PhD student since mid-2001

Withdrawn from PhD studies start 2005 due to health problems

M.Sc., Sofia State University - Geology and Geography Faculty, Bulgaria, 1984.

Candidate of Sciences, Moscow State University - Geographical Faculty, USSR, 1991.

A wide array of practical applications require cost-effective alternatives to traditional geotechnical surveys for exploring sub-surface structural inhomogeneities. Combining the techniques of Differential Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and GPS for Earth crust monitoring, and cameral geomorphological methods of analysis, may provide such a solution. In addition, it will effectively address a number of fundamental aspects of Earth surface evolution. Despite numerous technological advances, the tectonic processes operating in plate interiors and for associated landforms are still not well understood. Currently, the dominant models associated with plate tectonics fail to describe about 15% of Earth's surface covered with deforming lithosphere. Independent from geotechnical surveys, "microzonation" of the territories, achieved by applying geomorphological expertise, permits the sub-surface inhomogeneities, which govern the seismisity of the areas, to be revealed. Being compatible with such a procedure, InSAR, combined with GPS precise positioning, can provide experimental verification of the proposed methodology, independently identifying naturally pre-determined elements of the Earth's crust.

Research Interests:

• General and applied geomorphology, fundamental aspects of landform evolution.
• Integral parallel (in contrast to sequential point to point field observation) methods of EarthÕs surface investigations.
• Spaceborne radar interferometry and remote sensing.
• Seismisity studies, microzonation and monitoring of crustal movement.
• Salinity, soil loss and acidity mapping and monitoring.
• Geospatial data fusion and GIS.

Publications:

L. Ge, E. Cheng, D. Polonska, C. Rizos, C. Collins, C. Smith, 2003. Earthquake monitoring in Australia using Satellite Radar Interferometry? Wuhan University Journal of Nature Sciences, 8(2), 649-658. (Download PDF)

L. Ge, E. Cheng, D. Polonska, C.Rizos, C. Collins, C. Smith, 2002. Earthquake monitoring in Australia using Satellite Radar Interferometry? 4th Int. Symp. on GPS/GNSS, 6-8 November, Wuhan, China.

L. Ge, E. Cheng, D. Polonska, C.Rizos, 2002. Multi-mode differential radar interferometry for crustal deformation monitoring. Presented at the Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting, 9-12 July, Wellington, New Zealand

D. Polonska, K. Seo, 2000. Intraplate seismisity within South-Western part of Kanto plain, Japan - manifested in heterogeneous subsurface zones, revealed through geomorphological hypotheses. Geological Society of Australia, Abstracts No:59, 15th Australian Geological Convention, Sydney, July 2000, 395.

D. Polonska, K. Seo, 2000. Seismic zonation of the South-Western part of Kanto plain, Japan, based on geomorphological analysis. Proc. 12th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, 30 Jan - 4 Feb, 2000, Auckland, New Zealand.

D. Polonska, 2000. Recent development of cost-effective morphotectonical analysis 'from relief to structure' as a framework for further geotechnical surveys in Japan. Research Reports on Earthquake Engineering No 73, 1-9, Feb 2000, EERG, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.

D. Polonska, 2001. Method for Morphometric Analysis. Australia Innovation Patent No: 2001100655.

D. Polonska, C. Collins, P. Cummins, C. Smith, L. Ge, C. Rizos, 2003. InSAR-based seismisity study of south-western Australia earthquake prone zone. XXIIIth General Assembly of the IUGG, 30 June-11 July, Sapporo, Japan.

K.Seo, D. Polonska, K. Kurita, T. Mizuta, K. Motoki, K. Saguchi, K. Eto, 1999. Microzoning studies for seismic risk mitigation. Proc. International Workshop on Seismotectonics at the Subduction Zone, 30 Nov,1999, Tsukuba, Japan.

K.Seo, D. Polonska, 1999. A study of disaster potential in Kawasaki City from geomorphological point of view. In Annual Report on Earthquake Disaster Prevention of Kawasaki City, Kawasaki city office, March 1999 (in Japanese).

D. Polonska, M. Harigae, T. Tsujii, M.Murata, K.Kimata, 1996. Observed vertical motion of Kozu-Jima island using Interferometric GPS. Reported on 19 July 1996 GPS Symposium in Tsukuba, Japan.

D. Polonska, 1993. Morphometric analysis of the relief of the Burgas lowland and its application. Proc. 3rd International Conference “Ecology, Economy and Environment of Black Sea Region, 1993, Varna, Bulgaria.

D. Monakhova (Polonska), L.G. Nikiforov, 1989. Geomorphological regions and coastal protection of the Bulgarian seashore zone. Vestnik, Moscow State University, Series 5, Geography, #4, Moscow, USSR (in Russian).