Satellite-Based Measurements of crustal deformation along the northern Dead Sea fault

Since 2002, we have been collaborating with Lebanese and American partners to conduct annual GPS survey campaigns in Lebanon.  The aim of these activities is to constrain present-day crustal strain within the large, 200-km-long restraining bend along the northern Dead Sea fault.  The latest results (shown at left) are reported in Gomez et al. (GJI, 2007).

Complementing the GPS measurements, other research activities involve the application of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to measure crustal deformation.  Current efforts focus on the application of persistent scatterer InSAR to assess deformations resulting from tectonic and surficial processes.

Researchers:
Paco Gomez, Rani Jaafar (graduate student)

Support:
NSF Grant EAR-0439021
UMC Research Council
ESA Category-1 Project  C1201

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last updated March 5, 2007.