Sigurjón Jónsson

Principal Investigator

Professor of Geophysics

Current

Location:

Building 5, Room 4233

Social Profile:

Research Interests

In my research I use 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.  I use results of such measurements, along with geophysical modeling, to find out what is going on at depth.  I primarily use satellite radar interferometry (InSAR) to detect and map the ground deformation.  With this technique I have studied a variety of geophysical phenomena related to the earthquake cycle, volcanic processes, landslides, as well as reservoir pressure changes.

Selected Publications

    1. Fittipaldi, M., D. Trippanera, N. Augustin, F. van der Zwan, L. Parisi & S. Jónsson, Mabahiss Deep in the northern Red Sea: New insights from high-resolution bathymetric mapping and analysis, Marine Geology, 490, 107645, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2025.107645, 2025.
    2. Shiddiqi, H.A., L. Parisi, E.V. Cano, M. Fittipaldi, N. Augustin, G. Baby, P.M. Mai & S. Jónsson, Transform faulting in the northern Red Sea revealed by ocean bottom seismometers deployed in the Zabargad Fracture Zone, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 26, e2025GC012253, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GC012253, 2025.
    3. Liu, S. & S. Jónsson, Glacial isostatic uplift in the Tibetan Plateau and surroundings, Geophys. Res. Lett., 52, e2025GL114899, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114899, 2025.
    4. Barreto, A., R. Viltres, R. Matrau, S. Metzger, B.G. Ófeigsson, S. Liu, B. Halldórsson, F. Jouanne, P.M. Mai, S. Jónsson, Interseismic deformation of the Húsavík-Flatey fault (Noth Iceland) from two decades of GNSS data, Geophys. J. Int., 241, 1662-1678, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaf106, 2025.
    5. Moulin, A. & S. Jónsson, Persisting influence of continental inheritance on early oceanic spreading, Scientific Reports 15:10249, https://rdcu.be/eeZHI, 2025.
    6. Liu, J., S. Jónsson, X. Li, W. Yao & Y. Klinger, Extensive off-fault damage around the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake surface ruptures, Nature Com. 16:1286, https://rdcu.be/d8r7p, 2025.
    7. Liu, S., X. Xu, J.-M. Nocquet, G. Chen, X. Tan, S. Jónsson & Y. Klinger, Lower crustal thickening drives present-day uplift in northern Tibet, Earth & Planetary Sci. Lett. 655, 119245, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119245, 2025.
    8. Ribot, M., M. Lefèvre, Y. Klinger, E. Pons-Branchu, A. Dapoigny & S. Jónsson, Vertical deformation along a strike-slip plate boundary: The uplifted marine terraces of the Gulf of Aqaba and Tiran Island, at the southern end of the Dea Sea fault, Tectonics, 43, e2023TC007977, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023TC007977, 2024.
    9. Suhendi, C., B. Li, H. Vasyura-Bathke, J. Liu, S. Jónsson & P.M. Mai, Bayesian inversion and bilaterally quasi-symmetric rupture process on a multi-segment fault in the 2021 Mw7.4 Maduo earthquake, Geophys. J. Int. 240, 673-695. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggae398, 2024.
    10. Skelton, A., E. Sturkell, C.M. Mörth, G. Stockmann, S. Jónsson, A. Stefansson, L. Liljedahl-Claesson, N. Wästeby, M. Andrén, E. Tollefsen, J.G. Robin, N. Keller, H. Geirsson, H. Hjartarson & I. Kockum, Towards a method for forecasting earthquakes in Iceland using changes in groundwater chemistry, Comm. Earth & Env. 5, 662, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01852-3, 2024.
    11. Liu, J., J. Hu, R. Bürgmann, Z. Li & S. Jónsson, Mitigating atmospheric delays in InSAR time series: The DetrendInSAR method and its validation, J. Geophys. Res., 129, e2024JB028920, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JB028920, 2024.
    12. Liu, S., A. Moulin & S. Jónsson, Unloading uplift caused by surface processes in the New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Geophys. Res. Lett., 51, http://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109019, e2024GL109019, 2024.
    13. De Pascale, G.P., T.J. Fischer, W.M. Moreland, H. Geirsson, P. Hrubcová, V. Drouin, D. Forester, M. Payet-Clerc, D.B. da Silveira, J. Vlček, B.G. Ófeigsson, Á. Höskuldsson, H.K. Torfadóttir, I.K. Valdimarsdóttir, B.D.J. Blöndal, I. Jónsdóttir, S. Jónsson, T. Thordarson, On the move: 2023 observations on real time graben formation, Grindavík, Iceland, Geophys. Res. Lett., 51(14), e2024GL110150, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110150, 2024.
    14. Li, X., S. Jónsson, S. Liu, Z. Ma, N. Castro-Perdomo, S. Sesca, F. Masson & Y. Klinger, Resolving the slip-rate inconsistency along the northern Dead Sea fault, Science Advances, 10(11), https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj8408, 2024.
    15. Matrau, R. Y. Klinger, T. Thórdarson, E.R. Guðmundsdóttir, U. Avşar, L. Parisi, M. Fittipaldi & S. Jónsson, Evidence for Holocene earthquakes along the Húsavík-Flatey Fault in North Iceland: Implications for the seismic behavior of oceanic transform faults, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., https://doi.org/10.1785/0120230119, 2024.
    16. Parisi, L., N. Augustin, D. Trippanera, H. Kirk, A. Dannowski, R. Matrau, M. Fittipaldi, A. Nobile, O. Zielke, E.V. Cano, G. Hoogewerf, A.E. Carmona, M.A.P. Barreto, M. Juchem, P.M. Mai, M. Schmidt-Aursch & S. Jónsson, The first network of ocean bottom seismometers in the Red Sea to investigate the Zabargad Fracture Zone, Seismica, 3(1), https://doi.org/10.26443/seismica.v3i1.729, 2024.
    17. Vasyura-Bathke, H., A. Steinberg, F. Krüger, G. Feng, P.M. Mai & S. Jónsson, Discontinuous transtensional rupture of the Mw 7.2 1995 Gulf of Aqaba earthquake, Seismica, 3(1), https://doi.org/10.26443/seismica.v3i1.1135, 2024.
    18. Bektaş, Z, U. Avşar, M. Ribot, Y. Klinger & S. Jónsson, Seismo-turbidites reveal locations of major earthquakes during the last millennium in the Gulf of Aqaba, southern Dead Sea fault, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 629, 118595, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2024.118595, 2024.
    19. Ducrocq, C., T. Árnadóttir, P. Einarsson, S. Jónsson, V. Drouin, H. Geirsson & Á.R. Hjartardóttir, Widespread fracture movements during a volcano-tectonic unrest: The Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, from 2019-2021 TerraSAR-X interferometry, Bull. Volcanol., 86:14, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-023-01699-0, 2024.
    20. Naranjo, D., L. Parisi, S. Jónsson, P. Jousset, D. Wethmuller & C. Weemstra, Ocean bottom seismometer clock correction using ambient seismic noise, Seismica, 3(1), https://doi.org/10.26443/seismica.v3i1.367, 2024.
    21. Mai, P.M., T. Aspiotis, … U. Avsar, Y. Klinger & S. Jónsson, The destructive earthquake duplet of 6 February 2023 in south-central Türkiye and northwestern Syria: Initial observations and analyses, The Seismic Record, 3(2), 105-115, https://doi.org/10.1785/0320230007, 2023.
    22. Cao, Y., S. Jónsson & S. Hreinsdóttir, Iceland kinematics from InSAR, J. Geophys. Res., 128, e2022JB025546, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JB025546, 2023.
    23. Passarelli, L., S. Cesca, N. Nooshiri & S. Jónsson, Earthquake fingerprint of an incipient subduction of a bathymetric high, Geophys. Res. Lett., 49, e2022GL100326, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL100326, 2022.
    24. Viltres, R., S. Jónsson, A.O. Alothman, S. Liu, S. Leroy, F. Masson, C. Doubre & R. Reilinger, Present-day motion of the Arabian plate, Tectonics, 41, e2021TC007013, http://doi.org/10.1029/2021TC007013, 2022.
    25. Castro-Perdomo, N., R. Viltres, F. Masson, Y. Klinger, S. Liu, M. Dhahry, P. Ulrich, J.-D. Bernard, R. Matrau, A. Alothman, H. Zahran, R. Reilinger, P.M. Mai & S. Jónsson, Interseismic deformation in the Gulf of Aqaba from GPS measurements, Geophys. J. Int., 228, 477-492, http://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggab353, 2022.
    26. Viltres, R., A. Nobile, H. Vasyura-Bathke, D. Trippanera, W. Xu & S. Jónsson, Transtensional rupture within a diffuse plate boundary zone during the 2020 Mw6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake, Seismol. Res. Lett., XX, 1-17, http://doi.org/10.1785/0220210261, 2021.
    27. Li, X., S. Jónsson, Y. Cao, Interseismic deformation from Sentinel-1 burst-overlap interferometry: Application to the southern Dead Sea fault, Geophys. Res. Lett., 48, e2021GL093481. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL093481, 2021.
    28. Ruch, J., D. Keir, L. Passarelli, D. di Giacomo, G. Ogubazghi & S. Jónsson, Revealing 60 years of earthquake swarms in the southern Red Sea, Afar and the Gulf of Aden, Frontiers in Earth Sci. 9:664673, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.664673, 2021.
    29. Dutta, R., S. Jónsson & H. Vasyura-Bathke, Simultaneous Bayesian estimation of non-planar fault geometry and spatially-variable slip, J. Geophys. Res., 126, e2020JB020441, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB020441, 2021.
    30. Rahpeyma, S., B. Halldorsson, B. Hrafnkelsson & S. Jónsson, Frequency-dependent site factors for the Icelandic strong-motion array from a Bayesian hierarchical model of the spatial distribution of spectral accelerations, Earthquake Spectra, 1-29, 2021

      https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930211036921

    31. Passarelli, L., P.A. Selvadurai, E. Rivalta & S. Jónsson, The source scaling and seismic productivity of slow slip transients, Sci. Adv., 7 (32), eabg9718, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abg9718
    32. Barbieri, M., S. Franchini, M.D. Barberio, Andrea Billi, T. Boschetti, L. Giansante, F. Gori, S. Jónsson, M. Petitta, A. Skelton & G. Stockmann, Changes in groundwater trace element concentrations before seismic and volcanic activities in Iceland during 2010-2018, Science of the Total Environment, 793, 148635, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148653, 2021.
    33. Kowsari, M., B. Halldorsson, J.Þ. Snæbjörnsson & S. Jónsson, Effects of different empirical ground motion models on seismic hazard maps for North Iceland, Soil Dynamics & Earthquake Eng., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106513, 2021.
    34. Cao, Y., S. Jónsson & Z. Li, Advanced InSAR tropospheric corrections from global atmospheric models that incorporate spatial stochastic properties of the troposphere, J. Geophys. Res., 126, e2020JB020952, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB020952, 2021.
    35. Ribot, M., Y. Klinger, S. Jónsson, U. Avsar, E. Pons-Branchu, R. Matrau, Active faults’ geometry in the Gulf of Aqaba, southern Dead Sea fault, illuminated by multibeam bathymetric data, Tectonics, 40, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020TC006443, 2021.
    36. Vasyura-Bathke, H., J. Dettmer, R. Dutta, P.M. Mai & S. Jónsson, Accounting for theory errors with empirical Bayesian noise models in nonlinear centroid moment tensor estimation, Geophys. J. Int. 225, 1412-1431, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggab034, 2021.
    37. Liu, S., Z.-K. Shen, R. Bürgmann & S. Jónsson, A thin Crème Brûlée rheological structure for the Eastern California Shear Zone, Geology, 49, https://doi.org/10.1130/G47729.1, 2020.
    38. Li., X., W. Xu, S. Jónsson, Y. Klinger & G. Zhang, Source model of the 2014 Mw6.9 Yutian earthquake at the southwestern end of the Altyn Tagh fault in Tibet estimated from satellite images, Seismol. Res. Lett., https://doi.org/10.1785/0220190361, 2020.
    39. Viltres, R., S. Jónsson, J. Ruch, D. Doubre, R. Reilinger, M. Floyd & G. Ogubazghi, Kinematics and deformation of the southern Red Sea region from GPS observations, Geophys. J. Int. 221, 2143-2154, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaa109, 2020.
    40. Xu, W., L. Xie, Y. Aoki, E. Rivalta & S. Jónsson, Volcano-wide deformation after the 2017 Erta Ale dike intrusion, Ethiopia, observed with radar interferometry, J. Geophys. Res., 125, e2020JB019562, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB019562, 2020.
    41. Sonnemann, T., B. Halldorsson, B. Hrafnkelsson & S. Jónsson, Bayesian inference of a physical seismological model for earthquake strong-motion in south Iceland, Soil Dynamics & Earthquake Eng., 138, 106219, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106219, 2020.
    42. Zielke, O., D. Schorlemmer, S. Jónsson, P.M. Mai, Magnitude-dependent transient increase of seismogenic depth, Seismol. Res. Lett.,91, 2182-2191, https://doi.org/10.1785/0220190392, 2020.
    43. Vasyura-Bathke, H., J. Dettmer, A. Steinberg, S. Heimann, M. Isken, O. Zielke, P.M Mai, H. Sudhaus & S. Jónsson, The Bayesian earthquake analysis tool (BEAT), Seismol. Res. Lett., 91, 1003-1018, https://doi.org/10.1785/0220190075, 2020.
    44. Kowsari, M., T. Sonnemann, B. Halldorsson, B. Hrafnkelsson, J. Þ. Snæbjörnsson & S. Jónsson, Bayesian inference of empirical ground motion models to pseudo-spectral accelerations of South Iceland Seismic Zone earthquakes based on informative priors. Soil Dynamics & Earthquake Eng., 132, 106075, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106075, 2020.
    45. Liu, S., X. Xu, Y. Klinger, J.-M. Nocquet, G. Chen, G. Yu & S. Jónsson, Lower crustal heterogeneity beneath the northern Tibetan Plateau constrained by GPS measurements following the 2001 Mw7.8 Kokoxili earthquake, J. Geophys. Res., 124, 11992-12022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB017732, 2019.
    46. Liu, Y.-K., J. Ruch, H. Vasyura-Bathke & S. Jónsson, Influence of ring faulting in localizing surface deformation at subsiding calderas, Earth & Planet. Sci. Lett., 526, 115784, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.115784, 2019.
    47. Trippanera, D., J. Ruch, L. Passone & S. Jónsson, Structural mapping of dike-induced faulting in Harrat Lunayyir (Saudi Arabia) by using high resolution drone imagery, Frontiers in Earth Sci. 7:168, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00168, 2019.
    48. Sonnemann, T., B. Halldorsson, & S. Jónsson, Automatic estimation of earthquake high-frequency strong-motion spectral decay in south Iceland, Soil Dynamics & Earthquake Eng.,125, 105676, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.05.015, 2019.
    49. Kowsari, M., B. Halldorsson, B. Hrafnkelsson, J.Þ. Snæbjörnsson & S. Jónsson, Calibration of ground motion models to Icelandic peak ground acceleration data using Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 17, 2841-2870, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-019-00569-5, 2019.
    50. Rahpeyma, S., B. Halldorsson, B. Hrafnkelsson, R. A. Green & S. Jónsson, Site effect estimation on two Icelandic strong-motion arrays using a Bayesian hierarchical model of the spatial distribution of earthquake peak ground acceleration, Soil Dynamics & Earthquake Eng. 120, 369-385, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.02.007, 2019.
    51. Kowsari, M., B. Halldorsson, B. Hrafnkelsson & S. Jónsson, Selection of earthquake ground motion models using the deviance information criterion, Soil Dynamics & Earthquake Eng. 117, 288-299, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2018.11.014, 2019.
    52. Eyles, J.H.W, F. Illsley-Kemp, D. Keir, J. Ruch & S. Jónsson, Seismicity associated with the formation of a new island in the southern Red Sea, Frontiers in Earth Science 6:141, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2018.00141, 2018.
    53. Akoğlu, A. M., S. Jónsson, T. Wang, Z. Çakır, U. Dogan, S. Ergintav, B. Osmanoğlu, G. Feng, C. Zabcı, A. Özdemir & Ö. Emre, Evidence for tear faulting from new constraints of the 23 October 2011 Mw7.1 Van, Turkey, earthquake based on InSAR, GPS, coastal uplift, and field observations, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 108, 1929-1946, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120170314, 2018.
    54. Rahpeyma, S., B. Halldorsson, B. Hrafnkelsson & S. Jónsson, Bayesian hierarchical model for variations in earthquake peak ground acceleration within small-aperture arrays, Environmetrics, 29:e2497, https://doi.org/10.1002/env.2497, 2018.
    55. Dutta, R., S. Jónsson, T. Wang & H. Vasyura-Bathke, Bayesian estimation of source parameters and associated Coulomb failure stress changes for the 2005 Fukuoka (Japan) earthquake, Geophys. J. Int., 213, 261-277, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggx551, 2017.
    56. Passarelli, L., E. Rivalta, S. Jónsson, M. Hench, S. Metzger, S. Jakobsdóttir, F. Maccaferri, F. Corbi, & T. Dahm, Scaling and spatial complementarity of tectonic seismic swarms, Earth & Planet. Sci. Lett., 482, 62-70, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.10.052, 2017.
    57. Feng, G., S. Jónsson & Y. Klinger, Which fault segments ruptured in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and which did not? New evidence from near-fault 3D surface displacements derived from SAR amplitude image offsets, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 107(3), 1185-1200, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120160126, 2017.
    58. Xu, W., S. Jónsson, J. Ruch & Y. Aoki, The 2015 Wolf (Galápagos) eruption studied using Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 9573–9580, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069820, 2016.
    59. Ruch, J., T. Wang, W. Xu, M. Hensch & S. Jónsson, Oblique rift opening revealed by reoccurring magma injection in central Iceland, Nature Communications, 7:12352, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12352, 2016.
    60. Rahpeyma, S., B. Halldorsson, C. Olivera, R.A. Green & S. Jónsson, Detailed site effect estimation in the presence of strong velocity reversals within a small-aperture strong-motion array in Iceland. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 89, 136–151, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2016.07.001, 2016.
    61. Avşar, U., S. Jónsson, Ö. Avşar & S. Schmidt, Earthquake-induced soft-sediment deformations and seismically amplified erosion rates recorded in varved sediments of Köyceğiz Lake (SW Turkey), J. Geophys. Res., 121, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB012820, 2016.
    62. Xu, W., S. Jónsson, F. Corbi & E. Rivalta, Graben formation and dike arrest during the 2009 Harrat Lunayyir dike intrusion in Saudi Arabia: Insights from InSAR, stress calculations and analog experiments, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 2837–2851, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JB012505, 2016.
    63. Wang, T., S. Wei & S. Jónsson, Coseismic displacements from SAR image offsets between different satellite sensors: Application to the 2001 Bhuj (India) earthquake, Geophys. Res. Lett. 42, 7022-7030, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL064585, 2015.
    64. Xu, W., J. Ruch & S. Jónsson, Birth of two volcanic islands in the southern Red Sea, Nature Communications, 6:7104, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8104, 2015.
    65. Wang, T. & S. Jónsson, Improved SAR amplitude image offset measurements for deriving three-dimensional coseismic displacements, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Obs. & Remote Sensing, 8(7), 3271-3278, https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2014.2387865, 2015.
    66. Xu, W., R. Dutta & S. Jónsson, Identifying active faults by improving earthquake locations with InSAR data and Bayesian estimation: The 2004 Tabuk (Saudi Arabia) earthquake sequence, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 105(2a), https://doi.org/10.1785/0120140289, 2015.
    67. Skelton, A., M. Andrén, H. Kristmannsdóttir, G. Stockmann, C.-M. Mörth, Á. Sveinbjörnsdóttir, S. Jónsson, E. Sturkell, H. R. Guðrúnardóttir, H. Hjartarson & H. Siegmund, Changes in groundwater chemistry before consecutive earthquake swarms in northern Iceland, Nature Geoscience, 7, 752-756, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2250, 2014.
    68. Metzger, S. & S. Jónsson, Plate boundary deformation in North Iceland during the 1992-2009 revealed by InSAR time-series analysis and GPS, Tectonophysics, 634, 127-138, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2014.07.027, 2014.
    69. Wang, T. & S. Jónsson, Phase-ramp reduction in interseismic interferograms from pixel-offsets, IEEE J. of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Obs. & Remote Sensing, 7, 1709-1718, https://doi.org/10.1109/jstars.2014.2298977, 2014.
    70. Cavalié, O. & S. Jónsson, Block-like plate movements in eastern Anatolia observed by InSAR, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 1-6, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GL058170, 2014.
    71. Xu, W. & 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, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-014-0795-9, 2014.
    72. Wang, T., S. Jónsson & R. Hanssen, Improved SAR image coregistration using pixel-offset series, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing Lett., 11, 1465-1469, https://doi.org/10.1109/lgrs.2013.2295429, 2014.
    73. Jónsson, S., Sunken Volcanoes, Nature Geoscience, 6, 591-592, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1876, 2013.
    74. Maccaferri, F., E. Rivalta, L. Passarelli & S. Jónsson, The stress shadow induced by the 1975-1984 Krafla rifting episode, J. Geophys. Res. 118, 1109-1121, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrb.50134, 2013.
    75. Metzger, S., S. Jónsson, G. Danielsen, S. Hreinsdóttir, F. Jouanne, G. Giardini & T. Villemin, Present kinematics of the Tjörnes Fracture Zone, North Iceland, from campaign and continuous GPS measurements, Geophys. J. Int. 192, 441-455, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggs032, 2013.
    76. Jónsson, S., Tensile rock mass strength estimated using InSAR, Geophys. Res. Lett. 39, L21305, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL053309, 2012.
    77. Woessner, J., S. Jónsson, H. Sudhaus & C. Baumann, Reliability of Coulomb stress changes inferred from correlated uncertainties of finite-fault source models, J. Geophys. Res. 117, B07303, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JB009121, 2012.
    78. Feng, G. & S. Jónsson, Shortcomings of InSAR for studying megathrust earthquakes: The case of the Mw9.0 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L10305, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL051628, 2012.
    79. Metzger, S., S. Jónsson & H. Geirsson, Locking depth and slip-rate of the Húsavík Flatey fault, North Iceland, derived from continuous GPS data 2006-2010, Geophys. J. Int. 187, 564-576, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2011.05176, 2011.
    80. Chadwick, W.W., S. Jónsson, D.J. Geist, M. Poland, D.J. Johnson, S. Batt, K.S. Harpp & A. Ruiz, The May 2005 eruption of Fernandina volcano, Galapagos: GPS and InSAR observations of a circumferential dike intrusion, Bull. Volcanol., 73(6), 679-697, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-010-0433-0, 2011.
    81. Sudhaus, H. and S. Jónsson, Source model for the 1997 Zirkuh earthquake (Mw=7.2) in Iran derived from JERS and ERS InSAR observations, Geophys. J. Int. 185, 676-692, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2011.04973.x, 2011.
    82. Calais, E., A. Freed, G. Mattioli, F. Amelung, S. Jónsson, P. Jansma, S.-H. Hong, T. Dixon, C. Prépetit, R. Momplaisir, Transpressional rupture of an unmapped fault during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Nature Geoscience, 3, 794-799, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo992,  2010.
    83. Pallister, J.S., W.A. McCausland, S. Jónsson, Z. Lu, H.M. Zahran, S.El-Hadidy, A. Aburukbah, I.C.F. Stewart, P.R. Lundgren, R.A. White & M.R.H. Moufti, Broad accommodation of rift-related extension recorded by dyke intrusion in Saudi Arabia, Nature Geosci., 3, 705-712, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo966, 2010.
    84. Geirsson, H., Th. Árnadóttir, S. Hreinsdóttir, J. Decriem, P.C. LaFemina, S. Jónsson, R. A. Bennett, S. Metzger, A. Holland, E. Sturkell, T. Villemin, C. Völksen, F. Sigmundsson, P. Einarsson, M. J. Roberts & H. Sveinbjörnsson, Overview of results from continuous GPS observations in Iceland from 1995 to 2010, Jökull, 60, 3-22, https://doi.org/10.33799/jokull2010.60.003, 2010.
    85. Keiding, M., T. Arnadottir, S. Jónsson, J. Decriem & A. Hooper, Plate boundary deformation and man-made subsidence around geothermal fields on the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 194, 139-149, https://doi.org/10.1016/J.jvolgeores.2010.04.011, 2010.
    86. Knospe, S. H.-G. & S. Jónsson, Covariance estimation for dInSAR surface deformation measurements in the presence of anisotropic atmospheric noise, IEEE Transactions of Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 48(4), 2057-2065, https://doi.org/10.1109/tgrs.2009.2033937, 2010.
    87. Jónsson, S., Slope creep in East Iceland observed by satellite radar interferometry, Jökull, 59, 89-102, https://doi.org/10.33799/jokull2009.59.089, 2009.

       

      Publications before joining KAUST:

       

    88. Sudhaus, H. & S. Jónsson, Improved source modelling through combined use of InSAR and GPS under consideration of correlated data errors: Application to the June 2000 Kleifarvatn earthquake, Iceland, Geophys. J. Int. 176, 389-404, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2008.03989.x, 2009.
    89. Monelli, D., P.M. Mai, S. Jónsson & G. Giardini, Bayesian imaging of the 2000 Western Tottori (Japan) earthquake through fitting of strong motion and GPS data, Geophys. J. Int., 176, 135-150, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2008.03943.x, 2009.
    90. Jónsson, S., Stress interaction between magma accumulation and trapdoor faulting on Sierra Negra volcano, Galápagos, Tectonophys., 471, 36-44, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2008.08.005, 2009.
    91. Jónsson, S., Importance of post-seismic viscous relaxation in southern Iceland, Nature Geoscience, 1, 136-139, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo105, 2008.
    92. Chadwick Jr., W. W., D. J. Geist, S. Jónsson, M. Poland, D. J. Johnson & C. M. Meertens, A volcano bursting at the seams: Inflation, faulting, and eruption at Sierra Negra volcano, Galapagos, Geology, 34(12), 1025–1028, https://doi.org/10.1130/G22826A.1, 2006.
    93. Jónsson, S., H. Zebker & F. Amelung, On trapdoor faulting at Sierra Negra volcano, Galápagos, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res.,144, 59-71, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2004.11.029, 2005.
    94. Árnadóttir T., S. Jónsson, F. F. Pollitz, W. Jiang & K. L. Feigl, Postseismic deformation following the June 2000 earthquake sequence in the south Iceland seismic zone, J. Geophys. Res., 110, B12308, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JB003701, 2005.
    95. Jónsson, S., P. Segall, R. Pedersen & G. Björnsson, Post-earthquake ground movements correlated to pore-pressure transients, Nature, 424, 179-183, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01776, 2003.
    96. Segall, P., S. Jónsson & K. Ágústsson, When is the strain in the meter the same as the strain in the Rock?  Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(19), 1990, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL017995, 2003.
    97. Pedersen, R., S. Jónsson, T. Árnadóttir, F. Sigmundsson & K. Feigl, Fault slip distribution of two June 2000 Mw6.5 earthquakes in South Iceland from joint inversion of InSAR and GPS, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 213, 487-502, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0012-821x(03)00302-9, 2003.
    98. Árnadóttir, Th., S. Jónsson, R. Pedersen & G. Gudmundsson, Coulomb stress changes in the South Iceland Seismic Zone due to two large earthquakes in June 2000, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(5), 1205, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002GL016495, 2003.
    99. Jónsson, S., H. Zebker, P. Segall & F. Amelung,  Fault Slip Distribution of the 1999 Mw7.1 Hector Mine Earthquake, California, estimated from Satellite Radar and GPS Measurements, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 92, 1377-1389, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120000922, 2002.

    100. Amelung, F., S. Jónsson, H. Zebker & P. Segall, Widespread uplift and trapdoor faulting on Galápagos volcanoes observed with radar interferometry, Nature, 407, 993-996, https://doi.org/10.1038/35039604, 2000.

    101. Jónsson, S., H. Zebker, P. Cervelli, P. Segall, H. Garbeil, P. Mouginis-Mark & S. Rowland, A shallow-dipping dike fed the 1995 flank eruption at Fernandina volcano, Galápagos, observed by satellite radar interferometry, Geophys. Res. Lett., 26, 1077-1080, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999GL900108, 1999.

    102. Jónsson, S., M. M. Alves & F. Sigmundsson, Low rates of deformation of the Furnas and Fogo volcanoes, São Miguel, Azores, observed with the Global Positioning System, 1993-1997, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 92, 83-94, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0377-0273(99)00069-4, 1999.

    103. Jónsson, S., N. Adam & H. Björnsson, Effects of subglacial geothermal activity observed by satellite radar interferometry, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 1059-1062, https://doi.org/10.1029/98GL50567, 1998.

    104. Jónsson, S., P. Einarsson & F. Sigmundsson, Extension across a divergent plate boundary, the Eastern Volcanic Rift Zone, south Iceland, 1967-1994, observed with GPS and electronic distance measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 11913-11929, https://doi.org/10.1029/96jb03893, 1997.

Education

  • Ph.D. Geophysics, Stanford University, USA, 2002
  • Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, USA, 2002
  • M.S. Geophysics, University of Iceland, 1996
  • B.S. Geophysics, University of Iceland, 1994

Professional Profile

  • 2016-                Professor of Earth Science and Engineering, KAUST
  • 2009-16         Associate Professor of Geophysics, KAUST
  • 2004-09            Senior Researcher and Lecturer, Inst. of Geophysics, ETH Zurich
  • 2002-03            Reginald A. Daly Post-doctoral Fellow, Harvard University

Scientific and Professional Membership

​American Geophysical Union (AGU)
European Geoscience Union (EGU)
Icelandic Glaciological Society

KAUST Affiliations