Speaker: Shujuan Mao, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Texas at Austin

Host: Zhe Jia

TItle: 4-Dimnetional Seismology: New Dynamic Perspectives on Groundwater, Geoenergy, and Geohazards

Abstract: With climate change and population growth, humanity faces critical challenges related to water security and the energy transition. Tackling these issues requires high-resolution monitoring of subsurface fluid-rock systems (e.g., aquifers and geothermal reservoirs). In this seminar, I will introduce a novel, cost-effective, and scalable approach for aquifer monitoring using passive seismic interferometry. The validity and promise of this approach will be demonstrated through several case studies of aquifers across Greater Los Angeles. I will showcase how the seismic approach offers new insights into aquifer dynamics in response to climate extremes and anthropogenic activities. I will present ongoing efforts leveraging 4D seismic interferometry and scattered wavefields to understand the dynamics in fluid-rock systems associated with geothermal and volcanic systems.