Observations of the Earthquake Cycle from European Space Agency (ERS) and Advance Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR)

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Sandwell 0105896 Synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) is a relatively new tool for monitoring deformations of the surface of the earth associated with earthquakes, volcanoes, and groundwater subsidence. Sparse networks of GPS receivers provide accurate ground motions over a limited number of points while the space-based InSAR technique provides higher spatial resolution (~100 m) and global access but poor temporal resolution. Suitable civilian SAR satellites have been flown by the European Space Agency (ERS-1 and ERS-2) as well as by the Japanese Space agency (JERS-1 and ALOS - 2003 launch date). These data are largely unexplored and are of enormous value for assessing the earthquake risk in Southern California. The investigators will use these data to monitor co-seismic, post-seismic, and inter-seismic crustal deformation. Published models of the earthquake cycle predict that much of the diagnostic crustal strain occurs within 10 km of the fault zone and thus it will not be observed by the relatively coarse distribution of GPS monuments ( 10 km spacing). The proposed tasks include: development of high-resolution topographic models for accurate removal of topographic phase from change interferograms; estimation of the depth distribution of slip on the 1999 Hector Mine rupture; examination of post-seismic slip at the Landers and Hector Mine ruptures in relation to the earthquake cycle models; monitoring creep rate and creep depth along major faults in Southern California; development of a boundary-element model of the Southern California fault system; and preparation for L-band SAR data to be collected by the Japanese ALOS mission.