Surface Deformation Analysis of the Houston Area: Investigating Contributions of Faults, Salt Domes, and Major Storms

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dc.contributor.advisorKhan, Shuhab D.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSuppe, John
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSun, Jiajia
dc.contributor.committeeMemberCao, Ning
dc.creatorCrupa, Wanda Elena 1994-
dc.date.accessioned2019-11-07T03:35:41Z
dc.date.createdAugust 2019
dc.date.issued2019-08
dc.date.submittedAugust 2019
dc.date.updated2019-11-07T03:35:42Z
dc.description.abstractThe Houston area has undergone significant ground deformation in the last century, with the main factor being attributed to groundwater/natural gas withdrawal. However, subsidence can be due to groundwater withdrawal or excess loading brought about by heavy precipitation. Houston has recently been subjected to multiple flooding events which appear to be increasing in frequency. The Houston area is also home to faults and salt domes that contribute to surface deformation. The effect that these factors have had on ground deformation has not previously been studied; certain components of ground motion have been misinterpreted, or largely ignored in scientific studies and when making policies. In this study we investigate the contributions of surface and groundwater to subsidence using data collected over the past 30 years to model/predict groundwater fluctuations and look at the correlation with faults/salt domes and GPS data to see how surface deformation patterns have changed in recent years. The high rate of salt motion coupled with CO2 injection has resulted in uplift in southern Harris County, which acts to alleviate groundwater/gas withdrawal induced subsidence. Observed fault motion along the Long Point-Eureka Heights system is correlated with groundwater trends from 2006-20107. The northern Houston area shows strong subsidence of up to 16 mm/yr and an elongated subsidence bowl. The weakened aquifer systems in the north and southwest are more susceptible to intense subsidence and major flooding. These trends may be matched in the Woodlands and southwest Harris County in the future.
dc.description.departmentEarth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginborn digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/5301
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectHouston
dc.subjectSubsidence
dc.subjectHurricane Harvey
dc.subjectHurricanes
dc.subjectGPS
dc.subjectRadar
dc.subjectSalt domes
dc.subjectFlood management
dc.subjectFlood events
dc.subjectSeismic faults
dc.titleSurface Deformation Analysis of the Houston Area: Investigating Contributions of Faults, Salt Domes, and Major Storms
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
local.embargo.lift2021-08-01
local.embargo.terms2021-08-01
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
thesis.degree.departmentEarth and Atmospheric Sciences
thesis.degree.disciplineGeophysics
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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