Use of DInSAR to Assess Stress in the Wabash Seismic Zone

EarthzineOriginal, Spring 2013 VPS

NASA SRTM imagery displaying terrain elevation within the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. Image Credit: DEVELOP

NASA SRTM imagery displaying terrain elevation within the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. Image Credit: DEVELOP

NASA SRTM imagery displaying terrain elevation within the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. Image Credit: DEVELOP

Author: Matthew Warbritton

Mentors/Advisers (affiliation): Dr. Ana Londo̱o (Mentor), Dr. Megan L. Hart (Mentor)

Team Location: Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri

Abstract: Critical lifelines, infrastructure, and facilities that serve the central and western United States may be affected in the future by another catastrophic earthquake event generated within the Wabash and New Madrid Seismic Zones. Understanding recurrence intervals, magnitudes, and localized response of an earthquake site shaking will assist those who site, design, maintain, and manage various aspects of infrastructure, including long-frequency critical lifelines and utility lines. While more attention has been drawn toward the New Madrid Seismic Zone, this study focused on the less-studied Wabash Seismic Zone (WSZ). The team applied high-resolution differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) to document minute ground deformation in the WSZ. The team also analyzed high-resolution, time dependent DInSAR data to document the rate and accumulation of strain occurring to assist in earthquake hazard mapping. DInSAR data and analysis clarified the location of ground deformation, and the relationship with previously mapped faults. These data have the potential to determine the impact of major earthquakes on the St. Louis metro area and assist in resilient and sustainable infrastructure.