Correction of TRMM 3B43 monthly precipitation data over the mountainous areas of Peru during the period 1998–2007

In an attempt to estimate the spatial and temporal behaviour of rainfall over the mountainous areas of the Peruvian Andes, a new in situ monthly rainfall dataset has been collected (1998–2007) and compared with Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3B43 monthly precipitation data for regions located above 3000 m. The reliability of the TRMM 3B43 data varies depending on the root mean squared error ratio (%RMSE) and correlation coefficient. Because of the discrepancy between the two datasets, the use of additive and multiplicative correction models is proposed for the TRMM 3B43 data. In the Peruvian mountain ranges, these correction models better approximate TRMM rainfall monthly values, as already verified for annual values. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Quantitative Assessment of DInSAR Measurements of Interseismic Deformation: The Southern San Andreas Fault Case Study

We investigate the capabilities and limitations of the Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) techniques, in particular of the Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) approach, to measure surface deformation in active seismogenetic areas. The DInSAR analysis of low-amplitude, long-wavelength deformation, such as that due to interseismic strain accumulation, is limited by intrinsic trade-offs between deformation signals and orbital uncertainties of SAR platforms in their contributions to the interferometric phases, the latter being typically well approximated by phase ramps. Such trade-offs can be substantially reduced by employing auxiliary measurements of the long-wavelength velocity field. We use continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements from a properly distributed set of stations to perform a pre-filtering operation of the available DInSAR interferograms. In particular, the GPS measurements are used to estimate the secular velocity signal, approximated by a spatial ramp within the azimuth-range radar imaging plane; the phase ramps derived from the GPS data are then subtracted from the available set of DInSAR interferograms. This pre-filtering step allows us to compensate for the major component of the long-wavelength range change that, within the SBAS procedure, might be wrongly interpreted and filtered out as orbital phase ramps. With this correction, the final results are obtained by simply adding the pre-filtered long-wavelength deformation signal to the SBAS retrieved time series. The proposed approach has been applied to a set of ERS-1/2 SAR data acquired during the 1992–2006 time interval over a 200?×?200?km area around the Coachella Valley section of the San Andreas Fault in Southern California, USA. We present results of the comparison between the SBAS and the Line Of Sight (LOS)—projected GPS time series of the USGC/PBO network, as well as the mean LOS velocity fields derived using SBAS, GPS and stacking techniques. Our analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of the presented approach and provides a quantitative assessment of the accuracy of DInSAR measurements of interseismic deformation in a tectonically active area.     

Temporal evolution of sediment supply in Lago Puyehue (Southern Chile) during the last 600 yr and its climatic significance

Short-term climate changes in Southern Chile are investigated by a multi-proxy analysis of a 53-cm-long sedimentary sequence selected among eight short cores retrieved in Lago Puyehue (Chile, 40°S). This core contains a 600-yr-long undisturbed record of paleo-precipitation changes. Two measurement methods for sediment density, organic matter and biogenic silica contents are compared and the most appropriate techniques are selected. Together with aluminium and titanium concentrations, grain size and geochemical properties of the organic matter, these proxies are used to demonstrate paleo-precipitation changes around 40°S. Increase of terrigenous particle supply between A.D. 1490 and A.D. 1700 suggests a humid period. Contemporaneously, δ¹³C data show increasing lake productivity, in response to the high nutrient supply. The A.D. 1700-1900 interval is characterized by a decreasing terrigenous supply and increasing δ¹³C values, interpreted as a drying period. The magnetic susceptibility signal, reflecting the terrigenous/biogenic ratio, demonstrates that similar variations occur in all the undisturbed sedimentary environments of Lago Puyehue. The A.D. 1490-1700 wet period is associated with the onset of the European Little Ice Age (LIA) and interpreted as its local signature. This work supports the fact that the LIA was a global event, not only restricted to the Northern Hemisphere.     

On the generation of ERS/ENVISAT DInSAR time-series via the SBAS technique

We exploit the small baseline subset (SBAS) algorithm for generating deformation time-series from SAR data acquired by sensors with different characteristics but with the same illumination geometry. In particular, our approach is focused on the use of European Remote Sensing (ERS) and ENVISAT satellite data, the latter acquired by the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar sensor on the IS2 swath. The proposed solution is oriented to investigate large-scale displacements with a relatively low spatial resolution (about 100/spl times/100 m) and implements an easy but effective combination of ERS and ENVISAT multilook interferograms which benefits of the temporal overlap between the acquisitions of the two sensors. Moreover, the algorithm does not rely on specific hypothesis on the spatial or temporal characteristics of the investigated deformations. Presented results, achieved on a synthetic aperture radar dataset relevant to the Napoli city area (Italy), confirm the validity of the approach.     

Cretaceous to Cenozoic sequential kinematics in the forearc–arc transition: effects of changing oblique plate convergence and the San Andreas system with implications for the La Paz fault (southern Baja California, Mexico)

We studied metasediments and mylonitic arc granitoids from the forearc–arc transition of southern Baja California, Mexico. Thin section analyses and field evidence show that metamorphism of the forearc–arc transition is of the high T/P active margin type. The heat was provided by Cretaceous arc intrusions. Field observations and thin section analyses, including the time/temperature deformation path, demonstrate that the study area was first affected by dextral, ductile shearing followed by ductile, sinistral, possibly transpressive strike-slip parallel to the magmatic arc during the Cretaceous. Both intervals are related to changing oblique plate convergence and, thus, identified as trench-linked strike-slip effects. The geometric relationship between arc-dipping foliation, stretching lineation and shear sense indicates that the arc may have been pressed onto the rocks of the study area during sinistral shearing. The sinistral interval lasted up until regional cooling (Early Cenozoic?). Because the La Paz fault is closely associated with the forearc–arc transition, it must have the same Cretaceous to Early Cenozoic kinematic history. The northern segment of the La Paz fault is a modern, brittle, strike-slip fault interpreted as a dextral synthetic fault of the San Andreas system which opened the Gulf of California (Mar de Cortés/Golfo de California). We found no evidence for Miocene Basin and Range extension.