Physics-Informed Deep Learning for Forward and Inverse Modeling of
Inplane Crustal Deformation
Abstract
Methods for modeling crustal deformation related to earthquakes and
plate motions have been developed to incorporate complex crustal
structures and multi-fidelity observations. A machine learning approach
called physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), which can solve both
forward and inverse problems of physical systems, was proposed and
applied to the forward simulations of antiplane deformation. Here, we
aimed to extend the PINN approach to crustal deformation in two
directions: (1) inplane deformation, which is typically used for
modeling subduction zones, and (2) inversion analysis of fault slips
from geodetic observations. We verified the performance of PINNs on
these problems and suggested that formulations in Cartesian and polar
coordinates are suitable for forward and inverse modeling, respectively.
Furthermore, PINNs yielded stable inversion results without explicit
regularization terms, implying that solving the governing equations with
PINNs implicitly imposes regularization based on the physical
requirements. This may elucidate the distinctive properties of PINNs and
provide insights into inversion analyses in geophysics and other fields.