Geophysical and Hydrogeologic Investigations of Two Primary Alluvial Aquifers Embedded in the Southern San Andreas Fault System: San Bernardino and Upper Coachella Valley

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorSchmidt, Daviden_US
dc.contributor.authorWisely, Bethen_US
dc.creatorWisely, Bethen_US
dc.date.accessioned2012-10-26T04:04:11Z
dc.date.available2012-10-26T04:04:11Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractThis study of alluvial aquifer basins in southern California is centered on observations of differential surface displacement and the search for the mechanisms of deformation. The San Bernardino basin and the Upper Coachella Valley aquifers are bound by range fronts and fault segments of the southern San Andreas fault system. I have worked to quantify long-term compaction in these groundwater dependent population centers with a unique synthesis of data and methodologies using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and groundwater data. My dissertation contributes to the understanding of alluvial aquifer heterogeneity and partitioning. I model hydrogeologic and tectonic interpretations of deformation where decades of overdraft conditions and ongoing aquifer development contribute to extreme rapid subsidence. I develop the Hydrogeologic InSAR Integration (HII) method for the characterization of surface deformation in aquifer basins. The method allows for the separation of superimposed hydraulic and/or tectonic processes in operation. This formalization of InSAR and groundwater level integration provides opportunities for application in other aquifer basins where overdraft conditions may be causing permanent loss of aquifer storage capacity through compaction. Sixteen years of SAR data for the Upper Coachella Valley exhibit rapid vertical surface displacement (#8804; 48mm/a) in sharply bound areas of the western basin margin. Using well driller logs, I categorize a generalized facies analysis of the western basin margin, describing heterogeneity of the aquifer. This allowed for assessment of the relationships between observed surface deformation and sub-surface material properties. Providing the setting and context for the hydrogeologic evolution of California's primary aquifers, the mature San Andreas transform fault is studied extensively by a broad range of geoscientists. I present a compilation of observations of creep, line integrals across the Pacific-North America Plate Boundary, and strain tensor volumes for comparison to the Working Group 2007 (UCERF 2) seismicity-based deformation model. I find that the moment accumulation across the plate boundary is consistent with the deformation model, suggesting fault displacement observations within the plate boundary zone accurately capture the strain across the plate boundary. This dissertation includes co-authored materials previously published, and also includes unpublished work currently under revisions for submission to a technical journal.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1794/12427
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Oregonen_US
dc.rightsAll Rights Reserved.en_US
dc.subjectApplied mathematicsen_US
dc.subjectAquifer basinsen_US
dc.subjectHydrogeologyen_US
dc.subjectInSARen_US
dc.subjectSouthern San Andreas Fault Systemen_US
dc.titleGeophysical and Hydrogeologic Investigations of Two Primary Alluvial Aquifers Embedded in the Southern San Andreas Fault System: San Bernardino and Upper Coachella Valleyen_US
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Wisely_oregon_0171A_10418.pdf
Size:
13.77 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Theses and Dissertations
Geological Sciences Theses and Dissertations