We are always keen to have new graduate students excited to work on problems in Volcanology and Active Tectonics. Research opportunities include space geodetic studies using satellite radar interferometry and GPS on ocean island volcanoes such as in the Hawaiian Islands, the Galapagos islands and in the Cape Verde Islands. We have openings to conduct research on volcanoes in Central America. We also study active tectonics in the western United States and anywhere in the world where interesting geophysics is happening. For further information please contact Prof. Falk Amelung and visit the website of Graduate Studies.
Current Openings:
1. Earthquake-volcano interaction in Sumatra. Following the 2004/2005 earthquakes there are concerns about an increase of the volcano activity in Sumatra as was observed following the M>9 megathrust earthquakes of the last century. In collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency the University of Miami has acquired a uniqe SAR data set of the Sumatran volcanoes following the earthquakes. The successful applicant will use these data to search for evidence for renewed activity as expressed by subsurface magma accumulation. The data will be explained in terms of physical models for volcano triggering by earthquakes. At the same time the InSAR data toghether with data from existing and new GPS networks will be combined with crustal deformation modeling approaches to better understand the post-seismic processes following the earthquakes and the neotectonics of Sumatra.
2. Crustal rheology from observations of post-seismic deformation. Space geodesy has shown that the deformation of the Earth’s crust continues for decades or centuries following large earthquakes because of relaxation of the earthquake-induced stresses in the crust and in the mantle. Observations of post-seismic deformation processes thus can be used to constrain the rheology of the crust. Central Asia was the locus of several M>8 earthquakes in the 20th century. The successful applicant will use InSAR data combined with GPS to obtain observations of the post-seismic processes and numerical modeling approaches to interpret the data. This project is aimed to better understand earthquake generation and the earthquake cycle.
3. Geodynamics of the Basin and Range province.
The Western Basin and Range province accommodates about 25% of the relative plate motion between the North-American and the Pacific plates with the remainder accommodated across the San Andreas fault system. Strain accumulation occurs in a distributed fashion and along known faults. One of the objectives of the Earthscope program of the National Science Foundation is to better understand strain partitioning and the driving mechanisms of the deformation. Earthscope acquires GPS and InSAR data for the Plate Boundary Observatory. The successful applicant will use InSAR and GPS to improve our understanding of thecontemporary Basin and Range deformation. Tasks include the characterization of creeping faults, geodetic estimates of slip rates, characterization of the post-seismic deformation field and developping 3-D numerical models to explain the geodetic observations.
4. Stability of persistently active basaltic volcanoes. Basaltic volcanoes are dynamic features with frequent eruptions and rapid magma accumulation rates. Hazards associated with basaltic volcanoes in addition to the typical volcano hazards are earthquakes and flank instabilities that can lead to giant mass-wasting events. Space geodesy can help to assess the hazard by characterizing the subsurface magmatic system and the effects of magma transport on the volcanic edifce. The successful applicant will use InSAR and GPS data to address questions including, but not limited to: Where are the location and the geometry of the magma chambers? At what rates is magma accumulation occurring ? What is the effect of magma accumulation on the volcanic system ? Does subsurface magma movement stabilize or destabilize the volcano flanks ? This project is supported by the University of Miami’s unique, multi-year SAR data acquisition program for oceanic Island volcanoes in the Hawaiian, Galapagos and Cape Verde islands.