Crustal vertical deformation of Amazon Basin derived from GPS and GRACE/GFO data over past two decades

In this study,the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment(GRACE)satellite observations,combining 71 continuous Global Positioning System(CGPS)data,are used to detect surface vertical loading deformation of the Amazon Basin during 2002-2020.The results show that the maximal annual amplitude of the surface mass changes derived by GRACE is more than 80 cm in terms of the equivalent water height(EWH)in the Amazon Basin.Most part of Amazon experiences mass gain,especially the Amazon River,while there is little mass loss in the northern and eastern parts.Through the Pearson correlation analysis,the monthly de-trended time series of GPS-observed vertical deformation and GRACE-derived mass loading are in good agreement with an average correlation coefficient of about 0.75 throughout the Amazon region.The common seasonal signals of GPS vertical displacements and GRACE/GFO loading deformations are extracted using the stack averaging.The two kinds of common seasonal signals show a good consistency,and together indicate approximate 20 mm peak-to-peak seasonal amplitude.Strong annual variations are identified both in the monthly GPS and GRACE/GFO data by the wavelet analysis.However,the time-frequency spectrum of GPS has more signal details and more significant semi-annual variations than that of GRACE/GFO.These results may contribute to the understanding of secular crustal vertical deformation in the Amazon Basin.

Vertical crustal deformation velocity and its influencing factors over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau based on satellite gravity data

The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(TP)strongly influences climate change,both regionally and globally.Surface observation data from this region have limited coverage and are difficult to obtain.Consequently,the vertical crustal deformation velocity(VCDV)distribution of the TP is poorly constrained.In this study,the VCDV from the TP was inverted by using data from the gravity recovery and climate experiment(GRACE).We were able to obtain the vertical crustal movement by deducting the hydrological factors,based on the assumption that the gravity signal detected by GRACE is mainly composed of hydrological factors and vertical crustal movement.From the vertical crustal movement,we inverted the distribution of the VCDV across the TP.The results showed that the VCDV of the southern,eastern,and northern TP is~1.1 mm/a,~0.5 mm/a,and−0.1 mm/a,respectively,whereas that of the region between the Qilian Haiyuan Fault and the Kunlun Fault is~0.0 mm/a.These results are consistent with the distribution of crustal deformation,thrust earthquakes and faults,and regional lithospheric activity.The hydrology,crustal thickness,and topographic factors did not change the overall distribution of the VCDV across the TP.The influence of hydrological factors is marked,with the maximum differences being approximately−0.4 mm/a in the northwest and 1.0 mm/a in the central area.The results of this study are significant for understanding the kinematics of the TP.