Lada L. Dimitrova

Enhanced Surface Imaging of Crustal Deformation

In the last few decades increased GPS monitoring has provided detailed insight into distributed deformation. As the density of GPS stations increases, it becomes even more important to develop advanced analytic methods to use the data to image the deformation of the continental crust and upper mantle and in particular the subsurface deformation sources. Capturing high resolution measurements of crustal deformation and strain rate measurements is fundamental in understanding the underlying mechanisms and dynamics of continental deformation and allows better recognition and assessment of seismic hazards. Vertical derivatives of horizontal stress (VDoHS) rates are the horizontal-component surface manifestation of all subsurface deformation. In this book, we outline how VDoHS rates can be obtained from GPS velocity data without regard to the precise nature and location of the subsurface source or the rheology of the underlying medium, and show examples of how VDoHS rates can be used in practice.