Integrated Sentinel-1 InSAR and GNSS time-series along the San Andreas
fault system
Abstract
Measuring crustal strain and seismic moment accumulation, is crucial for
understanding the growth and distribution of seismic hazards along major
fault systems. Here we develop a methodology to integrate 4.5 years
(2015 - 2019.5) of Sentinel-1 Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar
(InSAR) and continuous Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) time
series to achieve 6 to 12-day sampling of surface displacements at
~500 m spatial resolution over the entire San Andreas
fault system (SAFS). We decompose the line-of-sight InSAR displacements
into three dimensions by combining the deformation azimuth from a
GNSS-derived interseismic fault model. We then construct strain rate
maps using a smoothing interpolator with constraints from elasticity.
The resulting deformation field reveals a wide array of crustal
deformation processes including: on- and off-fault secular and transient
tectonic deformation; creep rates on all the major faults; and vertical
signals associated with hydrological processes. The strain rate maps
show significant off-fault components that were not captured by
GNSS-only models. These results are important in assessing the seismic
hazard in the region.