Current topics on deformation monitoring and modelling, geodynamics and natural hazards

Geodynamic and natural hazards processes produce among other effects deformation and gravity changes which can be measured, using space and ground-based techniques. It is widely recognized that obtaining high temporal rate and high spatial resolution data over wide areas could enhance our mapping capability of such hazardous processes. However, it is also necessary to develop new mathematical (analytical and/or numerical) models and methods for a correct interpretation and, eventually forecast. This book is dedicated to the description of theoretical models, inversion techniques and their application to observational geodetic and geophysical data sets in active geodynamic areas and affected by natural hazards. This book compiles part of the papers presented at the 15th Annual conference of the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences held in Madrid, Spain during September 2-6, 2013. This conference had the special topic of “Mathematics of the PlanetEarth” emphasizing the recent importance of modelling in our understanding of Geoscience problems. In this regard, the session XIII “Deformation modelling, Geodynamics and Natural Hazards” served to discuss modelling and observational works of structural and deformation processes (e.g., geodesy, seismology) relevant to the study of Geodynamics and Natural Hazards.