About Me

I am a PhD candidate in geophysics at Scripps Institution Oceanography at UCSD studying earthquake hazards. My current work is focused on using satellite-based InSAR data to understand surface deformation associated with seismicity in Haiti.

I am also interested in the the intersection between science, engineering, policy, and society. My past career and current volunteer work with the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is focused on interdisciplinary approaches to reducing earthquake risk. Much of my work with EERI goes towards advocating for evidence-based and equitable seismic policies in California.

I recently collaborated with friends and colleagues Susheel Adusumilli and Maya Becker on an op-ed piece for the Hill discussing the role that satellite data can play in equitable adaptation to natural hazards, including earthquakes.

My non-science time goes to biking, rollerblading, petting dogs, and visiting new breweries.

Research

InSAR in Haiti

The southern peninsula of Haiti experiences high seismic hazard and has endured catastrophic impacts from past major earthquakes, most notably the 2010 M7.1 earthquake which was one of the deadliest earthquakes on record globally. In 2021 a M7.2 earthquake killed thousands of people in Haiti’s southern peninsula and underlined the importance of better understanding the hazardous Enriquillo Plantain Garden Fault Zone (EPGFZ) which produced both of these destructive events. Our work uses satellite-based InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) data to illuminate the ground deformation patterns associated with these major earthquakes. Using this remote sensing technique, we quantify how the ground moved during and after the 2021 M7.2 earthquake to better understand how how this complex fault zone is accommodating the long-term plate motion that ultimately drives the generation of earthquakes

To learn more about our work using InSAR data in Haiti, you can check out our website and download our data: InSAR data from the M7.2 2021 Nippes, Haiti earthquake

Collaborators on this work include Jennifer Haase, David Sandwell, Xioahua (Eric) Xu, and Roby Douilly.

Induced Seismicity in Oklahoma

There’s been a rise in seismicity in Oklahoma linked to wastewater injection associated with the fracking method of oil and gas recovery. There have been 4 M5+ earthquakes since 2010, events which threaten the built infrastructure in this region which was not built to withstand strong seismic shaking. In this project, we instrumented a 12-story aging reinforced concrete (RC) building on Oklahoma State University’s campus to monitor the builing’s response to events in realtime.

Publications

Yin, H. Z. Xu, X., Haase, J. S., Douilly, R., Sandwell, D. T, Mercier de Lepinay, B. M. (2022). Surface deformation surrounding the 2021 M7.2 Haiti earthquake illuminated by InSAR observations, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120220109

Yin, H. Zoe, Xu, X., Haase, J. S., Douilly, Roby, Sandwell, D. T., & Mercier de Lepinay, B. (2022). InSAR Interferograms and Products from 2021, M7.2 Nippes, Haiti earthquake (Curated Dataset). Zenodo, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6834534

PRESENTATIONS

Yin, H. Z., Xu, X., Jennifer S Haase, David T Sandwell. Surface features of the 2021 M7.2 Haiti earthquake from InSAR data. AGU Fall Meeting 2021, AGU.

Yin, H. Z., Haase, J. S., Kandel, O., James, C., Soliman, M., Jaiswal, P., Vernon, F. (2021). Realtime building monitoring for rapid response to earthquakes. AGU Fall Meeting 2021, AGU.

Fornari, D.J., Barreyre T., Parnell-Turner, R., McDermott, J., Lien, M. E., Wu, J., Berrios-Rivera N., Yin, H. Z. (2021). Tracking Changes in Hydrothermal Vent Temperatures and Crustal Permeability During Seafloor Eruptions at the East Pacific Rise, 9 50’N. AGU Fall Meeting 2021, AGU.

Yin, H. Z., Saunders, J. K., Haase, J. S., Sheikh, I. A., Soliman, M., Martinez, F., Jaiswal, P., Sepulveda, I. (2020). Generation of synthetic ground motions for induced seismic events in Oklahoma using varied fault orientations. AGU Fall Meeting 2020, AGU.

Yin, H. Z. Saunders, J. K., Haase, J. S., Sheikh, I. A., Soliman, Jaiswal, P., Mencin, D.J., Vernon, F.L., (2020). Structural Health Monitoring During Induced Seismic Events in Oklahoma Using Real-Time Seismogeodetic Data. Seismological Research Letters, 91 (2B), 1161. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220200043.

Wong I.G., Cedillos V., Holmes W., Jackson R., Arendt L., Welliver B., Yin, H. Z., and Tremayne H. SESI: Talking earthquake school safety with local influencers and decision-makers. Proceedings of the 11th National Conference in Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA. 2018.

Simpson B., Van Den Einde L., Anagnos T., Sen A., Martin A., Saiyed Z., Yin, H. Z. Teaching School Safety and Advocacy in the Classroom. Proceedings of the 11th National Conference in Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA. 2018.

Wong I.G, Cedillos V., Holmes W., Jackson R., Arendt L., Welliver B., Yin, H. Z., and Tremayne H. SESI: Talking earthquake school safety with local influencers and decision-makers. Proceedings of the 11th National Conference in Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA. 2018.

Elizabeth J. Catlos, Tandon, S., Etzel, T. M., Kohut, M., Broska, M., Stockli, D., Elliot, B.A., Aguilera, K., Yin, H. Z.(2018). Comparing in situ U-Pb zircon and Th-Pb monazite ages from High Tatra granitoids, Slovakia. Proceedings of the Joint 5th Central-European Mineralogical Conference, Banska Stiavnica, Slovakia.

Etzel, T. M., Catlos, E. J., Kohut, M., Broska, I., Elliott, B. A., Stockli, D., Miggins, D., O’brien, T., Tandon, S., Aguilera, K., Yin, H. Z.(2018). Dating the High Tatra Mountains, Slovakia: Tectonic Implications. In 7th Mineral Sciences in the Carpathian Conference Proceedings. Slovakia.

Yin, H. Z. Tandon, S., Aguilera, K. N., Etzel, T. M., Catlos, E. J., et al. (2017). Lessons Learned From an International Research Experience From the Underrepresented Student Perspective. GSA South-Central Section Meeting 2017. https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2017SC-289189