Geodetic Imaging of Fault Systems from Airborne Platforms: UAVSAR and Structure from Motion

Earthquakes occur when stress in the Earth exceeds the strength of the surrounding host rock. Earthquakes can occur naturally or be induced by human activity [1]. In this paper, we address earthquakes occurring on fault systems that are driven by plate tectonics. Motion of the Earth's tectonic plates causes deformation of the Earth's crust. As this deformation occurs, strain accumulation can be released seismically in earthquakes, or aseismically as creep along faults and in bulk deformation of the crust. Understanding how strain is distributed along fault systems, how stress transfers through the crust along fault zones between earthquakes, and the fraction of aseismic versus seismic deformation, is key to assessing earthquake hazard for mitigating losses from future events [2].