Sergey Samsonov

Research Interests

I am studying ground deformation and derive various geophysical parameters that describe forces causing these deformation. For these purposes I use Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and Global Positioning System (GPS). InSAR produces interferograms that map ground deformation with sub-centimeter accuracy and high spatial resolution (1-100 m) over a large area (about 100×100 km). With InSAR it is possible to access remote regions that are inaccessible by ground surveys, it is usually an inexpensive solution in comparison with ground measurements. GPS, on the other side, is an expensive tool, however it is extremely reliable. With continuous or campaign GPS it is possible to measure ground movements with millimeter accuracy. However, these measurement are limited to a GPS site location. By combing InSAR and GPS the dense temporal and spatial coverage is achieved, which is required for accurate estimations of various geophysical parameters.

My first research projects at the University of Western Ontario was the development of a technique for combining InSAR and GPS data, I then applied this technique to southern California and produce three dimensional ground deformation map for Los Angeles Basin and the Salton Sea regions. During my stay in New Zealand with the GNS Science I mapped ground deformation at the Auckland Volcanic Field and the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Most of this work is still in progress, however, some initial results have been published. After coming back to UWO I worked on a new technique that studies polarimetric properties of SAR data for selection of persistent scatterers that preserve their phase over a long period of time and, therefore, can be used for deformation mapping. The initial tests of this technique applied to northern California along Hayward Fault region are promising. Presently, I am the FNR funded postdoctoral fellow at the European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology studying various processes causing ground motion in Luxembourg, Africa, Canaries and some other regions world-wide.

Articles submitted to refereed journals

  • Samsonov S., Beavan J, Gonzalez P., Tiampo K., and Fernandez J., Ground deformation in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand observed by ALOS PALSAR interferometry, submitted to Journal of Geophysical Research
  • Samsonov S., van der Koij M. and Tiampo, K., A simultaneous inversion for deformation rates and topographic errors of DInSAR data utilizing linear least square inversion technique, submitted to Computers & Geosciences
  • Tiampo K., Ouegnin F-A., Valluri S., Samsonov S. and Fernandez J., An elliptical model for deformation due to groundwater fluctuations, submitted to PAGEOPH special issue – Deformation and Gravity Change: Indicators of Isostasy, Tectonics, Volcanism and Climate Change
  • Beavan J. , Samsonov S. Motagh M., Wallace L. Ellis S., Palmer N., Preliminary source model of the MW 7.1 Darfield (Canterbury) earthquake from geodetic data, submitted to Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering

Articles published or accepted in refereed journals

  • Beavan J., Samsonov S., Denys P., Palmer N., Denham M., Joint inversion of GPS and InSAR data from 15 July 2009 MW 7.8 Dusky Sound earthquake reveals oblique slip on the Puysegur-Fiordland subduction interface, Geophysical Journal International, in-press
  • Samsonov S. and Tiampo K., 2010, ALOS PALSAR time series analysis of subsidence at Tauhara and Ohaaki geothermal fields in New Zealand, CJRS-JCT Special Issue – Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, in press
  • Latimer C., Samsonov S., Tiampo K. and Manville V., 2010, Inverting for volcanic sources using genetic algorithms applied to deformation signals observed at the Auckland Volcanic Field, CJRS-JCT Special Issue – Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, in press
  • Fry, B., Bannister, S.C., Beavan, R.J., Bland, L., Bradley, B.A., Cox, S.C., Cousins, W.J., Gale, N.H., Hancox, G.T., Holden, C., Jongens, R., Power, W.L., Prasetya, G., Reyners, M.E., Ristau, J., Robinson, R., Samsonov, S., Wilson, K.J., GeoNet team, 2010, The Mw 7.6 Dusky Sound earthquake of 2009 : preliminary report. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 43(1), 24-40
  • Samsonov S. and Tiampo K., 2010, Polarization phase difference analysis for selection of persistent scatterers in SAR interferometry, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, 99, 331-335
  • Joyce K., Wright K., Ambrosia V., and Samsonov S., Incorporating Remote Sensing into Emergency Management, Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 25(4), 14-24
  • Samsonov S., Tiampo K., Gonzalez P., Manville V., and Jolly G., 2010, Modelling deformation occurring in the city of Auckland, New Zealand mapped by the Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar, JGR-Solid Earth, 115, B08410, doi:10.1029/2009JB006806
  • Samsonov S., Topographic Correction for ALOS PLASAR interferometry, 2010, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 48(7), 3020 – 3027
  • Joyce K., Samsonov S., Manville V., Jongens R., Graettinger A., Cronin S., 2009, Remote sensing data types and techniques for lahar path detection: A case study at Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand. Remote Sensing of Environment, 113(8), 1778-1786
  • Joyce K., Wright K., Samsonov S. and Ambrosia V., 2009. Remote sensing and the disaster management cycle, Advances in Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Gary Jedlovec (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-005-6, INTECH
  • Petersen, T., Ristau, J., Beavan, R.J., Denys, P., Denham, M., Field, B.J., Holden, C., McCaffrey, R., Palmer, N.G., Reyners, M.E., Samsonov, S., GeoNet team, 2009, The Mw 6.7 George Sound earthquake of October 15, 2007 : response and preliminary results. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 42(2), 129-141
  • Joyce K., Belliss S., Samsonov S., McNeill S., and Glassey P., 2009, A Review of the Status of Satellite Remote Sensing Image Processing Techniques for Mapping Natural Hazards and Disasters, Progress in Physical Geography, 33(2), 183-207
  • Perlock P., Gonzalez P., Tiampo K., Rodriguez-Velasco G., Samsonov S., and Fernandez J., 2009, Time Evolution of Deformation Using Time Series of Differential Interferograms: Application to La Palma Island (Canary Islands). In: Earth Sciences and Mathematics, Pageoph Topical Volumes (ed. Camacho A., Diaz J., and Fernandez, J.), 1531-1554
  • Samsonov S., Tiampo K., and Rundle J., 2008, Application of DInSAR-GPS optimization for derivation of three-dimensional surface motion of southern California region along the San Andreas Fault. Computers and Geosciences, 34 (5), 503-514
  • Francois-Holden C., Bannister S., Beavan J., Cousins J., Field B., McCaffrey R., McVerry G., Reyners M., Ristau J., Samsonov S., and Wallace L., 2008, The Mw 6.6 Gisborne earthquake of 2007: preliminary records and general source characterisation. Bulletin of New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 41
  • Samsonov S., Tiampo K., Rundle J., and Li Z., 2007, Application of DInSAR-GPS optimization for derivation of fine scale surface motion maps of southern California. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 45(2), 512-522
  • Samsonov S. and Tiampo K., 2006, Analytical optimization of DInSAR and GPS dataset for derivation of three-dimensional surface motion. IEEE Geoscience and Remote sensing Letters, 3(1), 107-111

Other refereed contributions

  • Samsonov S. and Tiampo K., 2010, A new method for selecting coherent scatterers based on their polarimetric signature, in proceedings of ASTRO conference, Toronto, Canada
  • González P., Samsonov S., Manz M., Prieto J., Tiampo K.,Tizziani P., Casu F., Pepe A., Berardino P., Camacho A., Lanari R., and Fernández J., 2008, 3D volcanic deformation fields at Tenerife Island: integration of GPS and Time Series of DInSAR (SBAS), 2010, Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie
  • Samsonov S. and Scott B., 2009, Mapping ground deformation at the Kawerau Geothermal Field with Synthetic Aperture Radar, GNS Science Consultancy Report 2009/357
  • Joyce K., Samsonov S., and Jolly G., 2009, Temperature, color and deformation monitoring of volcanic regions in New Zealand, in proceedings of 2009 IGARSS conference Cape Town, South Africa
  • Latimer C., Samsonov S., Tiampo K.,and Manville V., 2009, Inverting for volcanic sources using genetic algorithm from deformation signal observed at the Auckland Volcanic Field, in proceedings of the 30th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing
  • Samsonov S., Tiampo K., Beavan J., Bromley C., Scott B., and Jolly G., 2009, ALOS PALSAR interferometry of Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, in proceedings of the 30th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing
  • Joyce K., Samsonov S., Jongens R., Lee J., and Glassey P., 2008. Using remote sensing for mapping the effects of natural hazards in New Zealand, in proceedings of 2008 IGARSS conference, Boston USA
  • Samsonov S. and Glassey P, 2008. Applicability of the Synthetic Aperture Radar for environmental monitoring and post-disaster assessment in New Zealand, in proceedings of 14 ARSPC conference, Darwin, Australia
  • Bromley C., Jolly S., Allis R., Samsonov S., Ryan G., 2008. Update on Subsidence at Ohaaki Geothermal Field, In proceedings of the New Zealand Geothermal Workshop & NZGA Seminar 2008
  • Samsonov S., Beavan J., Bromley C., Scott B., Jolly G., and Tiampo K., 2008. ALOS PALSAR interferometry of Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, in proceedings of ALOS 2008 Symposium, Rhodes, Greece
  • Samsonov S., Tiampo K., Manville V., and Jolly G.., 2008. Deformations occurring in the city of Auckland, New Zealand as mapped by Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar, in proceedings of the Second workshop on “USE of Remote Sensing Techniques (USEReST) for monitoring volcanoes and seismogenic areas”, Naples, Italy
  • Joyce K., Samsonov S., and Jolly G., 2008. Satellite Remote Sensing of Volcanic Activity in New Zealand, in proceedings of the Second workshop on “USE of Remote Sensing Techniques (USEReST) for monitoring volcanoes and seismogenic areas”, Naples, Italy
  • Samsonov S., Tiampo K., González P., Prieto J., and Camacho A., 2008, Surface deformation studies of Tenerife Island, Spain from joint GPS-DInSAR observations, in proceedings of the Second workshop on “USE of Remote Sensing Techniques (USEReST) for monitoring volcanoes and seismogenic areas”, Naples, Italy