Scientific Objectives

DESDynI scientific data would greatly contribute to the studies of natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes, ice sheets and our ecosystems:

• Earthquakes result from the accumulation of stress in the Earth; because the crust behaves as an elastic material, the strain changes observable via DESDynI can be used to determine stress changes, leading to improved earthquake forecasts.

• Subterranean magma movement results in surface deformation. Observations of surface deformation via DESDynI, particularly when combined with seismic observations, make volcanoes among the natural hazards that can be predicted most reliably.

• Production of hydrocarbon (oil) reservoirs results in surface deformation, typically as the result of fluid withdrawal, but also as the result of injection of fluids to stimulate production. It is often difficult to predict the trajectories of injected fluids, but observations of surface deformation can provide the needed constraints. Observations of surface deformation also will provide tools to monitor the integrity of CO2 sequestration wells.

• The horizontal and vertical structure of ecosystems is a key feature that enables quantification of carbon storage, the effects of disturbances such as fire, and species habitats. The above ground woody biomass, and its associated below ground biomass store a large pool of terrestrial carbon. Quantifying changes in the size of this pool, its horizontal distribution, and its vertical structure resulting from natural and human-induced perturbations such as deforestation and fire, as well as the recovery processes, is critical for quantifying ecosystem change.

• The dynamics of ice sheets are still poorly understood because their strength is strongly dependent on their temperature, water content, conditions at their base and even their history of deformation. Direct observations of how ice sheets deform in response to changes in temperature, precipitation, etc., are crucial for achieving understanding of these important drivers of global sea level change.