Investigating Crustal Deformation and Seismic Hazard with PS-InSAR

Knowledge of rates of crustal strain accumulation in earthquake fault zones is essential in testing models of continental deformation and estimating likely seismic hazard. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) has the potential to map rates of strain accumulation globally. The InSAR technique that takes advantage of those ground elements dominated by permanent, point-like scatterers (PS-InSAR) enables the full range of radar data to be exploited and provides precise estimates of ground movements. PS-InSAR has been very successful in mapping uplift and subsidence in urban environments. The aim of this project is to do the same for estimating rates of crustal strain accumulation, and hence seismic hazard, around major towns and cities in seismically active areas, and to extend the technique to non-urban areas. The student project involves three strands: (1) Determination using PS-InSAR of the rate of strain accumulation and slip rates on faults lying beneath or adjacent to one of the major towns or cities in the western Alpine-Himalayan belt. (2) Application of PS-InSAR to faults in a second, non-urban area with similar climatic conditions and topographic relief to the first. (3) Integration of the PS-InSAR studies with other Earth Observation data and seismic observations in models for the seismic hazard and tectonics of the areas of study. The project bring together two partners, the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford, and Fugro NPA Ltd. They bring complementary skills to the project and through it they will exchange these skills, and transfer them both to the wider community and into further commercial opportunities. This will benefit both the agencies concerned with seismic hazard in the countries involved and the national economy.