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.

Earth Science and Engineering