Reminder: COMET+ Webinar: Dr Xie Hu, Peking University: 20 August 2025, 10AM UK time
Edna Warsame Dualeh
Reminder of COMET+ webinar
Dear Colleagues,
COMET (The Centre for Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tectonics) invites you to the next instalment of our COMET+ webinar series, viewable from the home office. Please note the different time for this session.
SAR-empowered diagnosis of acute and chronic natural hazards
Wednesday 20th August 2025 at 10am UK time (10 am BST /11 am CEST/ 17 pm China ST/19 AET)
Dr Xie Hu
Peking University, China
Please register at: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/2b3cb799-6dc3-4f95-8409-71a2b5bf7b3b@b2e47f30-cd7d-4a4e-a5da-b18cf1a4151b
(After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar)
Abstract: Natural hazards can be likened to the Earth falling ill, with their manifestations classified into acute and chronic types based on onset patterns, symptom characteristics, and developmental trajectories. Acute natural hazards are characterized by their sudden onset, rapid progression, and severe immediate impacts, including landslides, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. Chronic natural hazards tend to develop insidiously, progressing over long periods with ambiguous onset and multiple triggers, such as land subsidence and sea level rise. Subacute hazards occupy an intermediate category, with symptom dynamics that are sufficiently complex to obscure clear detection and measurement—often leading to misdiagnosis, under-detection, or even overtreatment—exemplified by permafrost degradation and thermokarst processes. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) plays a critical role in mapping large-scale ground deformation and disturbances, even in challenging weather conditions. Its multi-functional capabilities are essential for diagnosing and implementing flexible strategies for various natural hazards. This presentation will show how this approach can help us better mitigate natural hazards and deepen our understanding of climate and planetary sciences.
The COMET+ webinar series promotes research by collaborators of COMET scientists. We aim to provide a platform for these researchers to showcase their work to large and international audiences, opening doors to broader collaborative networks and enhancing the community’s diversity of backgrounds and ideas.
Catch up on past COMET and COMET+ webinars on our YouTube page: https:/www.youtube.com/channel/UCtFDytX1hgjvlS4NH48M2oQ/video
Best wishes,
Edna Dualeh, Sophie Butcher and Milan Lazecky
COMET - Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics