Our science activities have been jointly developed with the British Geological Survey (BGS) and are aligned with BGS priorities in “Multihazards and Risk” as set out in their 2023-2028 strategy. We will continue to deliver national capability in the observation and modelling of geohazards, working with the wider scientific community and practitioners to maximise uptake of and impact from the results, as well as delivering national public good. Our science objectives for 2024-2029 are:
Earth Observation Data and Services
1. Deformation, Topography and Surface Change from satellite geodesy and data:
- Maintain and Improve the COMET-LiCSAR Sentinel-1 service.
- Extend the COMET-LiCSAR system to other satellites.
- Derivation and use of high-resolution topographic data for surface change and hazard assessment.
2. Retrievals of volcanic emissions from satellite spectrometers:
- Retrieval of volcanic gases and particles from IASI, IASI-NG, CrIS and IRS.
- Volcanic flux time series.
3. Geoinformatics and machine learning:
- Improve the sharing and use of COMET datasets through the development of integrated and interactive COMET data portals that are responsive to end-user needs.
- Develop machine learning approaches and tools that can be applied to COMET satellite data sets.
Tectonics and Volcanism
1. Tectonics and seismic hazard:
- Develop and deploy a geodetically-based earthquake hazard model.
- Establish the processes that control fault rheology and dynamics, with particular emphasis on the distribution and characteristics of earthquakes and fault creep.
- The rheology and dynamics of the ductile crust and upper mantle, and the large-scale migration of tectonic strain.
2. Magmatism and volcanic hazard:
- Analyse long-term (decadal) patterns of volcanic activity globally.
- Integrate multiparameter datasets into physically-realistic models of volcanic and magmatic systems.
- Assess the effects of volcanic emissions.
- Develop and test the models needed for interpreting satellite data during volcanic crises.
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