A Python-based toolkit to model elastic deformation caused by surface mass loading on spherically symmetric bodies.
The LoadDef software is largely a product of Hilary Martens’s PhD research work at Caltech in collaboration with Mark Simons (Caltech) and Luis Rivera (Universite de Strasbourg). We distribute the software free of charge with the hope that you may find it useful in your own research and educational pursuits. In the normal scientific practice, we request that you recognize the efforts of the authors by citing appropriate peer-reviewed paper(s) in presentations and publications (see list below) and we welcome opportunities for collaboration. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have about the software or its applications.
Martens, H.R., Rivera, L., & Simons, M. (2019). LoadDef: A Python-based toolkit to model elastic deformation caused by surface mass loading on spherically symmetric bodies. Earth and Space Science, 6. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018ea000462.
We also welcome opportunities to collaborate as co-author(s) on project applications that make use of LoadDef, and we aim to continue supporting and developing LoadDef based on community input. If you have any questions about the software or would like to discuss a particular project idea further, please get in touch! Thanks!
Hilary Martens, University of Montana
Martens, H.R., & M. Simons (2020). A comparison of predicted and observed ocean tidal loading in Alaska. Geophys. J. Int., 223(1): 454–470, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaa323.
Martens, H.R., Rivera, L., Simons, M., & Ito, T. (2016). The sensitivity of surface mass loading displacement response to perturbations in the elastic structure of the crust and mantle. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 121: 3911–3938. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JB012456.
Martens, H.R., Simons, M., Owen, S., & Rivera, L. (2016). Observations of ocean tidal load response in South America from sub-daily GPS positions. Geophys. J. Int., 205(3): 1637–1664. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggw087.
The complete and most up-to-date source code is available under the "Code" button above (green button).
From a terminal, the software can be downloaded using git:
git clone https://github.com/hrmartens/LoadDef.git
Alternatively, the software can be downloaded as a zip file:
https://github.com/hrmartens/LoadDef/archive/master.zip.
(Older versions of the software can be found by following this link: https://github.com/hrmartens/LoadDef/releases.)
Martin van Driel, ETH Zurich: Updated linear interpolation algorithm for the Love-number computation to improve computational efficiency [integrate_mantle.py; integrate_f_solid.py; f_solid_linear.py].
Please refer questions and requests for updates to:
Hilary Martens, University of Montana