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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Chuck Meertens Retires from UNAVCO
September 1, 2020
Dr. Charles (Chuck) Meertens retired from UNAVCO after 35 years of service to the geodetic community. Chuck was a founding employee of the UNAVCO Facility in 1984.
RFI: Seeking Expressions of Interest from IRIS and UNAVCO Member Institutions for Hosting Future Geophysical Facilities
June 22, 2020
UNAVCO and The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), both university consortia, are interested in identifying member institutions that may be willing to host one or more functions of a future (post-2023) merged UNAVCO-IRIS organization.
Data Event Response to the July 22, 2020 M 7.8 Simeonof, Alaska Earthquake
July 22, 2020
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred at 06:12:44 UTC (22:12:42 local) on July 22, 2020, 105 km SSE of Perryville, Alaska. The event occured within the Network of the Americas (NOTA) footprint.
Data Event Response to the June 24, 2020 M 5.8 Earthquake 18km SSE of Lone Pine, CA
June 24, 2020
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred at 17:40:49 UTC (10:40:49 local) on June 24, 2020, 18 km SSE of Lone Pine, California. The event occured within the Network of the Americas (NOTA) footprint.
Data Event Response to the June 23, 2020 M 7.4 Earthquake 12 km SSW of Santa María Zapotitlán, Mexico
June 23, 2020
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred at 15:29:05 UTC (10:29:05 local) on June 23, 2020, 12 km SSW of Santa María Zapotitlán, Mexico. The event occured within the Network of the Americas (NOTA) footprint.
UNAVCO's Statement on Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Justice
June 15, 2020
In light of the recent events that dramatically illuminate the inequities of our country, the staff of UNAVCO reaffirm our values and share actions we are planning to address inclusion. This means taking a hard look at our current organization and culture.
SCIENCE SNAPSHOTS
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Catching a Tall Building’s Response to an Earthquake with GPS
February 25, 2020
An 86-floor tall, steel-sculpted concrete building in Kuwait was shaken by a moment magnitude 7.3 earthquake far away at the Iran-Iraq border. The building’s shaking was captured by GPS sites, on the top of the building, and others near ground level. The ground shook with amplitudes of about 40 millimeters while the building shook up to 160 millimeters. Such observations can help to understand a building’s response to an earthquake and to improve building design in response to large stresses.
Long Distance GNSS Wobbles Preceded Massive Subduction Zone Earthquakes
May 19, 2020
GNSS observations show surface horizontal displacements of 4 to 8 millimeters wobbling back and forth for more than five months and over thousands of kilometers before massive subduction zone earthquakes in Japan and Chile. Detailed modeling of the dense geodetic data for the Japan earthquake suggests a fluid-triggered slab pull helping to initiate a massive event.
Tracking Interactions of the Sun, the Moon and Earth with GNSS for the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse
March 03, 2019
The 21 August 2017 total solar eclipse across the United States blocked solar radiation and influenced the ionosphere and the rest of the atmosphere. The total electron content (TEC) in the ionosphere was measured with UNAVCO’s network of U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS)/ Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) ground-based sites and other geodetic sites across the country.
Measuring Snow Properties with Laser Scanning and Radar
March 26, 2020
A novel combination of ground penetrating radar and terrestrial LiDAR scanning provides details about the state of seasonal snowpack in Colorado without destroying the snow layers. Testing shows high variability in volumetric liquid water contents. The rapid changes in the amount of liquid water occurred in small areas over short time periods. Understanding the state of a snowpack is important for managing water resources.
Using GNSS Reflected Signals to Track Storm Surge
June 1, 2020
Geodetic stations at two coastal sites in Hong Kong were able to measure storm surge from Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, using GNSS Interferometric Reflectometry (GNSS-IR). Adding more satellite signals and GNSS ground stations would provide greater coverage in space and time and greater accuracy to geodetic, storm-resistant, ground-based measurements of sea level, storm surge and even tsunami height..
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.
New Way to Measure Seafloor Motion with GPS in Shallow Seas
March 16, 2020
A new way to measure seafloor motions with Global Positioning System (GPS) in shallow seas is tested in Tampa Bay, Florida. Observations over many months indicate seafloor motions in three dimensions can be measured. The method can be applied for offshore oil operations, lakes around volcanic edifices, shallow submarine regions near the coasts that are above active subduction zones and for other applications.
Last modified: 2020-09-22 12:17:54 America/Denver
2020