An InSAR‐GNSS Velocity Field for Iran

Watson, Andrew R.; Elliott, John R.; Lazecký, Milan; Maghsoudi, Yasser; McGrath, Jack D.; Walters, Richard J.

Abstract

We present average ground‐surface velocities and strain rates for the 1.7 million km2 area of Iran, from the joint inversion of InSAR‐derived displacements and GNSS data. We generate interferograms from 7 years of Sentinel‐1 radar acquisitions, correct for tropospheric noise using the GACOS system, estimate average velocities using LiCSBAS time‐series analysis, tie this into a Eurasia‐fixed reference frame, and perform a decomposition to estimate East and Vertical velocities at 500 m spacing. Our InSAR‐GNSS velocity fields reveal predominantly diffuse crustal deformation, with localized interseismic strain accumulation along the North Tabriz, Main Kopet Dagh, Main Recent, Sharoud, and Doruneh faults. We observe signals associated with recent groundwater subsidence, co‐ and postseismic deformation, active salt diaprism, and sediment motion. We derive high‐resolution strain rate estimates on a country‐ and fault‐scale, and discuss the difficulties of mapping diffuse strain rates in areas with abundant non‐tectonic and anthropogenic signals.

Citation

Watson, A. R., Elliott, J. R., Lazecký, M., Maghsoudi, Y., McGrath, J. D., & Walters, R. J. (2024). An InSAR‐GNSS Velocity Field for Iran. Geophysical Research Letters, 51(10), Article e2024GL108440. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl108440

• Journal Article Type: Letter
• Acceptance Date: Mar 23, 2024
• Online Publication Date: May 22, 2024
• Publication Date: May 28, 2024
• Deposit Date: May 28, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: May 28, 2024
• Journal: Geophysical Research Letters
• Print ISSN: 0094-8276
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 10
• Article Number: e2024GL108440
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl108440
• Keywords: groundwater, interseismic, strain rate, Iran, InSAR, velocity field
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2465793