High-resolution strain rate mapping around inland plate boundary within the volcanic arc using L-band InSAR and dense GNSS networks

High-resolution strain rate mapping around inland plate boundary within the volcanic arc using L-band InSAR and dense GNSS networks | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article High-resolution strain rate mapping around inland plate boundary within the volcanic arc using L-band InSAR and dense GNSS networks Shogo Nagaoka, Youichiro Takada, Takuya Nishimura, Takeshi Sagiya, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7748098/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 11 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Crustal deformation in central Japan occurs in a highly complex manner characterized by (1) the Itoigawa–Shizuoka Tectonic Line (ISTL), the geologic boundary between the North American and the Eurasian plates, (2) the Niigata–Kobe Tectonic Zone (NKTZ) identified as a strain rate concentration zone by GNSS surveys. The existence of volcanic chain may introduce another complexity through its rheological heterogeneity. In this region, the spatial resolution and accuracy of strain rate mapping by conventional geodetic surveys have been limited by dense vegetation and rugged topography. Here, we integrate L-band InSAR data (2014–2023) with a very dense GNSS network, including private-sector stations, to generate a high-resolution interseismic strain rate map. We identify sharply localized strain rates along the northern ISTL (∼5×10-7 yr-1) and parts of the NKTZ (∼4×10-7 yr-1), which are faster and more spatially confined than GNSS-only estimates. We also find a distinct strain rate concentration (∼3×10-7 yr-1) along the southern extension of the Hida Mountains volcanic zone. Some of these concentrated strain rate zones align with known active faults, while others do not. This is the first InSAR-based strain rate map to resolve fine-scale deformation within a volcanic arc, highlighting the complex deformation style in island arc-trench systems and providing new insights into strain accumulation processes. Earth and environmental sciences/Natural hazards Earth and environmental sciences/Solid earth sciences Interseismic strain rate ALOS-2 InSAR Dense GNSS observation Itoigawa–Shizuoka Tectonic Line Niigata– Kobe Tectonic Zone Volcanic arc deformation Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files supplements.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 08 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 18 Dec, 2025 Reviews received at journal 18 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Dec, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 08 Dec, 2025 Editor invited by journal 08 Oct, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 06 Oct, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 06 Oct, 2025 First submitted to journal 30 Sep, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7748098","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":558327653,"identity":"abc3a72d-7e8b-41a2-be17-530488d69637","order_by":0,"name":"Shogo 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