Friday Seminar: (April 9th, 2021) Dr. Emma Hill (Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University)

Geodetic and paleogeodetic studies along the Sumatran subduction zone

Emma Hill, Earth Observatory of Singapore and Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Abstract

Since 2004, the Sumatra subduction zone has been one of the most active on the planet, generating 30 moderate to great earthquakes (including four Mw>8) that produced complex patterns of postseismic deformation. All these events were recorded by the Sumatran GPS Array (SuGAr). In this talk, we will present some of the things we’ve learned from studying nearly two decades of SuGAR data. We will also discuss how these results fit into long-term behavior along the subduction zone as inferred from paleogeodetic observations from corals. We’ll talk about the varied slip behavior we see at persistent barriers to great earthquake ruptures, 15-32-year-long slow slip events, tsunami earthquakes, and more! We’ll also highlight the utility of GNSS networks for climate and sea-level studies in addition to tectonics.