Jiaxuan Li

University of Houston.

prof_pic.jpg

Science & Research Building 1, Room 125A

3507 Cullen Blvd

Houston, TX 77004

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Houston. Previously, I am a postdoctoral scholar in geophysics at Caltech Seismolab working with Prof. Zhongwen Zhan. I received my Ph.D. in geophysics at the University of Houston advised by Prof. Yingcai Zheng in 2020, and my B.S. degree at Peking Univesity in 2015.

My current research uses fiber-optic technologies to study seismic activities and image subsurface structures in diverse environments, including crustal, volcanic, and glacial settings. My recent study in Iceland demonstrates the use of low-frequency distributed acoustic sensing as a dense geodetic array to achieve minute-scale imaging of magma migration within magmatic plumbing systems. This research paves the way for the emerging fiber-optic geodesy, showing great potential for future research and applications. I am also interested in carbon sequestration, geothermal energy, and deep earthquakes.

News

Feb 12, 2025 Our real-time volcanic eruption early warning system in Iceland is now online! Check real-time low-frequency DAS streaming and waterfall streaming. This system is a collaborative effort between the Icelandic Met Office, Ljósleiðarann, Reykjavik University, Caltech, and the University of Houston.
Oct 18, 2023 Caltech News, LA Times, and other press coverage on our Science Advances paper An upper-crust lid over the Long Valley magma chamber.
Aug 02, 2023 Caltech News, Pasadena Star-News, and other press coverage on our Nature paper The break of earthquake asperities imaged by distributed acoustic sensing. Also on NPR news.
Jul 30, 2018 UH News and other press coverage on our Nature Geoscience paper Deep earthquakes in subducting slabs hosted in highly anisotropic rock fabric.

Selected publications

  1. Minute-scale dynamics of repeated dike intrusions in Iceland with fiber-optic geodesy
    Jiaxuan Li, Ettore Biondi, Heimisson Elias, and 11 more authors
    In review, 2025
  2. The break of earthquake asperities imaged by distributed acoustic sensing
    Jiaxuan Li, Taeho Kim, Nadia Lapusta, and 2 more authors
    Nature. Research briefing , Aug 2023
  3. Earthquake focal mechanisms with distributed acoustic sensing
    Jiaxuan Li, Weiqiang Zhu, Ettore Biondi, and 1 more author
    Nature Communications, Jul 2023
  4. Deep earthquakes in subducting slabs hosted in highly anisotropic rock fabric
    Jiaxuan Li, Yingcai Zheng, Leon Thomsen, and 2 more authors
    Nature Geoscience. News & Views by Prof. Romanowicz , Sep 2018