Geodetic Imaging of Earthquakes and Landslides

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

0102-NPP-NOV
26-JPL-Earth Sci

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

This research spans several aspects of understanding the dynamics and structure of the Earth's crust and mantle to assess and mitigate hazards from earthquakes, landslides, and land subsidence. The main techniques include measurements of surface deformation and topography with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry with both satellite and airborne SAR (NASA UAVSAR), pixel offset tracking on SAR and optical images, GPS, seismometer waveforms, and gravity measurements.

Time series analysis of the SAR interferometry and other data is a key part of the research. We then infer the structure and dynamics at depth using viscoelastic and elastic models, wave propagation, and flexure modeling. Much of the research involves understanding what has been called the earthquake cycle: interseismic strain accumulation within the crust, coseismic slip on faults during earthquakes, and postseismic deformation due to the response of the Earth's lithosphere to the redistribution of stress after earthquakes.

This includes characterization of the properties of fault zones and the surrounding rocks. The goal of this research is to understand how faults interact with each other and the Earth's crust and mantle to better assess the hazard of earthquakes, including the probability of future events and their probable size distributions. Another area of study is the mechanics of landslides, where rock and soil move largely on subhorizontal surfaces that have similarities to faults.

The goal is to understand the processes that control the rate of landslide motion, including the catastrophic failure that is a major natural hazard worldwide. Results from both earthquake and landslide research are provided to operational agencies, including the USGS, to enable the broad use for decision-making activities and provide benefits to society.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Pasadena, California

Earth Science

Eric J. Fielding

Eric.

J.Fieldinga.gov

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Mikeala

• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.