@phdthesis{Hainzl1999,
  author    = {Hainzl, Sebastian},
  title     = {Erdbeben und selbstorganisierte Kritizit{\"a}t : Modellierung der raumzeitlichen Erdbebendynamik},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000130},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {1999},
  abstract  = {Diese Arbeit besch{\"a}ftigt sich mit der Annahme, dass den Erdbeben ein selbstorganisiert kritischer Zustand der Erdkruste zugrunde liegt. Mit Hilfe einer Erweiterung bisheriger Modelle wird gezeigt, dass ein solcher Zustand nicht nur f{\"u}r die Gr{\"o}ssenverteilung der Erdbeben (Gutenberg-Richter Gesetz), sondern auch f{\"u}r das beobachtete raumzeitliche Auftreten, z.B. f{\"u}r das Omori-Gesetz f{\"u}r Nachbebenserien, verantwortlich sein kann. Desweiteren wird die Frage nach der Vorhersagbarkeit grosser Erdbeben in solchen Modellsimulationen untersucht.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Hakimhashemi2009,
  author    = {Hakimhashemi, Amir Hossein},
  title     = {Time-dependent occurrence rates of large earthquakes in the Dead Sea fault zone and applications to probabilistic seismic hazard assessments},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-52486},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {Die relativ hohe seismische Aktivit{\"a}t der Tote-Meer-St{\"o}rungszone (Dead Sea Fault Zone - DSFZ) ist mit einem hohen Gefahrenpotential verbunden, welches zu einem erheblichen Erdbebenrisiko f{\"u}r die Ballungszentren in den L{\"a}ndern Syrien, Libanon, Pal{\"a}stina, Jordanien und Israel f{\"u}hrt. Eine Vielzahl massiver, zerst{\"o}rerischer Erdbeben hat sich in diesem Raum in den letzten zwei Jahrtausenden ereignet. Ihre Wiederholungsrate zeigt Anzeichen f{\"u}r eine zeitliche Abh{\"a}ngigkeit, insbesondere wenn lange Zeitr{\"a}ume in Betracht gezogen werden. Die Ber{\"u}cksichtigung der zeitlichen Abh{\"a}ngigkeit des Auftretens von Erdbeben ist f{\"u}r eine realistische seismische Gef{\"a}hrdungseinsch{\"a}tzung von großer Bedeutung. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, anhand des zeitabh{\"a}ngigen Auftretens von Erdbeben eine robuste wahrscheinlichkeitstheoretische seismische Gef{\"a}hrdungseinsch{\"a}tzung am Beispiel der DSFZ zu entwickeln. Mittels dieser Methode soll die zeitliche Abh{\"a}ngigkeit des Auftretens von großen Erdbeben (Mw ≥ 6) untersucht und somit eine Gef{\"a}hrdungseinsch{\"a}tzung f{\"u}r das Untersuchungsgebiet getroffen werden. Prim{\"a}r gilt es zu pr{\"u}fen, ob das Auftreten von großen Erdbeben tats{\"a}chlich einer zeitlichen Abh{\"a}ngigkeit unterliegt und wenn ja, inwiefern diese bestimmt werden kann. Zu diesem Zweck werden insgesamt vier zeitabh{\"a}ngige statistische Verteilungen (Weibull, Gamma, Lognormal und Brownian Passage Time (BPT)) sowie die zeitunabh{\"a}ngige Exponentialverteilung (Poisson-Prozess) getestet. Zur Absch{\"a}tzung der jeweiligen Modellparameter wird eine modifizierte Methode der gewichteten Maximum-Likelihood-Sch{\"a}tzung (MLE) verwendet. Um einzusch{\"a}tzen, ob die Wiederholungsrate von Erdbeben einer unimodalen oder multimodalen Form folgt, wird ein nichtparametrischer Bootstrap-Test f{\"u}r Multimodalit{\"a}t durchgef{\"u}hrt. Im Falle einer multimodalen Form wird neben der MLE zus{\"a}tzlich eine Erwartungsmaximierungsmethode (EM) herangezogen. Zur Auswahl des am besten geeigneten Modells wird zum einem das Bayesschen Informationskriterium (BIC) und zum anderen der modifizierte Kolmogorow-Smirnow-Goodness-of-Fit-Test angewendet. Abschließend werden mittels der Bootstrap-Methode die Konfidenzintervalle der gesch{\"a}tzten Parameter berechnet. Als Datengrundlage werden Erdbeben mit Mw ≥ 6 seit dem Jahre 300 n. Chr. herangezogen. Das Untersuchungsgebiet erstreckt sich von 29.5° N bis 37° N und umfasst ein ca. 40 km breites Gebiet entlang der DSFZ. Aufgrund der seismotektonischen Situation im Untersuchungsgebiet wird zwischen einer s{\"u}dlichen, zentralen und n{\"o}rdlichen Subzone unterschieden. Dabei kann die s{\"u}dliche Subzone aus Mangel an Daten nicht f{\"u}r die Analysen herangezogen werden. Die Ergebnisse f{\"u}r die zentrale Subzone zeigen keinen signifikanten multimodalen Verlauf der Wiederholungsrate von Erdbeben. Des Weiteren ist kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den zeitabh{\"a}ngigen und dem zeitunabh{\"a}ngigem Modell zu verzeichnen. Da das zeitunabh{\"a}ngige Modell vergleichsweise einfach interpretierbar ist, wird die Wiederholungsrate von Erdbeben in dieser Subzone unter Annahme der Exponentialverteilungs-Hypothese abgesch{\"a}tzt. Sie wird demnach als zeitunabh{\"a}ngig betrachtet und betr{\"a}gt 9.72 * 10-3 Erdbeben (mit Mw ≥ 6) pro Jahr. Einen besonderen Fall stellt die n{\"o}rdliche Subzone dar. In diesem Gebiet tritt im Durchschnitt alle 51 Jahre ein massives Erdbeben (Mw ≥ 6) auf. Das letzte Erdbeben dieser Gr{\"o}ße ereignete sich 1872 und liegt somit bereits 137 Jahre zur{\"u}ck. Somit ist in diesem Gebiet ein Erdbeben dieser St{\"a}rke {\"u}berf{\"a}llig. Im statistischen Mittel liegt die Zeit zwischen zwei Erdbeben zu 96\% unter 137 Jahren. Zudem wird eine deutliche zeitliche Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der Erdbeben-Wiederauftretensrate durch die Ergebnisse der in der Arbeit neu entwickelten statistischen Verfahren best{\"a}tigt. Dabei ist festzustellen, dass die Wiederholungsrate insbesondere kurz nach einem Erdbeben eine sehr hohe zeitliche Abh{\"a}ngigkeit aufweist. Am besten repr{\"a}sentiert werden die seismischen Bedingungen in der genannten Subzone durch ein bi-modales Weibull-Weibull-Modell. Die Wiederholungsrate ist eine glatte Zeitfunktion, welche zwei H{\"a}ufungen von Datenpunkten in der Zeit nach dem Erdbeben zeigt. Dabei umfasst die erste H{\"a}ufung einen Zeitraum von 80 Jahren, ausgehend vom Zeitpunkt des jeweiligen Bebens. Innerhalb dieser Zeitspanne ist die Wiederholungsrate extrem zeitabh{\"a}ngig. Die Wiederholungsrate direkt nach einem Beben ist sehr niedrig und steigert sich in den folgenden 10 Jahren erheblich bis zu einem Maximum von 0.024 Erdbeben/Jahr. Anschließend sinkt die Rate und erreicht ihr Minimum nach weiteren 70 Jahren mit 0.0145 Erdbeben/Jahr. An dieses Minimum schließt sich die zweite H{\"a}ufung von Daten an, dessen Dauer abh{\"a}ngig von der Erdbebenwiederholungszeit ist. Innerhalb dieses Zeitfensters nimmt die Erdbeben-Wiederauftretensrate ann{\"a}hernd konstant um 0.015 Erdbeben/Jahr zu. Diese Ergebnisse bilden die Grundlage f{\"u}r eine zeitabh{\"a}ngige probabilistische seismische Gef{\"a}hrdungseinsch{\"a}tzung (PSHA) f{\"u}r die seismische Quellregion, die den n{\"o}rdlichen Raum der DSFZ umfasst.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hoechner2010,
  author    = {H{\"o}chner, Andreas},
  title     = {GPS based analysis of earthquake induced phenomena at the Sunda Arc},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-53166},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Indonesia is one of the countries most prone to natural hazards. Complex interaction of several tectonic plates with high relative velocities leads to approximately two earthquakes with magnitude Mw>7 every year, being more than 15\% of the events worldwide. Earthquakes with magnitude above 9 happen far more infrequently, but with catastrophic effects. The most severe consequences thereby arise from tsunamis triggered by these subduction-related earthquakes, as the Sumatra-Andaman event in 2004 showed. In order to enable efficient tsunami early warning, which includes the estimation of wave heights and arrival times, it is necessary to combine different types of real-time sensor data with numerical models of earthquake sources and tsunami propagation. This thesis was created as a result of the GITEWS project (German Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System). It is based on five research papers and manuscripts. Main project-related task was the development of a database containing realistic earthquake scenarios for the Sunda Arc. This database provides initial conditions for tsunami propagation modeling used by the simulation system at the early warning center. An accurate discretization of the subduction geometry, consisting of 25x150 subfaults was constructed based on seismic data. Green's functions, representing the deformational response to unit dip- and strike slip at the subfaults, were computed using a layered half-space approach. Different scaling relations for earthquake dimensions and slip distribution were implemented. Another project-related task was the further development of the 'GPS-shield' concept. It consists of a constellation of near field GPS-receivers, which are shown to be very valuable for tsunami early warning. The major part of this thesis is related to the geophysical interpretation of GPS data. Coseismic surface displacements caused by the 2004 Sumatra earthquake are inverted for slip at the fault. The effect of different Earth layer models is tested, favoring continental structure. The possibility of splay faulting is considered and shown to be a secondary order effect in respect to tsunamigenity for this event. Tsunami models based on source inversions are compared to satellite radar altimetry observations. Postseismic GPS time series are used to test a wide parameter range of uni- and biviscous rheological models of the asthenosphere. Steady-state Maxwell rheology is shown to be incompatible with near-field GPS data, unless large afterslip, amounting to more than 10\% of the coseismic moment is assumed. In contrast, transient Burgers rheology is in agreement with data without the need for large aseismic afterslip. Comparison to postseismic geoid observation by the GRACE satellites reveals that even with afterslip, the model implementing Maxwell rheology results in amplitudes being too small, and thus supports a biviscous asthenosphere. A simple approach based on the assumption of quasi-static deformation propagation is introduced and proposed for inversion of coseismic near-field GPS time series. Application of this approach to observations from the 2004 Sumatra event fails to quantitatively reconstruct the rupture propagation, since a priori conditions are not fulfilled in this case. However, synthetic tests reveal the feasibility of such an approach for fast estimation of rupturing properties.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{JaraMunoz2016,
  author    = {Jara Mu{\~n}oz, Julius},
  title     = {Quantifying forearc deformation patterns using coastal geomorphic markers},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-102652},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {XXV, 213},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Rapidly uplifting coastlines are frequently associated with convergent tectonic boundaries, like subduction zones, which are repeatedly breached by giant megathrust earthquakes. The coastal relief along tectonically active realms is shaped by the effect of sea-level variations and heterogeneous patterns of permanent tectonic deformation, which are accumulated through several cycles of megathrust earthquakes. However, the correlation between earthquake deformation patterns and the sustained long-term segmentation of forearcs, particularly in Chile, remains poorly understood. Furthermore, the methods used to estimate permanent deformation from geomorphic markers, like marine terraces, have remained qualitative and are based on unrepeatable methods. This contrasts with the increasing resolution of digital elevation models, such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and high-resolution bathymetric surveys. Throughout this thesis I study permanent deformation in a holistic manner: from the methods to assess deformation rates, to the processes involved in its accumulation. My research focuses particularly on two aspects: Developing methodologies to assess permanent deformation using marine terraces, and comparing permanent deformation with seismic cycle deformation patterns under different spatial scales along the M8.8 Maule earthquake (2010) rupture zone. Two methods are developed to determine deformation rates from wave-built and wave-cut terraces respectively. I selected an archetypal example of a wave-built terrace at Santa Maria Island studying its stratigraphy and recognizing sequences of reoccupation events tied with eleven radiocarbon sample ages (14C ages). I developed a method to link patterns of reoccupation with sea-level proxies by iterating relative sea level curves for a range of uplift rates. I find the best fit between relative sea-level and the stratigraphic patterns for an uplift rate of 1.5 +- 0.3 m/ka. A Graphical User Interface named TerraceM® was developed in Matlab®. This novel software tool determines shoreline angles in wave-cut terraces under different geomorphic scenarios. To validate the methods, I select test sites in areas of available high-resolution LiDAR topography along the Maule earthquake rupture zone and in California, USA. The software allows determining the 3D location of the shoreline angle, which is a proxy for the estimation of permanent deformation rates. The method is based on linear interpolations to define the paleo platform and cliff on swath profiles. The shoreline angle is then located by intersecting these interpolations. The accuracy and precision of TerraceM® was tested by comparing its results with previous assessments, and through an experiment with students in a computer lab setting at the University of Potsdam. I combined the methods developed to analyze wave-built and wave-cut terraces to assess regional patterns of permanent deformation along the (2010) Maule earthquake rupture. Wave-built terraces are tied using 12 Infra Red Stimulated luminescence ages (IRSL ages) and shoreline angles in wave-cut terraces are estimated from 170 aligned swath profiles. The comparison of coseismic slip, interseismic coupling, and permanent deformation, leads to three areas of high permanent uplift, terrace warping, and sharp fault offsets. These three areas correlate with regions of high slip and low coupling, as well as with the spatial limit of at least eight historical megathrust ruptures (M8-9.5). I propose that the zones of upwarping at Arauco and Topocalma reflect changes in frictional properties of the megathrust, which result in discrete boundaries for the propagation of mega earthquakes. To explore the application of geomorphic markers and quantitative morphology in offshore areas I performed a local study of patterns of permanent deformation inferred from hitherto unrecognized drowned shorelines at the Arauco Bay, at the southern part of the (2010) Maule earthquake rupture zone. A multidisciplinary approach, including morphometry, sedimentology, paleontology, 3D morphoscopy, and a landscape Evolution Model is used to recognize, map, and assess local rates and patterns of permanent deformation in submarine environments. Permanent deformation patterns are then reproduced using elastic models to assess deformation rates of an active submarine splay fault defined as Santa Maria Fault System. The best fit suggests a reverse structure with a slip rate of 3.7 m/ka for the last 30 ka. The register of land level changes during the earthquake cycle at Santa Maria Island suggest that most of the deformation may be accrued through splay fault reactivation during mega earthquakes, like the (2010) Maule event. Considering a recurrence time of 150 to 200 years, as determined from historical and geological observations, slip between 0.3 and 0.7 m per event would be required to account for the 3.7 m/ka millennial slip rate. However, if the SMFS slips only every ~1000 years, representing a few megathrust earthquakes, then a slip of ~3.5 m per event would be required to account for the long- term rate. Such event would be equivalent to a magnitude ~6.7 earthquake capable to generate a local tsunami. The results of this thesis provide novel and fundamental information regarding the amount of permanent deformation accrued in the crust, and the mechanisms responsible for this accumulation at millennial time-scales along the M8.8 Maule earthquake (2010) rupture zone. Furthermore, the results of this thesis highlight the application of quantitative geomorphology and the use of repeatable methods to determine permanent deformation, improve the accuracy of marine terrace assessments, and estimates of vertical deformation rates in tectonically active coastal areas. This is vital information for adequate coastal-hazard assessments and to anticipate realistic earthquake and tsunami scenarios.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kieling2015,
  author    = {Kieling, Katrin},
  title     = {Quantification of ground motions by broadband simulations},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-85989},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {XIV, 118},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {In many procedures of seismic risk mitigation, ground motion simulations are needed to test systems or improve their effectiveness. For example they may be used to estimate the level of ground shaking caused by future earthquakes. Good physical models for ground motion simulation are also thought to be important for hazard assessment, as they could close gaps in the existing datasets. Since the observed ground motion in nature shows a certain variability, part of which cannot be explained by macroscopic parameters such as magnitude or position of an earthquake, it would be desirable that a good physical model is not only able to produce one single seismogram, but also to reveal this natural variability. In this thesis, I develop a method to model realistic ground motions in a way that is computationally simple to handle, permitting multiple scenario simulations. I focus on two aspects of ground motion modelling. First, I use deterministic wave propagation for the whole frequency range - from static deformation to approximately 10 Hz - but account for source variability by implementing self-similar slip distributions and rough fault interfaces. Second, I scale the source spectrum so that the modelled waveforms represent the correct radiated seismic energy. With this scaling I verify whether the energy magnitude is suitable as an explanatory variable, which characterises the amount of energy radiated at high frequencies - the advantage of the energy magnitude being that it can be deduced from observations, even in real-time. Applications of the developed method for the 2008 Wenchuan (China) earthquake, the 2003 Tokachi-Oki (Japan) earthquake and the 1994 Northridge (California, USA) earthquake show that the fine source discretisations combined with the small scale source variability ensure that high frequencies are satisfactorily introduced, justifying the deterministic wave propagation approach even at high frequencies. I demonstrate that the energy magnitude can be used to calibrate the high-frequency content in ground motion simulations. Because deterministic wave propagation is applied to the whole frequency range, the simulation method permits the quantification of the variability in ground motion due to parametric uncertainties in the source description. A large number of scenario simulations for an M=6 earthquake show that the roughness of the source as well as the distribution of fault dislocations have a minor effect on the simulated variability by diminishing directivity effects, while hypocenter location and rupture velocity more strongly influence the variability. The uncertainty in energy magnitude, however, leads to the largest differences of ground motion amplitude between different events, resulting in a variability which is larger than the one observed. For the presented approach, this dissertation shows (i) the verification of the computational correctness of the code, (ii) the ability to reproduce observed ground motions and (iii) the validation of the simulated ground motion variability. Those three steps are essential to evaluate the suitability of the method for means of seismic risk mitigation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{KruegerOhrnbergerRoessler2008,
  author    = {Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Ohrnberger, Matthias and R{\"o}ßler, Dirk},
  title     = {Rupture imaging of large earthquakes with a poststack isochrone migration method},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-18395},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {Rapid and robust characterization of large earthquakes in terms of their spatial extent and temporal duration is of high importance for disaster mitigation and early warning applications. Backtracking of seismic P-waves was successfully used by several authors to image the rupture process of the great Sumatra earthquake (26.12.2004) using short period and broadband arrays. We follow here an approach of Walker et al. to backtrack and stack broadband waveforms from global network stations using traveltimes for a global Earth model to obtain the overall spatio-temporal development of the energy radiation of large earthquakes in a quick and robust way. We present results for selected events with well studied source processes (Kokoxili 14.11.2001, Tokachi-Oki 25.09.2003, Nias 28.03.2005). Further, we apply the technique in a semi-real time fashion to broadband data of earthquakes with a broadband magnitude >= 7 (roughly corresponding to Mw 6.5). Processing is based on first automatic detection messages from the GEOFON extended virtual network (GEVN).},
  language  = {en}
}
@masterthesis{Lehmann2017,
  type      = {Bachelor Thesis},
  author    = {Lehmann, Lukas},
  title     = {Performance Test von Phasenpickern},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-401993},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {I, 40, XXXIX},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Die genauen Einsatzzeiten seismischer P-Phasen von Erdbeben werden in SeisComP3 und anderen Auswerteprogrammen standardm{\"a}ßig und in Echtzeit automatisch bestimmt. S-Phasen stellen dagegen eine weit gr{\"o}ßere Herausforderung dar. Nur mit genauen Picks der P- bzw. S-Phasen k{\"o}nnen die Erdbebenlokationen korrekt und stabil bestimmt werden. Darum besteht erhebliches Interesse, diese mit hoher Genauigkeit zu bestimmen. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Bachelorarbeit war es, vier verschiedene, bereits vorhandene S-Phasenpicker auf ausgew{\"a}hlte Parameter optimal zu konfigurieren, auf Testdaten anzuwenden und deren Leistungsf{\"a}higkeit objektiv zu bewerten. Dazu wurden ein S-Picker (S-L2) aus dem OpenSource SeisComp3-Programmpaket, zwei S-Picker (S-AIC, S-AIC-V) als kommerzielles Modul der Firma gempa GmbH f{\"u}r SeisComP3 und ein S-Picker (Frequenzband) aus dem OpenSource PhasePaPy-Paket ausgew{\"a}hlt. Die Bewertung erfolgte durch Vergleich automatischer Picks mit manuell bestimmten Einsatzzeiten. Alle vier Picker wurden separat konfiguriert und auf drei verschiedene Datens{\"a}tze von Erdbeben in N-Chile und im Vogtland, Deutschland, angewandt. Dazu wurden regional bzw. lokal typische Erdbeben zuf{\"a}llig ausgew{\"a}hlt und die P- und S-Phasen manuell bestimmt. Mit den zu testenden S-Pickeralgorithmen wurden dieselben Daten durchsucht und die Picks automatisch bestimmt. Die Konfigurationen der Picker wurden gleichzeitig automatisch und objektiv durch iterative Anpassung optimiert. Ein neu erstelltes Bewertungssystem vergleicht die manuellen und die automatisch gefundenen S-Picks anhand von definierten Qualit{\"a}tsfaktoren. Die Qualit{\"a}tsfaktoren sind: der Mittelwert und die Standardabweichung der zeitlichen Differenzen zwischen den S-Picks, die Anzahl an {\"u}bereinstimmenden S-Picks, die Prozentangaben {\"u}ber m{\"o}gliche S-Picks und die ben{\"o}tigt Rechenzeit. Die objektive Bewertung erfolgte anhand eines Scores. Der Scorewert ergibt sich aus der gewichteten Summe folgender normierter Qualit{\"a}tsfaktoren: Standardabweichung (20\%), Mittelwert (20\%) und Prozentangabe {\"u}ber m{\"o}gliche S-Picks (60\%). Konfigurationen mit hohem Score werden bevorzugt. Die bevorzugten Konfigurationen der verschiedenen Picker wurden miteinander verglichen, um den am besten geeigneten S-Pickeralgorithmus zu bestimmen. Allgemein zeigt sich, dass der S-AIC Picker f{\"u}r jeden der drei Datens{\"a}tze die h{\"o}chsten Scores und damit die besten Ergebnisse liefert. Dabei wurde f{\"u}r jeden Datensatz ein andere Konfiguration der Parameter des S-AIC Pickers als die am besten geeignete bezeichnet. Daher ist f{\"u}r jede Erdbebenregion eine andere Konfigurationen erforderlich, um optimale Ergebnisse mit diesem S-Picker zu bekommen.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Liu2020,
  author    = {Liu, Qi},
  title     = {Influence of CO2 degassing on microbial community distribution and activity in the Hartoušov degassing system, western Eger Rift (Czech Republic)},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-47534},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-475341},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {146},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The Cheb Basin (CZ) is a shallow Neogene intracontinental basin located in the western Eger Rift. The Cheb Basin is characterized by active seismicity and diffuse degassing of mantle-derived CO2 in mofette fields. Within the Cheb Basin, the Hartoušov mofette field shows a daily CO2 flux of 23-97 tons. More than 99\% of CO2 released over an area of 0.35 km2. Seismic active periods have been observed in 2000 and 2014 in the Hartoušov mofette field. Due to the active geodynamic processes, the Cheb Basin is considered to be an ideal region for the continental deep biosphere research focussing on the interaction of biological processes with geological processes. To study the influence of CO2 degassing on microbial community in the surface and subsurface environments, two 3-m shallow drillings and a 108.5-m deep scientific drilling were conducted in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Additionally, the fluid retrieved from the deep drilling borehole was also recovered. The different ecosystems were compared regarding their geochemical properties, microbial abundances, and microbial community structures. The geochemistry of the mofette is characterized by low pH, high TOC, and sulfate contents while the subsurface environment shows a neutral pH, and various TOC and sulfate contents in different lithological settings. Striking differences in the microbial community highlight the substantial impact of elevated CO2 concentrations and high saline groundwater on microbial processes. In general, the microorganisms had low abundance in the deep subsurface sediment compared with the shallow mofette. However, within the mofette and the deep subsurface sediment, the abundance of microbes does not show a typical decrease with depth, indicating that the uprising CO2-rich groundwater has a strong influence on the microbial communities via providing sufficient substrate for anaerobic chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms. Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes and multivariate statistics reveals that the pH strongly influences the microbial community composition in the mofette, while the subsurface microbial community is significantly influenced by the groundwater which motivated by the degassing CO2. Acidophilic microorganisms show a much higher relative abundance in the mofette. Meanwhile, the OTUs assigned to family Comamonadaceae are the dominant taxa which characterize the subsurface communities. Additionally, taxa involved in sulfur cycling characterizing the microbial communities in both mofette and CO2 dominated subsurface environments. Another investigated important geo-bio interaction is the influence of the seismic activity. During seismic events, released H2 may serve as the electron donor for microbial hydrogenotrophic processes, such as methanogenesis. To determine whether the seismic events can potentially trigger methanogenesis by the elevated geogenic H2 concentration, we performed laboratory simulation experiments with sediments retrieved from the drillings. The simulation results indicate that after the addition of hydrogen, substantial amounts of methane were produced in incubated mofette sediments and deep subsurface sediments. The methanogenic hydrogenotrophic genera Methanobacterium was highly enriched during the incubation. The modeling of the in-situ observation of the earthquake swarm period in 2000 at the Novy Kostel focal area/Czech Republic and our laboratory simulation experiments reveals a close relation between seismic activities and microbial methane production via earthquake-induced H2 release. We thus conclude that H2 - which is released during seismic activity - can potentially trigger methanogenic activity in the deep subsurface. Based on this conclusion, we further hypothesize that the hydrogenotrophic early life on Earth was boosted by the Late Heavy Bombardment induced seismic activity in approximately 4.2 to 3.8 Ga.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Marc2016,
  author    = {Marc, Odin},
  title     = {Earthquake-induced landsliding},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-96808},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xvi, 171},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Earthquakes deform Earth's surface, building long-lasting topographic features and contributing to landscape and mountain formation. However, seismic waves produced by earthquakes may also destabilize hillslopes, leading to large amounts of soil and bedrock moving downslope. Moreover, static deformation and shaking are suspected to damage the surface bedrock and therefore alter its future properties, affecting hydrological and erosional dynamics. Thus, earthquakes participate both in mountain building and stimulate directly or indirectly their erosion. Moreover, the impact of earthquakes on hillslopes has important implications for the amount of sediment and organic matter delivered to rivers, and ultimately to oceans, during episodic catastrophic seismic crises, the magnitude of life and property losses associated with landsliding, the perturbation and recovery of landscape properties after shaking, and the long term topographic evolution of mountain belts. Several of these aspects have been addressed recently through individual case studies but additional data compilation as well as theoretical or numerical modelling are required to tackle these issues in a more systematic and rigorous manner. This dissertation combines data compilation of earthquake characteristics, landslide mapping, and seismological data interpretation with physically-based modeling in order to address how earthquakes impact on erosional processes and landscape evolution. Over short time scales (10-100 s) and intermediate length scales (10 km), I have attempted to improve our understanding and ability to predict the amount of landslide debris triggered by seismic shaking in epicentral areas. Over long time scales (1-100 ky) and across a mountain belt (100 km) I have modeled the competition between erosional unloading and building of topography associated with earthquakes. Finally, over intermediate time scales (1-10 y) and at the hillslope scale (0.1-1 km) I have collected geomorphological and seismological data that highlight persistent effects of earthquakes on landscape properties and behaviour. First, I compiled a database on earthquakes that produced significant landsliding, including an estimate of the total landslide volume and area, and earthquake characteristics such as seismic moment and source depth. A key issue is the accurate conversion of landslide maps into volume estimates. Therefore I also estimated how amalgamation - when mapping errors lead to the bundling of multiple landslide into a single polygon - affects volume estimates from various earthquake-induced landslide inventories and developed an algorithm to automatically detect this artifact. The database was used to test a physically-based prediction of the total landslide area and volume caused by earthquakes, based on seismological scaling relationships and a statistical description of the landscape properties. The model outperforms empirical fits in accuracy, with 25 out of 40 cases well predicted, and allows interpretation of many outliers in physical terms. Apart from seismological complexities neglected by the model I found that exceptional rock strength properties or antecedent conditions may explain most outliers. Second, I assessed the geomorphic effects of large earthquakes on landscape dynamics by surveying the temporal evolution of precipitation-normalized landslide rate. I found strongly elevated landslide rates following earthquakes that progressively recover over 1 to 4 years, indicating that regolith strength drops and recovers. The relaxation is clearly non-linear for at least one case, and does not seem to correlate with coseismic landslide reactivation, water table level increase or tree root-system recovery. I suggested that shallow bedrock is damaged by the earthquake and then heals on annual timescales. Such variations in ground strength must be translated into shallow subsurface seismic velocities that are increasingly surveyed with ambient seismic noise correlations. With seismic noise autocorrelation I computed the seismic velocity in the epicentral areas of three earthquakes where I constrained a change in landslide rate. We found similar recovery dynamics and timescales, suggesting that seismic noise correlation techniques could be further developed to meaningfully assess ground strength variations for landscape dynamics. These two measurements are also in good agreement with the temporal dynamics of post-seismic surface displacement measured by GPS. This correlation suggests that the surface healing mechanism may be driven by tectonic deformation, and that the surface regolith and fractured bedrock may behave as a granular media that slowly compacts as it is sheared or vibrated. Last, I compared our model of earthquake-induced landsliding with a standard formulation of surface deformation caused by earthquakes to understand which parameters govern the competition between the building and destruction of topography caused by earthquakes. In contrast with previous studies I found that very large (Mw>8) earthquakes always increase the average topography, whereas only intermediate (Mw ~ 7) earthquakes in steep landscapes may reduce topography. Moreover, I illustrated how the net effect of earthquakes varies with depth or landscape steepness implying a complex and ambivalent role through the life of a mountain belt. Further I showed that faults producing a Gutenberg-Richter distribution of earthquake sizes, will limit topography over a larger range of fault sizes than faults producing repeated earthquakes with a characteristic size.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Martin2005,
  author    = {Martin, Sebastian},
  title     = {Subduction zone wave guides : deciphering slab structure using intraslab seismicity at the Chile-Peru subduction zone},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5820},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {Subduction zones are regions of intense earthquake activity up to great depth. Sources are located inside the subducting lithosphere and, as a consequence, seismic radiation from subduction zone earthquakes is strongly affected by the interior slab structure. The wave field of these intraslab events observed in the forearc region is profoundly influenced by a seismically slow layer atop the slab surface. This several kilometer thick low-velocity channel (wave guide) causes the entrapment of seismic energy producing strong guided wave phases that appear in P onsets in certain regions of the forearc. Observations at the Chile-Peru subduction zone presented here, as well as observations at several other circum-pacific subduction zones show such signals. Guided wave analysis contributes details of immense value regarding the processes near the slab surface, such as layering of subducted lithosphere, source locations of intraslab seismicity and most of all, range and manner of mineralogical phase transitions. Seismological data stem from intermediate depth events (depth range 70 km - 300 km) recorded in northern Chile near 21 Grad S during the collaborative research initiative " Deformation Processes in the Andes" (SFB 267). A subset of stations - all located within a slab-parallel transect close to 69 Grad W - show low-frequency first arrivals (2 Hz), sometimes followed by a second high-frequency phase. We employ 2-dimensional finite-difference simulations of complete P-SV wave propagation to explore the parameter space of subduction zone wave guides and explain the observations. Key processes underlying the guided wave propagation are studied: Two distinct mechanisms of decoupling of trapped energy from the wave guide are analyzed - a prerequisite to observe the phases at stations located at large distances from the wave guide (up to 100 km). Variations of guided wave effects perpendicular to the strike of the subduction zone are investigated, such as the influence of phases traveling in the fast slab. Further, the merits and limits of guided wave analysis are assessed. Frequency spectra of the guided wave onsets prove to be a robust quantity that captures guided wave characteristics at subduction zones including higher mode excitation. They facilitate the inference of wave guide structure and source positioning: The peak frequency of the guided wave fundamental mode is associated with a certain combination of layer width and velocity contrast. The excitation strength of the guided wave fundamental mode and higher modes is associated with source position and orientation relative to the low-velocity layer. The guided wave signals at the Chile-Peru subduction zone are caused by energy that leaks from the subduction zone wave guide. On the one hand, the bend shape of the slab allows for leakage at a depth of 100 km. On the other, equalization of velocities between the wave guide and the host rocks causes further energy leakage at the contact zone between continental and oceanic crust (70 km depth). Guided waves bearing information on deep slab structure can therefore be recorded at specific regions in the forearc. These regions are determined based on slab geometry, and their locations coincide with the observations. A number of strong constraints on the structure of the Chile-Peru slab are inferred: The deep wave guide for intraslab events is formed by a layer of 2 km average width that remains seismically slow (7 percent velocity reduction compared to surrounding mantle). This low-velocity layer at the top of the Chile-Peru slab is imaged from a depth of 100 km down to at least 160 km. Intermediate depth events causing the observed phases are located inside the layer or directly beneath it in the slab mantle. The layer is interpreted as partially eclogized lower oceanic crust persisting to depth beyond the volcanic arc.},
  subject      = {Anden},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Metzger2023,
  author    = {Metzger, Sabrina},
  title     = {Neotectonic deformation over space and time as observed by space-based geodesy},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-59922},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-599225},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {V, 217},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Alfred Wegeners ideas on continental drift were doubted for several decades until the discovery of polarization changes at the Atlantic seafloor and the seismic catalogs imaging oceanic subduction underneath the continental crust (Wadati-Benioff Zone). It took another 20 years until plate motion could be directly observed and quantified by using space geodesy. Since then, it is unthinkable to do neotectonic research without the use of satellite-based methods. Thanks to a tremendeous increase of instrumental observations in space and time over the last decades we significantly increased our knowledge on the complexity of the seismic cycle, that is, the interplay of tectonic stress build up and release. Our classical assumption, earthquakes were the only significant phenomena of strain release previously accumulated in a linear fashion, is outdated. We now know that this concept is actually decorated with a wide range of slow and fast processes such as triggered slip, afterslip, post-seismic and visco-elastic relaxation of the lower crust, dynamic pore-pressure changes in the elastic crust, aseismic creep, slow slip events and seismic swarms. On the basis of eleven peer-reviewed papers studies I here present the diversity of crustal deformation processes. Based on time-series analyses of radar imagery and satellited-based positioning data I quantify tectonic surface deformation and use numerical and analytical models and independent geologic and seismologic data to better understand the underlying crustal processes. The main part of my work focuses on the deformation observed in the Pamir, the Hindu Kush and the Tian Shan that together build the highly active continental collision zone between Northwest-India and Eurasia. Centered around the Sarez earthquake that ruptured the center of the Pamir in 2015 I present diverse examples of crustal deformation phenomena. Driver of the deformation is the Indian indenter, bulldozing into the Pamir, compressing the orogen that then collapses westward into the Tajik depression. A second natural observatory of mine to study tectonic deformation is the oceanic subduction zone in Chile that repeatedly hosts large earthquakes of magnitude 8 and more. These are best to study post-seismic relaxation processes and coupling of large earthquake. My findings nicely illustrate how complex fashion and how much the different deformation phenomena are coupled in space and time. My publications contribute to the awareness that the classical concept of the seismic cycle needs to be revised, which, in turn, has a large influence in the classical, probabilistic seismic hazard assessment that primarily relies on statistically solid recurrence times.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Mohr2013,
  author    = {Mohr, Christian Heinrich},
  title     = {Hydrological and erosion responses to man-made and natural disturbances : insights from forested catchments in South-central Chile},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-70146},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Logging and large earthquakes are disturbances that may significantly affect hydrological and erosional processes and process rates, although in decisively different ways. Despite numerous studies that have documented the impacts of both deforestation and earthquakes on water and sediment fluxes, a number of details regarding the timing and type of de- and reforestation; seismic impacts on subsurface water fluxes; or the overall geomorphic work involved have remained unresolved. The main objective of this thesis is to address these shortcomings and to better understand and compare the hydrological and erosional process responses to such natural and man-made disturbances. To this end, south-central Chile provides an excellent natural laboratory owing to its high seismicity and the ongoing conversion of land into highly productive plantation forests. In this dissertation I combine paired catchment experiments, data analysis techniques, and physics-based modelling to investigate: 1) the effect of plantation forests on water resources, 2) the source and sink behavior of timber harvest areas in terms of overland flow generation and sediment fluxes, 3) geomorphic work and its efficiency as a function of seasonal logging, 4) possible hydrologic responses of the saturated zone to the 2010 Maule earthquake and 5) responses of the vadose zone to this earthquake. Re 1) In order to quantify the hydrologic impact of plantation forests, it is fundamental to first establish their water balances. I show that tree species is not significant in this regard, i.e. Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus do not trigger any decisive different hydrologic response. Instead, water consumption is more sensitive to soil-water supply for the local hydro-climatic conditions. Re 2) Contradictory opinions exist about whether timber harvest areas (THA) generate or capture overland flow and sediment. Although THAs contribute significantly to hydrology and sediment transport because of their spatial extent, little is known about the hydrological and erosional processes occurring on them. I show that THAs may act as both sources and sinks for overland flow, which in turn intensifies surface erosion. Above a rainfall intensity of ~20 mm/h, which corresponds to <10\% of all rainfall, THAs may generate runoff whereas below that threshold they remain sinks. The overall contribution of Hortonian runoff is thus secondary considering the local rainfall regime. The bulk of both runoff and sediment is generated by Dunne, saturation excess, overland flow. I also show that logging may increase infiltrability on THAs which may cause an initial decrease in streamflow followed by an increase after the groundwater storage has been refilled. Re 3) I present changes in frequency-magnitude distributions following seasonal logging by applying Quantile Regression Forests at hitherto unprecedented detail. It is clearly the season that controls the hydro-geomorphic work efficiency of clear cutting. Logging, particularly dry seasonal logging, caused a shift of work efficiency towards less flashy and mere but more frequent moderate rainfall-runoff events. The sediment transport is dominated by Dunne overland flow which is consistent with physics-based modelling using WASA-SED. Re 4) It is well accepted that earthquakes may affect hydrological processes in the saturated zone. Assuming such flow conditions, consolidation of saturated saprolitic material is one possible response. Consolidation raises the hydraulic gradients which may explain the observed increase in discharge following earthquakes. By doing so, squeezed water saturates the soil which in turn increases the water accessible for plant transpiration. Post-seismic enhanced transpiration is reflected in the intensification of diurnal cycling. Re 5) Assuming unsaturated conditions, I present the first evidence that the vadose zone may also respond to seismic waves by releasing pore water which in turn feeds groundwater reservoirs. By doing so, water tables along the valley bottoms are elevated thus providing additional water resources to the riparian vegetation. By inverse modelling, the transient increase in transpiration is found to be 30-60\%. Based on the data available, both hypotheses, are not testable. Finally, when comparing the hydrological and erosional effects of the Maule earthquake with the impact of planting exotic plantation forests, the overall observed earthquake effects are comparably small, and limited to short time scales.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Petersen2021,
  author    = {Petersen, Gesa Maria},
  title     = {Source studies of small earthquakes in the AlpArray: CMT inversion, seismo-tectonic analysis and methodological developments},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-52563},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-525635},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {151},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Centroid moment tensor inversion can provide insight into ongoing tectonic processes and active faults. In the Alpine mountains (central Europe), challenges result from low signal-to-noise ratios of earthquakes with small to moderate magnitudes and complex wave propagation effects through the heterogeneous crustal structure of the mountain belt. In this thesis, I make use of the temporary installation of the dense AlpArray seismic network (AASN) to establish a work flow to study seismic source processes and enhance the knowledge of the Alpine seismicity. The cumulative thesis comprises four publications on the topics of large seismic networks, seismic source processes in the Alps, their link to tectonics and stress field, and the inclusion of small magnitude earthquakes into studies of active faults. Dealing with hundreds of stations of the dense AASN requires the automated assessment of data and metadata quality. I developed the open source toolbox AutoStatsQ to perform an automated data quality control. Its first application to the AlpArray seismic network has revealed significant errors of amplitude gains and sensor orientations. A second application of the orientation test to the Turkish KOERI network, based on Rayleigh wave polarization, further illustrated the potential in comparison to a P wave polarization method. Taking advantage of the gain and orientation results of the AASN, I tested different inversion settings and input data types to approach the specific challenges of centroid moment tensor (CMT) inversions in the Alps. A comparative study was carried out to define the best fitting procedures. The application to 4 years of seismicity in the Alps (2016-2019) substantially enhanced the amount of moment tensor solutions in the region. We provide a list of moment tensors solutions down to magnitude Mw 3.1. Spatial patterns of typical focal mechanisms were analyzed in the seismotectonic context, by comparing them to long-term seismicity, historical earthquakes and observations of strain rates. Additionally, we use our MT solutions to investigate stress regimes and orientations along the Alpine chain. Finally, I addressed the challenge of including smaller magnitude events into the study of active faults and source processes. The open-source toolbox Clusty was developed for the clustering of earthquakes based on waveforms recorded across a network of seismic stations. The similarity of waveforms reflects both, the location and the similarity of source mechanisms. Therefore the clustering bears the opportunity to identify earthquakes of similar faulting styles, even when centroid moment tensor inversion is not possible due to low signal-to-noise ratios of surface waves or oversimplified velocity models. The toolbox is described through an application to the Zakynthos 2018 aftershock sequence and I subsequently discuss its potential application to weak earthquakes (Mw<3.1) in the Alps.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{RodriguezPiceda2022,
  author    = {Rodriguez Piceda, Constanza},
  title     = {Thermomechanical state of the southern Central Andes},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-54927},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-549275},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xx, 228},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {The Andes are a ~7000 km long N-S trending mountain range developed along the South American western continental margin. Driven by the subduction of the oceanic Nazca plate beneath the continental South American plate, the formation of the northern and central parts of the orogen is a type case for a non-collisional orogeny. In the southern Central Andes (SCA, 29°S-39°S), the oceanic plate changes the subduction angle between 33°S and 35°S from almost horizontal (< 5° dip) in the north to a steeper angle (~30° dip) in the south. This sector of the Andes also displays remarkable along- and across- strike variations of the tectonic deformation patterns. These include a systematic decrease of topographic elevation, of crustal shortening and foreland and orogenic width, as well as an alternation of the foreland deformation style between thick-skinned and thin-skinned recorded along- and across the strike of the subduction zone. Moreover, the SCA are a very seismically active region. The continental plate is characterized by a relatively shallow seismicity (< 30 km depth) which is mainly focussed at the transition from the orogen to the lowland areas of the foreland and the forearc; in contrast, deeper seismicity occurs below the interiors of the northern foreland. Additionally, frequent seismicity is also recorded in the shallow parts of the oceanic plate and in a sector of the flat slab segment between 31°S and 33°S. The observed spatial heterogeneity in tectonic and seismic deformation in the SCA has been attributed to multiple causes, including variations in sediment thickness, the presence of inherited structures and changes in the subduction angle of the oceanic slab. However, there is no study that inquired the relationship between the long-term rheological configuration of the SCA and the spatial deformation patterns. Moreover, the effects of the density and thickness configuration of the continental plate and of variations in the slab dip angle in the rheological state of the lithosphere have been not thoroughly investigated yet. Since rheology depends on composition, pressure and temperature, a detailed characterization of the compositional, structural and thermal fields of the lithosphere is needed. Therefore, by using multiple geophysical approaches and data sources, I constructed the following 3D models of the SCA lithosphere: (i) a seismically-constrained structural and density model that was tested against the gravity field; (ii) a thermal model integrating the conversion of mantle shear-wave velocities to temperature with steady-state conductive calculations in the uppermost lithosphere (< 50 km depth), validated by temperature and heat-flow measurements; and (iii) a rheological model of the long-term lithospheric strength using as input the previously-generated models. The results of this dissertation indicate that the present-day thermal and rheological fields of the SCA are controlled by different mechanisms at different depths. At shallow depths (< 50 km), the thermomechanical field is modulated by the heterogeneous composition of the continental lithosphere. The overprint of the oceanic slab is detectable where the oceanic plate is shallow (< 85 km depth) and the radiogenic crust is thin, resulting in overall lower temperatures and higher strength compared to regions where the slab is steep and the radiogenic crust is thick. At depths > 50 km, largest temperatures variations occur where the descending slab is detected, which implies that the deep thermal field is mainly affected by the slab dip geometry. The outcomes of this thesis suggests that long-term thermomechanical state of the lithosphere influences the spatial distribution of seismic deformation. Most of the seismicity within the continental plate occurs above the modelled transition from brittle to ductile conditions. Additionally, there is a spatial correlation between the location of these events and the transition from the mechanically strong domains of the forearc and foreland to the weak domain of the orogen. In contrast, seismicity within the oceanic plate is also detected where long-term ductile conditions are expected. I therefore analysed the possible influence of additional mechanisms triggering these earthquakes, including the compaction of sediments in the subduction interface and dehydration reactions in the slab. To that aim, I carried out a qualitative analysis of the state of hydration in the mantle using the ratio between compressional- and shear-wave velocity (vp/vs ratio) from a previous seismic tomography. The results from this analysis indicate that the majority of the seismicity spatially correlates with hydrated areas of the slab and overlying continental mantle, with the exception of the cluster within the flat slab segment. In this region, earthquakes are likely triggered by flexural processes where the slab changes from a flat to a steep subduction angle. First-order variations in the observed tectonic patterns also seem to be influenced by the thermomechanical configuration of the lithosphere. The mechanically strong domains of the forearc and foreland, due to their resistance to deformation, display smaller amounts of shortening than the relatively weak orogenic domain. In addition, the structural and thermomechanical characteristics modelled in this dissertation confirm previous analyses from geodynamic models pointing to the control of the observed heterogeneities in the orogen and foreland deformation style. These characteristics include the lithospheric and crustal thickness, the presence of weak sediments and the variations in gravitational potential energy. Specific conditions occur in the cold and strong northern foreland, which is characterized by active seismicity and thick-skinned structures, although the modelled crustal strength exceeds the typical values of externally-applied tectonic stresses. The additional mechanisms that could explain the strain localization in a region that should resist deformation are: (i) increased tectonic forces coming from the steepening of the slab and (ii) enhanced weakening along inherited structures from pre-Andean deformation events. Finally, the thermomechanical conditions of this sector of the foreland could be a key factor influencing the preservation of the flat subduction angle at these latitudes of the SCA.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Roessler2006,
  author    = {R{\"o}ßler, Dirk},
  title     = {Retrieval of earthquake source parameters in inhomogeneous anisotropic mediawith application to swarm events in West Bohemia in 2000},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-7758},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2006},
  abstract  = {Earthquakes form by sudden brittle failure of rock mostly as shear ruptures along a rupture plane. Beside this, mechanisms other than pure shearing have been observed for some earthquakes mainly in volcanic areas. Possible explanations include complex rupture geometries and tensile earthquakes. Tensile earthquakes occur by opening or closure of cracks during rupturing. They are likely to be often connected with fluids that cause pressure changes in the pore space of rocks leading to earthquake triggering. Tensile components have been reported for swarm earthquakes in West Bohemia in 2000. The aim and subject of this work is an assessment and the accurate determination of such tensile components for earthquakes in anisotropic media. Currently used standard techniques for the retrieval of earthquake source mechanisms assume isotropic rock properties. By means of moment tensors, equivalent forces acting at the source are used to explain the radiated wavefield. Conversely, seismic anisotropy, i.e. directional dependence of elastic properties, has been observed in the earth's crust and mantle such as in West Bohemia. In comparison to isotropy, anisotropy causes modifications in wave amplitudes and shear-wave splitting. In this work, effects of seismic anisotropy on true or apparent tensile source components of earthquakes are investigated. In addition, earthquake source parameters are determined considering anisotropy. It is shown that moment tensors and radiation patterns due to shear sources in anisotropic media may be similar to those of tensile sources in isotropic media. In contrast, similarities between tensile earthquakes in anisotropic rocks and shear sources in isotropic media may exist. As a consequence, the interpretation of tensile source components is ambiguous. The effects that are due to anisotropy depend on the orientation of the earthquake source and the degree of anisotropy. The moment of an earthquake is also influenced by anisotropy. The orientation of fault planes can be reliably determined even if isotropy instead of anisotropy is assumed and if the spectra of the compressional waves are used. Greater difficulties may arise when the spectra of split shear waves are additionally included. Retrieved moment tensors show systematic artefacts. Observed tensile source components determined for events in West Bohemia in 1997 can only partly be attributed to the effects of moderate anisotropy. Furthermore, moment tensors determined earlier for earthquakes induced at the German Continental Deep Drilling Program (KTB), Bavaria, were reinterpreted under assumptions of anisotropic rock properties near the borehole. The events can be consistently identified as shear sources, although their moment tensors comprise tensile components that are considered to be apparent. These results emphasise the necessity to consider anisotropy to uniquely determine tensile source parameters. Therefore, a new inversion algorithm has been developed, tested, and successfully applied to 112 earthquakes that occurred during the most recent intense swarm episode in West Bohemia in 2000 at the German-Czech border. Their source mechanisms have been retrieved using isotropic and anisotropic velocity models. Determined local magnitudes are in the range between 1.6 and 3.2. Fault-plane solutions are similar to each other and characterised by left-lateral faulting on steeply dipping, roughly North-South oriented rupture planes. Their dip angles decrease above a depth of about 8.4km. Tensile source components indicating positive volume changes are found for more than 60\% of the considered earthquakes. Their size depends on source time and location. They are significant at the beginning of the swarm and at depths below 8.4km but they decrease in importance later in the course of the swarm. Determined principle stress axes include P axes striking Northeast and Taxes striking Southeast. They resemble those found earlier in Central Europe. However, depth-dependence in plunge is observed. Plunge angles of the P axes decrease gradually from 50° towards shallow angles with increasing depth. In contrast, the plunge angles of the T axes change rapidly from about 8° above a depth of 8.4km to 21° below this depth. By this thesis, spatial and temporal variations in tensile source components and stress conditions have been reported for the first time for swarm earthquakes in West Bohemia in 2000. They also persist, when anisotropy is assumed and can be explained by intrusion of fluids into the opened cracks during tensile faulting.},
  subject      = {Seismologie},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{RoesslerKruegerOhrnberger2007,
  author    = {R{\"o}ßler, Dirk and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Ohrnberger, Matthias},
  title     = {Rupture propagation of recent large TsE off-coast Sumatra and Java},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-13039},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {The spatio-temporal evolution of the three recent tsunamogenic earthquakes (TsE) off-coast N-Sumatra (Mw9.3), 28/03/2005 (Mw8.5) off-coast Nias, on 17/07/2006 (Mw7.7) off-coast Java. Start time, duration, and propagation of the rupture are retrieved. All parameters can be obtained rapidly after recording of the first-arrival phases in near-real time processing. We exploit semblance analysis, backpropagation and broad-band seismograms within 30°-95° distance. Image enhancement is reached by stacking the semblance of arrays within different directions. For the three events, the rupture extends over about 1150, 150, and 200km, respectively. The events in 2004, 2005, and 2006 had source durations of at least 480s, 120s, and 180s, respectively. We observe unilateral rupture propagation for all events except for the rupture onset and the Nias event, where there is evidence for a bilateral start of the rupture. Whereas average rupture speed of the events in 2004 and 2005 is in the order of the S-wave speed (≈2.5-3km/s), unusually slow rupturing (≈1.5 km/s) is indicated for the July 2006 event. For the July 2006 event we find rupturing of a 200 x 100 km wide area in at least 2 phases with propagation from NW to SE. The event has some characteristics of a circular rupture followed by unilateral faulting with change in slip rate. Fault area and aftershock distribution coincide. Spatial and temporal resolution are frequency dependent. Studies of a Mw6.0 earthquake on 2006/09/21 and one synthetic source show a ≈1° limit in resolution. Retrieved source area, source duration as well as peak values for semblance and beam power generally increase with the size of the earthquake making possible an automatic detection and classification of large and small earthquakes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{RoesslerKruegerOhrnberger2007,
  author    = {R{\"o}ßler, Dirk and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Ohrnberger, Matthias},
  title     = {Rupture propagation of the TsE (Mw7.7) on 17 July 2006 off-coast Java},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-12964},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {The Mw=7.7 tsunamogenic earthquake (TsE) on 17 July 2006, 08:19:28 shock the Indian Ocean at about 15 km depth off-coast Java, Indonesia. It caused a local tsunami with wave heights exceeding 2 m. The death toll reached several hundred. Thousands of people were displaced. By means of standard array methods, we have investigated the propagation and the extent of the rupture front of the causative earthquake. Waveform similarity is expressed by means of the semblance. We back-propagate the semblance for first-arrival phases recorded at broad-band stations within teleseismic distances (30°-95°). Image enhancement is realised by stacking the semblance of 8 arrays within different epicentral and azimuthal directions. From teleseismic observations we find rupturing of a 200 x 100 km wide area in at least 2 phases with propagation from NW to SE and source duration >125 s. The event has some characteristics of a circular rupture followed by unilateral faulting with change in slip rate. Unusually slow rupturing (≈1.5 km/s) is indicated. Fault area and aftershock distribution coincide. Spatial and temporal resolution are frequency dependent. Studies of a Mw6.0 earthquake on 2006/09/21 and one synthetic source show a ≈1° limit in resolution. Retrieved source area, source duration as well as peak values for semblance and beam power increase with the size of the earthquake making possible an automatic detection and classification of large and small earthquakes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{RoesslerKruegerOhrnberger2008,
  author    = {R{\"o}ßler, Dirk and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Ohrnberger, Matthias},
  title     = {Rupture Propagation of the 2008/05/12 Ms8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-29195},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {We study the rupture propagation of the 2008/05/12 Ms8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake. We apply array techniques such as semblance vespagram analysis to P waves recorded at seismic broadband station within 30-100° epicentral distance. By combination of multiple large aperture station groups spatial and temporal resolution is enhanced and problems due source directivity and source mechanism are avoided. We find that seismic energy was released for at least 110 s. Propagating unilaterally at sub-shear rupture velocity of about 2.5 km/s in NE direction, the earthquake reaches a lateral extent of more than 300 km. Whereas high semblance during within 70 s from rupture start indicates simple propagation more complex source processes are indicated thereafter by decreases coherency in seismograms. At this stage of the event coherency is low but significantly above noise level. We emphasize that first result of our computations where obtain within 30 minutes after source time by using an atomized algorithm. This procedure has been routinely and globally applied to major earthquakes. Results are made public through internet.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{RoesslerKruegerOhrnbergeretal.2008,
  author    = {R{\"o}ßler, Dirk and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Ohrnberger, Matthias and Ehlert, Lutz},
  title     = {Automatic near real-time characterisation of large earthquakes},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-20191},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {An der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam wird seit 2008 ein automatisiertes Verfahren angewandt, um Bruchparamter großer Erdbeben in quasi-Echtzeit, d.h. wenige Minuten nachdem sich das Beben ereignet hat, zu bestimmen und der {\"O}ffentlichkeit via Internet zur Verf{\"u}gung zu stellen. Es ist vorgesehen, das System in das Deutsch-Indonesische Tsunamifr{\"u}hwarnsystem (GITEWS) zu integrieren, f{\"u}r das es speziell konfiguriert ist. Wir bestimmen insbesondere die Dauer und die Ausdehnung des Erdbebens, sowie dessen Bruchgeschwindigkeit und -richtung. Dabei benutzen wir die Seismogramme der zuerst eintreffenden P Wellen vom Breitbandstationen in teleseimischer Entfernung vom Beben sowie herk{\"o}mmliche Arrayverfahren in teilweise modifizierter Form. Die Semblance wir als {\"A}hnlichkeitsmaß verwendet, um Seismogramme eines Stationsnetzes zu vergleichen. Im Falle eines Erdbebens ist die Semblance unter Ber{\"u}cksichtigung des Hypozentrums zur Herdzeit und w{\"a}hrend des Bruchvorgangs deutlich zeitlich und r{\"a}umlich erh{\"o}ht und konzentriert. Indem wir die Ergebnisse verschiedener Stationsnetzwerke kombinieren, erreichen wir Unabh{\"a}ngigkeit von der Herdcharakteristik und eine raum-zeitliche Aufl{\"o}sung, die es erlaubt die o.g. Parameter abzuleiten. In unserem Beitrag skizzieren wir die Methode. Anhand der beiden M8.0 Benkulu Erdbeben (Sumatra, Indonesien) vom 12.09.2007 und dem M8.0 Sichuan Ereignis (China) vom 12.05.2008 demonstrieren wir Aufl{\"o}sungsm{\"o}glichkeiten und vergleichen die Ergebnisse der automatisierten Echtzeitanwendung mit nachtr{\"a}glichen Berechnungen. Weiterhin stellen wir eine Internetseite zur Verf{\"u}gung, die die Ergebnisse pr{\"a}sentiert und animiert. Diese kann z.B. in geowissenschaftlichen Einrichtungen an Computerterminals gezeigt werden. Die Internetauftritte haben die folgenden Adressen: http://www.geo.uni-potsdam.de/arbeitsgruppen/Geophysik_Seismologie/forschung/ruptrack/openday http://www.geo.uni-potsdam.de/arbeitsgruppen/Geophysik_Seismologie/forschung/ruptrack},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Shirzaei2010,
  author    = {Shirzaei, Manoochehr},
  title     = {Crustal deformation source monitoring using advanced InSAR time series and time dependent inverse modeling},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-50774},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Crustal deformation can be the result of volcanic and tectonic activity such as fault dislocation and magma intrusion. The crustal deformation may precede and/or succeed the earthquake occurrence and eruption. Mitigating the associated hazard, continuous monitoring of the crustal deformation accordingly has become an important task for geo-observatories and fast response systems. Due to highly non-linear behavior of the crustal deformation fields in time and space, which are not always measurable using conventional geodetic methods (e.g., Leveling), innovative techniques of monitoring and analysis are required. In this thesis I describe novel methods to improve the ability for precise and accurate mapping the spatiotemporal surface deformation field using multi acquisitions of satellite radar data. Furthermore, to better understand the source of such spatiotemporal deformation fields, I present novel static and time dependent model inversion approaches. Almost any interferograms include areas where the signal decorrelates and is distorted by atmospheric delay. In this thesis I detail new analysis methods to reduce the limitations of conventional InSAR, by combining the benefits of advanced InSAR methods such as the permanent scatterer InSAR (PSI) and the small baseline subsets (SBAS) with a wavelet based data filtering scheme. This novel InSAR time series methodology is applied, for instance, to monitor the non-linear deformation processes at Hawaii Island. The radar phase change at Hawaii is found to be due to intrusions, eruptions, earthquakes and flank movement processes and superimposed by significant environmental artifacts (e.g., atmospheric). The deformation field, I obtained using the new InSAR analysis method, is in good agreement with continuous GPS data. This provides an accurate spatiotemporal deformation field at Hawaii, which allows time dependent source modeling. Conventional source modeling methods usually deal with static deformation field, while retrieving the dynamics of the source requires more sophisticated time dependent optimization approaches. This problem I address by combining Monte Carlo based optimization approaches with a Kalman Filter, which provides the model parameters of the deformation source consistent in time. I found there are numerous deformation sources at Hawaii Island which are spatiotemporally interacting, such as volcano inflation is associated to changes in the rifting behavior, and temporally linked to silent earthquakes. I applied these new methods to other tectonic and volcanic terrains, most of which revealing the importance of associated or coupled deformation sources. The findings are 1) the relation between deep and shallow hydrothermal and magmatic sources underneath the Campi Flegrei volcano, 2) gravity-driven deformation at Damavand volcano, 3) fault interaction associated with the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 4) independent block wise flank motion at the Hilina Fault system, Kilauea, and 5) interaction between salt diapir and the 2005 Qeshm earthquake in southern Iran. This thesis, written in cumulative form including 9 manuscripts published or under review in peer reviewed journals, improves the techniques for InSAR time series analysis and source modeling and shows the mutual dependence between adjacent deformation sources. These findings allow more realistic estimation of the hazard associated with complex volcanic and tectonic systems.},
  language  = {en}
}