U N A V C O , A N O N - P R O F I T U N I V E R S I T Y - G O V E R N E D C O N S O R T I U M , F A C I L I T A T E S G E O S C I E N C E R E S E A R C H A N D E D U C A T I O N U S I N G G E O D E S Y.
Transforming understanding of Earth systems and hazards using geodesy.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Geo-Launchpad Interns at GSA
November 30, 2018
The 2018 Geo-Launchpad interns traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana November 3-5 to present at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA). This is the first time that the Geo-Launchpad program supported intern travel to a conference and the first time that these particular students had ever presented at a national conference. Front Range Community College provided full funding for all four participants and will do so again for the 2019 cohort.
cGPS and UAS Activities in Response to the 2018 Eruption of Sierra Negra Volcano, Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador
November 30, 2018
The Sierra Negra volcano on Isabella Island in the Galápagos Archipelago erupted spectacularly in 2005 with lava fountains reaching more than 200 meters high, and a gas/ash plume reaching 15 km altitude. Various types of data collected before, during and after that eruption gave earth scientists a better understanding of volcanic processes, some of which are unique to the Galápagos. After years of slow uplift and weeks of increasing seismic activity, the Sierra Negra volcano erupted once again on June 26th, 2018.
Data Event Response to the November 30, 2018 M 7.0 Earthquake, 13km N of Anchorage, Alaska
November 30, 2018
GPS/GNSS Real-time Data Streams Signals from this event were recorded by 22 GPS/GNSS stations within 1000 km of the epicenter operated by UNAVCO that were streaming high rate (1-sps / 1 Hz) data in real time. These data allowed peak ground displacements (PGD) to be calculated automatically from the displacement traces within seconds of the earthquake. Dynamic ground displacements of several centimeters were recorded by the real-time sites as the surface wave generated by the earthquake propagated away from the epicenter. The displacements were large enough and recorded by enough sites to determine the event to be ~M7 within 120s of the earthquake occurring.
Join UNAVCO at AGU 2018
November 14, 2018
Visit our booth, take a short course, and keep up with UNAVCO work through our staff presentations.
SCIENCE SNAPSHOTS
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Probabilities of Large Earthquakes in Alaska
February 28, 2018
A crustal deformation model for the Western United States fits geodetic and geologic observations and shows where major changes in the crust are occurring. Such modeling is critical for earthquake hazard assessments and for understanding Earth processes.
Stable North American Plate Bending and Moving After Ice Loss According to GPS
September 17, 2018
Analysis of thousands of GPS observations over decades shows the upward bending of the stable North American plate due to ice loss and horizontal contraction, mostly due to higher than expected inward velocities around the edges of the former ice sheets.
Looking for Dark Matter Passing Through the GPS Constellation
November 21, 2017
The Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation can be used to detect dark matter. Sixteen years of ground-based GPS receiver observations were utilized to look for dark matter passing near Earth. Although no dark matter was detected, the results refine the properties of the universe, the accuracies of atomic clocks and future searches for dark matter.
GPS Weighing the Loss of Antarctic Ice and the Squishy Mantle Beneath
October 26, 2018
GPS measurements in the Amundsen Sea Embayment show a rapid rise of as much as 41 millimeters per year. One reason for the rapid rise is a softer, more pliant mantle beneath the land surface. This may have implications for global sea level change forecasts.
Measuring Vegetation Health Through a California Drought with Geodetic Techniques
August 8, 2018
The health of wild vegetation during the California drought of 2012 to 2014 was measured with microwave-wavelength reflected Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements from hundreds of sites that are part of the EarthScope Plate Boundary Observatory. The geodetic data is compared to optical-wavelength measurements at collocated sites. The observations and comparisons show that three years of drought stunted growth and reduced the growing season with the late precipitation in the third year of the drought being particularly devastating to vegetation. These methods can help gauge future conditions and inform environmental impacts on humans and nature.
Tsunami Hazards in Central America
November 8, 2017
Central America faces tsunami threats along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts and at the shores of large lakes. Large earthquakes caused the most damaging tsunamis, however, landslides or volcanic eruptions can cause tsunamis around large lakes. Warning systems rely on seismic and geodetic observations. The Central American Tsunami Advisory Center (CATAC) will use these observations to help reduce losses.
Testing Geodetic Observations for Earthquake Early Warning in Alaska
August 31, 2017
An analysis of the 2016 Iniskin earthquake shows how GPS sites in Alaska may augment earthquake early warning. For a large magnitude earthquake that originates at a shallow depth, information from GPS can provide some warning before the shaking arrives in populated areas such as Anchorage. The geodetic data can rapidly and precisely define the earthquake properties to help with response and triggered hazards such as landslides and tsunamis.
Last modified: Wednesday, 12-Dec-2018 17:19:14 UTC
2018