Active Tectonics

In the Active Tectonics Laboratory, we use the techniques called Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and GNSS to measure Earth’s surface position and movement through time. We can use this technique to monitor surface movement before, during, and after earthquakes. We can also apply the same technique to monitor surface deformation related to glacial movements, volcanic activities, hydrologic cycles, landslide hazards, and land subsidence due to anthropogenic activities. Additionally, we develop near-surface geophysics tools to study critical zone, the boundary between the bottom of groundwater and the top of tree canopies, which the skin of Earth that supports our eco-system. We attempt to understand the processes behind tectonic uplift, weathering and erosion, and how different components can shape our landscape and make Earth the way we see it today.