Dr Juliet Biggs

Research summary

My research primarily uses Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to understand the physics of the processes that deform the earth's surface. Recent developments in satellite geodesy are providing a new perspective on continental tectonics and volcanic processes through observations of aseismic processes such as interseismic strain accumulation, postseismic relaxation and magma intrusion.

These measurements can identify the mechanisms controlling continental deformation and quantify the constitutive laws controlling rheology. My current areas of interest are the East African Rift and the volcanoes of Central America and the Northern Andes. Practical applications of my work include seismic and volcano hazard assessment ...

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Biography

I received BA and MSci degrees in Natural Sciences in 2003 from the University of Cambridge where I specialised in geology and geophysics. Since then, I’ve been using Earth Observation data to study active tectonic processes such as earthquakes and volcanoes. I received my PhD in 2007 for my work on the earthquake cycle in Alaska and then spent 2 years in Miami working on volcanoes in Central and South America. Since returning to the UK, I have been working with the European Space Agency to create a continental-scale map of recent volcanic, earthquake and magmatic activity in the ...

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Selected publications

• Biggs, C, Bastow, I, Keir, D & Lewi, E 2011, ‘Pulses of deformation reveal frequently recurring shallow magmatic activity beneath the Main Ethiopian Rift’. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst, vol 12.
• Biggs, C, Nissen, E, Craig, T, Jackson, J & Robinson, D 2010, ‘Breaking up the hanging wall of a rift-border fault: The 2009 Karonga earthquakes, Malawi’. Geophysical Research Letters, vol 37., pp. L11305

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View complete publications list in the University of Bristol publications system