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The degree to which deformation and seismicity is focused on major mapped structures remains a key unknown in assessing seismic hazards and testing continental deformation models. Here we combine 208 Global Positioning System (GPS) velocities with 12‐track Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) rate maps to form high‐resolution velocity and strain rate fields for south‐central Tibet. Our results show that deformation is not evenly distributed across the region. We find a few zones with high strain rates, most notably the Yutian‐Zhongba strain rate zone. However, the average of the strain rates is similar within and outside the mapped fault zones. In addition, the slip rates are low on all the conjugate strike‐slip faults widespread in central Tibet. The observations are difficult to reconcile with time‐invariant block models or with continuum models that lack mechanisms for strain localization. Our results support arguments that the most robust estimates of seismic hazard should integrate seismicity catalogues, active fault maps, and geodetic strain rate models. Key Points: Geodetic velocity field shows spatially variable strain within south‐central TibetStrain rates are similar outside and inside the mapped fault zonesConjugate strike‐slip faults in south‐central Tibet have low slip rates (≤4 mm/year) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses key observations of deformation in seismic hazard in the continents. He tackles the difficulty in assessing seismic hazard, the implications of theses observations for the understanding of the deep structure of fault zones, the standard method for assessing seismic hazard and the measurements of strain accumulation with the use of satellite methods.

SUMMARY The Pearl River Delta (PRD) is one of the most important economic regions with the highest population densities in China. With its dramatic increasing population and economy, hazards associated with land subsidence frequently occur here that amplify the negative effect of sea level rise. However, land subsidence has not been regularly measured in this region. Here, we use interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) to investigate the rate and extent of land subsidence in the PRD region. Assuming purely vertical displacements, multi-track interferograms from different viewing geometries are combined to estimate the linear rate map and time series at a higher resolution in time than is possible with a single track. The results show apparent subsidence along the coastal region of Shenzhen associated with rapid urban development in recent years. The average subsidence rate within 500 m of the coast is about 2.5 mm yr−1, and the maximum is up to about 6 mm yr−1 with respect to the central part of the city. Much of the land surface in the PRD is less than 2 m above mean sea level; high-precision geodetic measurements throughout the PRD region are therefore critical for conducting risk assessments, considering the rate of about 2-3 mm yr−1 of current global sea level rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]