3D displacement maps of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake (Italy) by applying the SISTEM method to GPS and DiNSAR data

We present an application of the novel SISTEM approach, to
obtain the dense 3D ground deformation pattern produced by
the April 6, 2009, Mw 6.3 L’Aquila earthquake. This event,
characterized by a SW-dipping normal fault with thousands of
foreshocks and aftershocks located in the depth range
5–15 km, is the most destructive to have struck the Abruzzo
region since the major 1703 seismic sequence. The surface
deformation, revealed by the SISTEM through the integration of
GPS with interferometric measurements from the ENVISAT and
ALOS satellites, shows a deformed area extending towards SE
along the Aterno valley, in agreement with seismological and
other geodetic observations. We inverted the SISTEM results
using an optimization algorithm based on the genetic algorithm,
providing an accurate spatial characterization of ground
deformation. Our results improve previous kinematic solutions
for the Paganica fault and allow identification of additional
faults that have contributed to the observed complex ground
deformation pattern.