Research

My research sits at the intersection of space geodesy and seismotectonics. I use Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 SAR imagery to build InSAR deformation maps of active faults across Asia, and combine these with GNSS time series to understand how faults slip before, during, and after earthquakes. Current focus areas include earthquake sequences in Afghanistan and the rheological structure of the Himalayan lower crust.

Research Themes

InSAR-Based Slip Modeling

Constructing surface deformation fields from SAR interferograms and inverting them for fault slip distributions — from coseismic rupture to slow aseismic creep.

InSARSentinel-1ALOS-2

Postseismic Deformation

Analyzing time-series InSAR and GNSS data to separate afterslip, viscoelastic relaxation, and poroelastic rebound following large earthquakes.

AfterslipViscoelasticityGNSS

Fault Mechanics & Rheology

Applying rate-and-state friction theory and Coulomb stress analysis to understand fault interaction, earthquake triggering, and lower-crustal rheology.

Rate-and-StateCoulomb StressRheology

Active Tectonics in Asia

Field mapping and remote sensing of major fault systems — Philippine Fault, Hindu Kush, Himalayan front — to characterize geometry, segmentation, and seismic hazard.

Philippine FaultAfghanistanHimalaya

Publications

IN PREPARATION
Rheology of the Lower Crust Underneath Himalaya Revealed by A New Method
Marfito, B., Mallick, R., Perry, M., Hill, E., Yun, S.H.
In Prep
Delayed Triggering in the 2023 Herat, Afghanistan Earthquake Sequence Controlled by Fault Orientation and Overlap
Marfito, B., Ainscoe, E., Sopaci, E., Salman, R., Shnizai, Z., Burgmann, R., Yun, S.H.
In Prep
Investigating the Origin of Shallow Slip Deficit in the 2022 Mw 6.0 Khōst, Afghanistan Earthquake
Marfito, B., Salman, R., Bürgmann, R., Liang, C., Wang, K., Yun, S.H.
In Prep
2026
Coulomb Pre-Stress Changes Modulate Coseismic Rupture Kinematics of the 2025 Mw7.7 Myanmar Earthquake Revealed by Space Geodesy
He, L., Salman, R., Marfito, B., Feng, G., Jiang, H., Wang, W., et al.
Geophysical Research Letters, 53(3), e2025GL120587
2025
Seasonal and Episodic Variation of Aseismic Creep Displacement Along the West Valley Fault, Philippines
Rimando, R. E., Llamas, D. C. E., Marfito, B. J., & Garduque, R. J.
GeoHazards, 6(3)
2024
Surface Rupture and Fault Characteristics Associated With the 2020 Magnitude (MW) 6.6 Masbate Earthquake, Masbate Island, Philippines
Llamas, D. C. E., Marfito, B. J., Dela Cruz, R., & Aurelio, M. A.
Tectonics, 43(9), e2023TC008106
2023
Shallow Structures, Interactions, and Recurrent Vertical Motions of Active Faults in Lingayen Gulf, Philippines
Flores, P. C. M., Siringan, F. P., Mateo, Z. R. P., Marfito, B. J., Sarmiento, K. J. S., Abigania, M. I. T., et al.
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences: X, 9, 100152
2022
Geometry and Segmentation of the Philippine Fault in Surigao Strait
Marfito, B. J., Llamas, D. C. E., & Aurelio, M. A.
Frontiers in Earth Science
Seafloor Structures and Static Stress Changes Associated With Two Recent Earthquakes in Offshore Southern Batangas, Philippines
Sarmiento, K. J. S., Aurelio, M. A., Flores, P. C. M., Carrillo, A. D. V, Marfito, B. J., Abigania, M. I. T., et al.
Frontiers in Earth Science

Conferences & Presentations

2026
Delayed Triggering in the 2023 Herat, Afghanistan Earthquake Sequence Controlled by Fault Orientation and Overlap
Marfito, B., Ainscoe, E., Sopaci, E., Salman, R., Shnizai, Z., Yun, S.H.
FRINGE 2026 — Submitted
2025
Cascading Fault Ruptures Drive The 2023 Afghanistan Earthquake Sequence
Marfito, B., Ainscoe, E., Salman, R., Sopaci, E., Shnizai, Z., Yun, S.H.
ACES 2025, November 3–7, 2025
2023
Source Fault Characteristics of the 21 June 2022 MW6.0 Afghanistan Earthquake
Marfito, B., Salman, R., Way, L., Liang, C., Wang, K., Bürgmann, R., and Yun, S.H.
ACES 2023, February 28–March 4, 2023