InSAR and Great Earthquakes

Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) has been used to repeatedly measure very small changes in elevation (2-3 mm) over very large areas of the Earth’s surface (>10,000 km2). These elevation changes have been associated with volcanic activity, ground water subsidence, or deformation associated with active faults. If crustal deformation, expressed as anomalous areas of uplift and subsidence within active fault zones, predates great (MW7.0 and greater) earthquakes, then a systematic study of surface deformation prior to historic seismic events may provide a new method to predict great earthquakes. By monitoring the history of topographic anomalies along active fault zones using SAR interferometry; Calzia expects to see anomalies develop, grow, and collapse with time. If a consistent history of surface deformation and seismicity emerges from this research, then SAR interferometry offers a new and powerful tool to predict great earthquakes in seismically active regions.

Publications:

Calzia, J.P., 2006, InSAR and Great Earthquakes: Calibrating InSAR images: AGU Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA

Calzia, J.P., 2005, InSAR and the Hector Mine Earthquake: Crustal deformation v atmospheric anomaly: EOS Transactions AGU, (86)52, Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract G51C-0849 (also presented at 16th Pecora Conference Global Priorities in Land Remote Sensing, Oct 24-26, 2005, Sioux Falls, SD

Calzia, J.P., Zhong Lu, Russell Rykhus, and Benjamin Sleeter, 2004, InSAR and the Hector Mine earthquake, southwestern Mojave Desert, CA: American Geophysical Union Abstracts with Program, v. 85, p. F582-583