016 Pedernales (Ecuador) and 1995 Antofagasta (Chile) earthquakes. By analyzing Vp/Vs ratios, he identifies mechanical 'sweet spots' for sustained rupture propagation and structural barriers defined by extreme velocity anomalies.

His contributions include developing 3D seismic velocity models, integrating geodetic and seismological data, and applying grid search techniques to predict rupture scenarios. He collaborates with institutions like Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, University of East Anglia, and Universidad de Chile.