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4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Thuwal 23955-6900
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Sigurjón Jónsson

Associate Professor, Earth Sciences and Engineering

Ph.D. Geophysics, Stanford University, USA, 2002

M.S. Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, USA, 2002

M.S. Geophysics, University of Iceland, Iceland, 1996

B.S. Geophysics, University of Iceland, Iceland, 1994

Research Interests

In his research, Professor Jónsson uses satellite geodesy to study areas threatened by major earthquakes or volcanic activity. Geophysical processes taking place at several kilometers below the earth's surface, such as earthquake fault slip or magma accumulation, result in deformation of the surface that can be measured using geodetic methods. Results of such measurements, along with geophysical modeling, provide vital information about what is going on deeply below surface.

He makes use of satellite radar interferometry (InSAR) to detect and map ground deformation. With this technique, he has studied a variety of geophysical phenomena related to the earthquake cycle, volcanic processes, landslides, as well as reservoir pressure changes.

Selected Publications

  • Jònsson, S., "Stress interaction between magma accumulation and trapdoor faulting on Sierra Negra volcano", Galàpagos, Tectonophysics, 471, 36-44, 2009.
  • Sudhaus, H., and S. Jònsson, "Improved source modeling through combined use of InSAR and GPS under consideration of correlated data errors: Application to the June 2000 Kleifarvatn earthquake Iceland", Geophys. J. Int., 176, 389-404, 2009.
  • Jònsson, S., "Importance of post-seismic viscous relaxation in southern Iceland, Nature Geoscience", 1, 136-139, doi:10.1038/ngeo105, 2008.
  • Jònsson, S., P. Segall, R. Pedersen, and G. Bjornsson, "Post-earthquake ground movements correlated to pore-pressure transients", Nature, 424, 179-183, 2003.
  • Amelung, F., S. Jònsson,, H. Zebker, and P. Segall, "Widespread uplift and trapdoor faulting on Galàpagos volcanoes observed with radar interferometry", Nature, 407, 993-996, 2000.