Alan T. Linde
Staff Scientist Emeritus
Geophysics; seismology; tectonophysics
B.S., Honors, University of Queensland, 1959
Ph.D., Geophysics, University of Queensland, 1972
Alan Linde’s research focuses on the use of highly sensitive deformation data from borehole strainmeters as a tool to understand tectonic activity associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity. These data led to the discovery of events referred to as slow earthquakes that are similar to regular earthquakes except that the fault motions take place over (much) longer time scales. These were first detected in south-east Japan and have since been seen in a number of different environments including the San Andreas Fault in California and in the subduction zone off Hokkaido. They are also triggered by typhoons in Taiwan.
Strain changes, generated by magma movement at a number of volcanoes, have enabled characterizing previously unknown aspects of eruptive activity. Strainmeters installed close to Hekla (Iceland), Soufriere Hills (Montserrat), Stromboli and Etna (Italy) have all provided data leading to new insights into the various volcanoes. This research allowed a short term prediction of the eruption of Hekla in 2000 and resulted in diverting aircraft around the hazardous ash plume. Data from strainmeters installed by the Japanese Meteorological Agency in the vicinity of Miharayama (Izu-Oshima) show rapid recharging of a shallow magma reservoir during the course of an eruption. The research based on the strain data has led to the discovery that great earthquakes can trigger volcanic activity at large distances from the earthquake and to the concept that, in some areas, large subduction earthquakes may be preceded by slow slip on the subduction interface at depths greater than the seismogenic zone.