My research focuses on uncovering the intricate mechanisms behind fault failures and seismic activities, aiming to contribute to effective hazard mitigation strategies for a safer world.
Using a range of methodologies such as laboratory experiments, analytical and numerical models, and statistical analyses, I investigate fault behavior and earthquake generation. Through rigorous seismic velocity analysis and investigations of fault repeaters, I gain valuable insights into fault rupture dynamics. I study earthquake precursors in the laboratory by monitoring velocity under different stress and pore pressure conditions.

I integrate observations and methods from various disciplines such as rock mechanics, earthquake seismology, and hydrogeology. This interdisciplinary approach allows me to tackle important questions in my research. I aim to understand how fault structures evolve and influence earthquake behavior, identify earthquake precursors and triggers, explore volcanic system behavior and associated seismic signatures, and utilize machine learning techniques to enhance our understanding of seismic and volcanic phenomena.

Projects:

Event classification based on statistical features:

Volcanic activity generates a variety of seismic events, including volcano events, long-period events, and tremors. These events carry important information about the behavior of volcanoes and can help in predicting volcanic hazards. This study focuses on automating the classification of these seismic events by using statistical features and a random forest classifier. By analyzing features such as duration, frequency content, and amplitude, a machine learning model can be trained to accurately categorize seismic events. Automating this classification process enables efficient analysis of large volumes of seismic data, aiding in volcano surveillance, eruption forecasting, and the mitigation of volcanic hazards. The research aims to enhance our understanding of volcanic processes, improve volcano monitoring techniques, and contribute to the prediction and management of volcanic hazards.

I am collaborating with Sadia Rinty.

Repeating Earthquakes

The study is focused on examining the repeating micro-earthquakes in the Saw Cut Westerly granite sample with the goal of understanding the underlying mechanisms and behaviors. Repeating earthquakes are characterized by a series of similar seismic events occurring along faults or fault zones. By analyzing the temporal and spatial patterns of these seismic events, we aim to identify the recurring patterns, stress transfer mechanisms, and fault interactions that contribute to their occurrence. Understanding the behavior of repeating earthquakes has implications for seismic risk assessment and failure mechanics, contributes to earthquake forecasting models, and improves our understanding of seismicity.

A collaborative work with Navin Thapa.