Earth tides, earthquake occurrence and earth deformation

Abstract

An analysis of Earth deformation, earthquakes and tides has been undertaken
using Earth tide and interferometric SAR data from ESA satellites. The ability
of Earth tides to trigger earthquakes has been investigated by measuring the
statistical relationship between earthquake occurrence and Earth tides.
Analysing Earth tides data with earthquakes occurrence using Shuster’s test has
shown that there is a correlation between Earth tides and earthquake
occurrence. The significance of this correlation has been examined as a
function of location, earthquake depth and magnitude. It has been found that
the correlation is especially significant for low magnitude earthquakes. The two
regions in California examined show similar correlations but significant
differences in the phase angle of the correlation. Possible reasons for these
differences and the role of ocean load tides are discussed in this thesis.

SAR data are used to detect the Earth displacement related to two recent
earthquakes in the Californian area. InSAR technique has been applied
successfully to the Bam earthquake in Iran in 2003. The results for Earth
displacements in the Parkfield area are less satisfactory but a number of
interference fringes over a wide area due to a particular earthquake have been
observed.

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