Date of Award

12-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Statement

Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics

Department

Department of Geosciences

Committee Chair

Grapenthin, Ronni

Committee Member

Rinehart, Alex

Committee Member

Meyer, Franz

Committee Member

Tape, Carl

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: General introduction

Chapter 2: InSAR-imaged aquifer depletion and recharge, sinkhole formation, dune dynamics and other natural and anthropogenic processes captured by large-scale imaging of surface deformation in the American Southwest with Sentinel-1

Chapter 3: InSAR-observed surface deformation in New Mexico's permian basin shows threats and opportunities presented by leaky injections wells

Chapter 4: Aquifer dynamics and resulting deformation in the Mimbres Basin, USA

Chapter 5: General conclusions.

Abstract

Arid regions in the American Southwest undergo measurable surface deformation driven by variations in subsurface fluid pressure, and other natural and anthropogenic processes. These processes range from regional scale aquifer dynamics to local oil and gas wellsite activities. This dissertation produces and then utilizes InSAR-derived average velocity fields and displacement time series to reveal and understand these multi-scale processes, their interactions, and impacts for a portion of the American Southwest. Chapter 1 discusses the climate and natural and anthropogenic processes present in our study area. In Chapter 2, we generate detailed large scale average velocity maps that reveal deformation associated with sinkholes, mining activities, landfills, slow-moving landslides, hydrocarbon production, eolian transport, and agricultural groundwater withdrawal. Analysis of the InSAR-derived deformation maps can aid in groundwater management and hazard monitoring. Chapter 3 analyzes an uplift signal and its temporal evolution over a wastewater injection well to determine subsurface poroelastic properties. We show InSAR time series can reveal shallow subsurface heterogeneity and be used as an oil field leakage monitoring tool. In Chapter 4, we combine InSAR and GRACE gravity observations to create maps of subsurface fluid dynamics for an aquifer in southwestern New Mexico. Well data and newly identified earth fissures provide additional insight into ongoing deformation related to agricultural groundwater withdrawal. Chapter 5 summarizes the identified processes, dynamics, and knowledge gained through multi-scale InSAR analysis of the American Southwest and gives overarching conclusions that can be drawn from this work.

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