Articles tagged with Geodesy
Researchers developed a holistic monitoring system to investigate lake ecosystems' sensitivity to boat traffic, weather, and climate change. The system, WAMOS, accurately analyzes wave patterns and assigns causes, enabling precise modeling of ecosystem effects.
Researchers at TUM Institute of Engineering have accurately measured the Earth's axial movement using a ring laser over a 250-day experiment. The results reveal small wave movements in the precession circle of the Earth's axis, known as nutation, with varying degrees of intensity.
Rice University geophysicist Richard Gordon has been honored with the Geological Society of America's Woollard Award for his transformative work on global plate motions and plate boundary deformation. He is recognized for shedding light on diffuse oceanic plate boundaries, true polar wander, and standard global plate motion models.
Researchers at Graz University of Technology developed a holistic solution for structural monitoring, combining various technologies to provide usable findings for service life forecasts and proactive maintenance planning.
A study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth reveals that droughts and associated water loss are the primary cause of South Africa's land uplift. This finding challenges the previously assumed mantle flow explanation and highlights the importance of monitoring groundwater reserves due to climate change.
Scientists can now utilize communication signals from mega-constellations to track changes in the Earth's gravitational field and observe weather phenomena like heavy rain or sea level changes in real time. The accuracy of this method is currently limited to 54 meters, but researchers aim to improve it to just a few meters.
Since the turn of the millennium, glaciers worldwide have lost around 273 billion tonnes of ice per year, corresponding to about five and a half times the volume of Lake Constance. The loss of ice from glaciers has led to a rise in sea level of 18 millimetres, making it the second strongest driver of sea level rise after ocean warming.
Scientists at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have developed a refined method for measuring and predicting gravity changes as the Nordic region rises. The study found that the Ferroscandinavian peninsula's land mass is more dense than previously known, with an upper mantle density of approximately 3,546 kilograms per cubic meter.
Researchers found evidence that repeated earthquakes like the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake shaped the region's topography. The study used satellite radar images to measure displacements caused by the earthquake, resulting in over 4m of uplift and emergence of new terraces along the northern coast.
The study discovered significant alterations in the region's state of stress and deformation following the 1975 Kalapana earthquake. The researchers found that Kīlauea's south flank experienced greater displacement prior to the earthquake, pointing to changes in mechanical properties influencing seismic activity.
Researchers at TU Graz have achieved more accurate orbit predictions for satellites using satellite laser ranging, combining gravity field measurements with SLR. This allows for a better understanding of existing water masses and safer orbits for space debris.
A new imaging technique allows scientists to visualize the Earth's rocky interior using GPS data, revealing details about the planet's crust and mantle. This method has the potential to improve earthquake predictions by combining it with other techniques.
The University of Bonn has developed an AI software that can simulate the growth of field crops using drone photos. This allows farmers to estimate parameters such as leaf area or yield with high accuracy, and even predict the outcome of certain interventions. The software also focuses on polycultures, which can boost yields by reducin...
Daily tracking of ice melt has been made possible with a new method developed by researchers at DTU using 61 national GPS stations in Greenland. The study provides significant advancement in monitoring ice mass loss and understanding the processes behind the ice melting.
Researchers developed a novel method to overcome limitations in traditional seafloor positioning methods. The SESSP approach enables simultaneous estimation of both sound speed profile parameters and seafloor geodetic coordinates with high accuracy.
Researchers from the University of Bonn have developed a new method to calculate global water distribution, combining satellite data with hydrological models. The study reveals that droughts are significantly more common across the world than previously thought, with localized droughts often missing from satellite data.
A research team used space geodetic observations to study seasonal and intra-seasonal signal variations in the Earth's surface loads, finding subsidence and uplift in regions of positive and negative mass anomalies. The results indicate that space geodesy offers an effective method for studying surface loads and crustal movements.
A new study developed a way to use satellite imaging data to create 3D images that can quickly detect changes on the Earth's surface. The tool could be used to detect significant natural disasters in remote regions, giving first responders accurate information about the needs of the affected region.
Researchers identify magma intrusion as cause of 85,000-quake swarm in Antarctica, largest ever recorded. The swarm peaked with two large earthquakes before subsiding, marking the end of a sustained magmatic unrest.
Researchers discovered a connection between earthquake characteristics and tsunami size, finding that shallow rupture can produce larger tsunamis. This study suggests reevaluating the use of earthquake magnitude in estimating tsunami threats.
The new IHRS unifies geodetic measurements by establishing a universally accepted zero level, based on the Earth's gravity field. This replaces the mean sea level, which had inconsistent definitions across countries, causing problems in measuring heights such as Mount Everest's.
Researchers analyzed data from dense seismic, geodetic and tsunami networks to understand the 2011 quake. The study found that a large coseismic fault slip ruptured into a shallow part of the Japan Trench's megathrust fault.
Researchers used satellite imagery to gather detailed information on earthquakes, including location, size of surface deformation, and proximity to population centers. This data improved analysis of earthquake impact and led to more accurate estimates of fatalities and economic losses.
Scientists have recorded horizontal and vertical movement of a submerged volcanic flank for the first time using a sound-based underwater geodetic monitoring network. The entire southeastern flank is in motion due to gravity, and a catastrophic collapse could trigger a major tsunami.
Researchers use a transportable optical atomic clock to measure gravitation for the first time, with potential applications in monitoring continental height changes and improving national height systems. The technique has the potential to resolve height differences as small as 1 cm across the Earth's surface.
Researchers warn that US East Coast cities are under threat from more frequent and severe flooding due to the region's slow subsidence into the Atlantic Ocean. Human activities such as groundwater extraction and reservoir creation have accelerated this process, with some areas sinking at a rate of up to three millimeters per year.
The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) has been updated by NASA, enabling more detailed studies of global changes in Earth's ocean, ice sheets, land, and atmosphere. Four measurement techniques, including Satellite Laser Ranging and GNSS, contribute to the reference frame.
Researchers have taken a closer look at the geology deep beneath the Tibetan Plateau using gravity data captured by satellite. The analysis offers some of the clearest views ever obtained of rock moving up to 50 miles below the plateau, revealing a complex interplay of wavy patterns at the boundary between the crust and mantle.
Leap seconds are added to account for Earth's slow rotation, which has slowed down by about 2 milliseconds per year since the 1820s. The extra second on June 30 helps maintain consistency between the atomic time standard and Coordinated Universal Time.
John Anderson's work has contributed to the development of strong-motion earthquake data networks globally, including Mexico, Turkey, Los Angeles, and Eastern U.S. His research on seismic hazard assessment and ground-motion prediction equations has also informed policy for improved seismic safety.
A University of Arizona-led team reports that Iceland's glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate, causing the island's crust to rise rapidly. The study uses GPS measurements to track geological activity and finds a direct connection between glacier loss and uplift.
Researchers found sections of the Tohoku fault were relieving seismic stress at an accelerating rate for years before the 9.0 magnitude quake, potentially shortening its occurrence time. The study used GPS measurements from a dense Japanese network to analyze decoupling and stress transfer along the fault line.
A recent study published in Nature found that draining of the aquifer for agricultural irrigation in California's Central Valley results in upward flexing of the earth's surface and surrounding mountains. The research also correlates with seismic activity on the San Andreas Fault.
Researchers use satellite-based data to measure crustal uplift at unprecedented accuracy, indicating a relatively fast rise of 1 to 2 millimeters every year. This data challenges previous estimates and suggests the modern Sierra Nevada could be formed in less than 3 million years.
The University of Nevada, Reno's GPS technology will be used by NASA to monitor strong earthquakes along the West Coast. The system can detect changes in ground positions greater than 10 centimeters in real-time.
NASA is upgrading its Global Positioning System (GPS) and International Terrestrial Reference Frame to improve location accuracy. The new systems will benefit not only GPS but also observations of Earth from space, enabling more precise measurements of the planet's shape, orientation, and gravity field.
The Earth's rotational axis fluctuates due to gravitational forces and atmospheric pressure. By building a ring laser at the Wettzell observatory, scientists have successfully captured these movements, corroborating Chandler and annual wobble measurements.
Tim Dixon received the 2010 George P. Woollard Award for his groundbreaking research in space geodesy, which has paved the way for studying earthquake hazard, volcanic processes, and climate change. His work has also contributed to understanding subsidence in Mexico City and the melting of the Greenland ice cap.
The National Geodetic Survey is modernizing its positioning system to better capture changes in the Earth's surface, including sea level rise and subsidence. This upgrade will improve digital maps and support activities like levee construction, evacuation route design, and floodplain management.
The USGS is providing $7 million in funding for earthquake monitoring to support the development of the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). This initiative will enhance the country's ability to detect and respond to earthquakes, ultimately saving lives and reducing economic losses.
New research from the University of Arizona found that slowly moving faults, like the Alto Tiberina in Italy, can help prevent large earthquakes. The study used geodesy to measure rock movements and revealed that the fault is actively slipping at a rate of approximately one-tenth of an inch per year.
A new study by Leveson Consulting estimates NOAA's National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) provides over $2.4 billion in annual economic benefits. Refining the system could net an additional $522 million in annual economic benefits, mainly due to improved accuracy of position and elevation data.
Researchers used repeating microearthquakes to estimate the deep slip rate of the Lijiang-Ninglang fault, yielding a value of 5 mm/yr at 23 km depth. This discovery provides a new method for inferring slip rates along active faults and sheds light on earthquake recurrence.
Researchers have identified a newly discovered active fault under the Adriatic Sea that is actively building more of the Dalmatian Islands and Dinaride Mountains of Croatia. The discovery challenges the long-held assumption that these geological formations stopped growing 20-30 million years ago.
Researchers revisited the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to resolve a discrepancy between seismic and geodetic models. The new model suggests that the rupture propagated at 'supershear' speed, resulting in an earthquake of shorter duration.