# Kate Hutton > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kate_Hutton > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kate_Hutton.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Hutton > Source revision: 1341817402 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American seismologist}}{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Kate Hutton | fields = [Seismology](/source/Seismology) | alma_mater = [Pennsylvania State University](/source/Pennsylvania_State_University) (B.A., 1971), [University of Maryland, College Park](/source/University_of_Maryland%2C_College_Park) (M.S. 1973, Ph.D. 1976) | workplaces = [California Institute of Technology](/source/California_Institute_of_Technology) | image = }} '''Kate Hutton''', nicknamed the '''Earthquake Lady''', '''Dr. Kate''', or '''Earthquake Kate''', is a former staff [seismologist](/source/seismology) at the [California Institute of Technology](/source/California_Institute_of_Technology) in [Pasadena](/source/Pasadena%2C_California), [California](/source/California), where she monitored Southern California's earthquake activity for 37 years.{{Cite web|url=http://palmspringshamfest.com/?team=dr-kate-hutton|title=Dr Kate Hutton|website=Palm Springs Hamfest|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-15}} == Background == While Hutton was growing up, her family lived in several states and spent six years in [Taiwan](/source/Taiwan).{{Cite web|title=In Quake Role, She's Not Rattled : Caltech Seismologist in Demand to Answer Questions|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-11-ga-13095-story.html|date=1987-10-11|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-19}} She was interested in all kinds of [natural science](/source/natural_science)s, and she decided to stay in the fields of [math](/source/Mathematics) and science.{{Cite web |title=Dr. Katherine “Kate” Hutton. The Earthquake Lady |url=https://ctago.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Kate-Hutton.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308121815/https://ctago.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Kate-Hutton.pdf |archive-date=2022-03-08 |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=CTA}} Hutton was an amateur astronomer in her teens.{{Cite web|title=Kate Hutton: 'That Earthquake Lady'|url=http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/people/2014/01/17/kate-hutton-earthquake-lady|date=2014-01-17|website=www.advocate.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-19}} Hutton received a B.S. in [astronomy](/source/astronomy) from [Pennsylvania State University](/source/Pennsylvania_State_University) in 1971, and an M.S. (1973) and Ph.D. (1976) in astronomy from the [University of Maryland, College Park](/source/University_of_Maryland%2C_College_Park). == Scientific career == After graduating with her Ph.D., Hutton says she found astronomy jobs scarce, so switched careers. She sees astronomy and seismology as similar: "Earth is a planet, after all, so it's sort of a matter of looking down rather than looking up." In 1977, she began work at Caltech's seismology lab as a [data analyst](/source/Data_analysis). She worked her way up to senior seismologist and was in charge of operating Caltech's earthquake measuring program and also conducted research. Hutton's academic research areas in [seismology](/source/seismology) included magnitude measurement,{{Cite journal|last1=Uhrhammer|first1=R. A.|last2=Hellweg|first2=M.|last3=Hutton|first3=K.|last4=Lombard|first4=P.|last5=Walters|first5=A. W.|last6=Hauksson|first6=E.|last7=Oppenheimer|first7=D.|date=2011-12-01|title=California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN) Local Magnitude Determination in California and Vicinity|journal=Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America|volume=101|issue=6|pages=2685–2693|doi=10.1785/0120100106|bibcode=2011BuSSA.101.2685U |issn=0037-1106|url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/29162/1/Uhrhammer2011p17022B_Seismol_Soc_Am.pdf}} [seismotectonics](/source/seismotectonics),{{Cite journal|last1=Hauksson|first1=Egill|last2=Jones|first2=Lucile M.|last3=Hutton|first3=Kate|date=1995-07-10|title=The 1994 Northridge earthquake sequence in California: Seismological and tectonic aspects|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth|language=en|volume=100|issue=B7|pages=12335–12355|doi=10.1029/95JB00865|bibcode=1995JGR...10012335H |url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/35695/1/95JB00865.pdf}} and the development of the [Southern California Seismic Network](/source/Southern_California_Seismic_Network).{{Cite journal|last1=Yang|first1=Wenzheng|last2=Hauksson|first2=Egill|date=2013-04-22|title=The tectonic crustal stress field and style of faulting along the Pacific North America Plate boundary in Southern California|journal=Geophysical Journal International|volume=194|issue=1|pages=100–117|doi=10.1093/gji/ggt113|issn=1365-246X|doi-access=free}} Hutton worked on a project to improve the consistency of the “earthquake catalog”, which is a list of over 400,000 southern California quakes recorded since 1932. She also worked on the development of earthquake safety programs, such as the statewide [Earthquake Early Warning System](/source/Earthquake_warning_system), which could provide early notice of an earthquake and mitigate casualties and damage.{{Cite web|title=Experts Warn Of Public 'Amnesia' Two Decades After Northridge Quake|url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/09/26/experts-warn-of-public-amnesia-two-decades-after-northridge-quake/|date=2014-09-26|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-19}}{{Cite news|last=Nagourney|first=Adam|date=2013-03-20|title=Progress Stalls in California on Earthquake Warnings|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/us/california-lags-behind-on-a-quake-warning-system.html|access-date=2020-05-25|issn=0362-4331}} Hutton retired from Caltech on Jan 30, 2015.{{Cite web|title=It's official "Earthquake Lady" Dr. Kate Hutton, famed Caltech seismologist has retired -- today was her last day.|url=https://twitter.com/jacknoyesknbc/status/561332749965864961?lang=en|last=KNBC|first=Jack Noyes|date=2015-01-30|website=@jacknoyesknbc|language=en|access-date=2019-01-15}}{{Cite web|title=The Big One - Part Two|url=http://alpenhornnews.com/the-big-one-part-two-p6491-155.htm|last=|first=|date=|website=alpenhornnews.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-19}} == Public outreach == Starting in the 1980s and 1990s, Hutton regularly appeared in the media alone and sometimes with her [United States Geological Survey](/source/United_States_Geological_Survey) colleague [Dr. Lucy Jones](/source/Lucy_Jones) to inform the public about recent earthquakes in Southern California and abroad.{{Cite news|last=Mathews|first=Jay|date=1986-07-09|title=Strongest Earthquake in 7 Years Strikes Southern California|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/07/09/strongest-earthquake-in-7-years-strikes-southern-california/1aaec78e-6d89-490b-9a29-da8f546322ed/|access-date=2020-05-20|issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web|title=Shaking Up Stereotypes : Caltech 'Earthquake Ladies' Give Science a Human Face|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-04-ca-1219-story.html|date=1992-07-04|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-19}}{{Cite web|title='Quake Lady' Tries to Calm Rattled Nerves|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-30-me-52229-story.html|date=1994-04-30|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-19}}{{Cite web|title=Poor building codes, perfect-storm earthquake led to massive destruction in Haiti, experts say|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/poor-building-codes-perfect-storm-earthquake-led-to-massive-destruction-quake-experts-say.html|date=2010-01-13|website=LA Times Blogs - L.A. NOW|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-19}} Hutton was “very successful and highly valued” at Caltech because of her ability to communicate complex topics clearly and accurately to the public. Hutton was also sought out by international news organizations from Japan, Korea, Sweden, and France for her explanations of earthquakes. According to [LA Weekly](/source/LA_Weekly), "Hutton strikes just the right balance between calm and caution" in explaining earthquake science to viewers.{{cite news|author=Gendy Alimurung|date=2006-04-19|title=Epicenter of Cool: Dr. Kate Hutton|publisher=[LA Weekly](/source/LA_Weekly)|url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/epicenter-of-cool-2142916|accessdate=2016-02-12}} == Personal life == Hutton is a licensed [amateur radio](/source/amateur_radio) (ham radio) operator and has been involved with the Palm Springs [Hamfest](/source/Hamfest).{{Cite web|title=Speakers|url=http://palmspringshamfest.com/speakers/|website=Palm Springs Hamfest|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-20}} She is also the Section Traffic Manager for the Los Angeles Section of the [American Radio Relay League](/source/American_Radio_Relay_League), which calls itself "the national association for amateur radio."{{Cite web|title=ARRL Los Angeles Section - ARRL LAX|url=http://www.arrllax.org/index.php?page=about-us|website=www.arrllax.org|access-date=2020-05-27}}{{Cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.arrl.org/home|website=www.arrl.org|access-date=2020-05-27}} Hutton has been an [out](/source/coming_out) [lesbian](/source/lesbian) since 1984, and is often listed as a "lesbian icon." She gave a tour of the Caltech seismology lab for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Scientists group.{{Cite web|url=http://queerstoryfiles.blogspot.com/2013/03/earthquakes-and-dinosaurs-tale-of-two.html|title=The Queerstory Files: Earthquakes and Dinosaurs - A Tale of Two Kates|last=Scupham-bilton|first=Tony|date=2013-03-15|website=The Queerstory Files|access-date=2019-01-15}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([WP:NOTRS](/source/WP%3ANOTRS)).|date=January 2025}} Hutton was the consulting seismologist for the 1990 [monster movie](/source/monster_movie) ''[Tremors](/source/Tremors_(1990_film))'' starring [Kevin Bacon](/source/Kevin_Bacon)''.''{{Cite web|title=LGBT History Month 2013 {{!}} LGBT Hero {{!}} Kate Hutton {{!}} polarimagazine.com|url=http://www.polarimagazine.com/lgbt-history-month/lgbt-history-month-heroes-day-20/|date=2013-02-20|website=Polari Magazine|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-20}} She also appeared in the 1981 [Nostradamus](/source/Nostradamus) documentary-movie ''[The Man Who Saw Tomorrow](/source/The_Man_Who_Saw_Tomorrow)''.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} ==References== {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hutton, Kate}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American seismologists Category:Women seismologists Category:American women geologists Category:LGBTQ people from California Category:American LGBTQ scientists Category:Scientists from California Category:California Institute of Technology faculty Category:Eberly College of Science alumni Category:University of Maryland, College Park alumni Category:20th-century American geologists Category:21st-century American geologists Category:20th-century American women scientists Category:21st-century American women scientists Category:Lesbian academics Category:Lesbian scientists Category:American women academics Category:20th-century American women physicists --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kate Hutton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Hutton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Hutton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.