Education Profile

• ​​​​​​Ph.D. Geophysics, Stanford University, 2002
  
• M.S. Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, 2002
• M.S. Geophysics, University of Iceland, 1996
• B.S. Geophysics, University of 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

• ​Xu, W., and S. Jónsson, The 2007-8 volcanic eruption on Jebel at Tair island (Red Sea), observed by satellite radar and optical images, Bull. Volcanol. 76, 795-808, doi: 10.1007/s00445-014-0795-9, 2014.
  
• Cavalié, O. and S. Jónsson, Block-like plate movements in eastern Anatolia observed by InSAR, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 1-6, doi: 10.1002/2013GL058170, 2014.
• Metzger, S., S. Jónsson, G. Danielsen, S. Hreinsdóttir, F. Jouanne, G. Giardini, and T. Villemin, Present kinematics of the Tjörnes Fracture Zone, North Iceland, from campaign and continuous GPS measurements, Geophys. J. Int. 192, 441-455, 2013.
• Jónsson, S., Tensile rock mass strength estimated using InSAR, Geophys. Res. Lett. 39, L21305, doi:10.1029/2012GL053309, 2012.
• Jónsson, S., "Importance of post-seismic viscous relaxation in southern Iceland, Nature Geoscience", 1, 136-139, doi:10.1038/ngeo105, 2008.