'Curious Conversations' podcast: Manoochehr Shirzaei talks about measuring sinking land

Manoochehr Shirzaei joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the importance of understanding and measuring sinking land, commonly called subsidence. He shared insights about the use of satellite data in creating high resolution maps, how land subsidence fits into the overall picture of climate change, and how he hopes the information is used by localities.

About Shirzaei

Shirzaei is associate professor of geophysics and remote sensing in the Department of Geosciences and director of Virginia Tech’s Earth Observation and Innovation Lab. His research uses sophisticated space-, air-, and ground-based monitoring techniques to improve our understanding of seismic and aseismic faulting processes, the evolution of crustal stresses and seismic hazard from fluid extraction and disposal, changes in groundwater and surface water resources, and impacts of relative sea-level rise on coastal areas. 

Three takeaways

Land subsidence is a widespread phenomenon, but is often overlooked in climate change adaptation strategies despite playing a crucial role in the impact of sea level rise on coastal areas.

Satellite data can be used to measure land subsidence with high precision and accuracy, providing valuable information for decision-making.

Including land subsidence in models and decision-making processes is essential for effective planning and resource allocation, especially related to accurate mapping flood projections.

Learn more

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Critical observations of sinking coasts

About the podcast

"Curious Conversations" is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life. Produced and hosted by Virginia Tech writer and editor Travis Williams, university researchers share their expertise and motivations as well as the practical applications of their work in a format that more closely resembles chats at a cookout than classroom lectures. New episodes are shared each Tuesday.