Monitoring ground deformation in Urumqi using small baseline time series InSAR technique

This work investigated the large-scale ground deformations threatening the Northern Urumqi district, China, which are connected to groundwater exploitation and the seasonal freeze–thaw cycles that characterize this frozen region. Ground deformations can be well captured by satellite data using a multi-temporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (Mt-InSAR) approach. The accuracy of the achievable ground deformation products (e.g., mean displacement time series and related ground displacement time series) critically depends on the number and quality of the selected interferograms. This paper presents a straightforward interferogram selection algorithm that can be applied to identify an optimal network of small baseline (SB) interferograms. The selected SB interferograms are then used to produce ground deformation products using the well-known small baseline subset (SBAS) Mt-InSAR algorithm. The developed interferogram selection algorithm (ISA) permits the selection of the group of SB data pairs that minimize the relative error of the mean ground deformation velocity. Experiments were carried out using a group of 102 Sentinel-1B SAR data collected from 12 April 2017 to 29 October 2020. This research study shows that the investigated farmland region is characterized by a maximum ground deformation rate of about 120 mm/year. Periodic groundwater overexploitation, coupled with irrigation and freeze–thaw phases, is also responsible for seasonal (one-year) ground displacement signals, with oscillation amplitudes up to 120 mm in the zones of maximum displacement.

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Subsidence Monitoring of Fill Area in Yan’an New District Based on Sentinel-1A Time Series Imagery

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13153044 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 3044

Author(s):

Mingjie Liao ◽

Rui Zhang ◽

Jichao Lv ◽

Bin Yu ◽

Jiatai Pang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Large Scale ◽

Ground Deformation ◽

Dynamic Change ◽

Deformation Monitoring ◽

Chinese Loess Plateau ◽

Ground Subsidence ◽

Shanxi Province ◽

Environment Change ◽

Loess Area

In recent years, many cities in the Chinese loess plateau (especially in Shanxi province) have encountered ground subsidence problems due to the construction of underground projects and the exploitation of underground resources. With the completion of the world’s largest geotechnical project, called “mountain excavation and city construction,” in a collapsible loess area, the Yan’an city also appeared to have uneven ground subsidence. To obtain the spatial distribution characteristics and the time-series evolution trend of the subsidence, we selected Yan’an New District (YAND) as the specific study area and presented an improved time-series InSAR (TS-InSAR) method for experimental research. Based on 89 Sentinel-1A images collected between December 2017 to December 2020, we conducted comprehensive research and analysis on the spatial and temporal evolution of surface subsidence in YAND. The monitoring results showed that the YAND is relatively stable in general, with deformation rates mainly in the range of −10 to 10 mm/yr. However, three significant subsidence funnels existed in the fill area, with a maximum subsidence rate of 100 mm/yr. From 2017 to 2020, the subsidence funnels enlarged, and their subsidence rates accelerated. Further analysis proved that the main factors induced the severe ground subsidence in the study area, including the compressibility and collapsibility of loess, rapid urban construction, geological environment change, traffic circulation load, and dynamic change of groundwater. The experimental results indicated that the improved TS-InSAR method is adaptive to monitoring uneven subsidence of deep loess area. Moreover, related data and information would provide reference to the large-scale ground deformation monitoring and in similar loess areas.

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Countrywide Monitoring of Ground Deformation Using InSAR Time Series: A Case Study from Qatar

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13040702 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 702

Author(s):

Mustafa Kemal Emil ◽

Mohamed Sultan ◽

Khaled Alakhras ◽

Guzalay Sataer ◽

Sabreen Gozi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Arabian Peninsula ◽

Ground Deformation ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Urban Centers ◽

Alos Palsar ◽

Groundwater Levels ◽

Temporal Correlations ◽

Time Series Approach ◽

Sbas Insar

Over the past few decades the country of Qatar has been one of the fastest growing economies in the Middle East; it has witnessed a rapid increase in its population, growth of its urban centers, and development of its natural resources. These anthropogenic activities compounded with natural forcings (e.g., climate change) will most likely introduce environmental effects that should be assessed. In this manuscript, we identify and assess one of these effects, namely, ground deformation over the entire country of Qatar. We use the Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) InSAR time series approach in conjunction with ALOS Palsar-1 (January 2007 to March 2011) and Sentinel-1 (March 2017 to December 2019) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) datasets to assess ground deformation and conduct spatial and temporal correlations between the observed deformation with relevant datasets to identify the controlling factors. The findings indicate: (1) the deformation products revealed areas of subsidence and uplift with high vertical velocities of up to 35 mm/yr; (2) the deformation rates were consistent with those extracted from the continuously operating reference GPS stations of Qatar; (3) many inland and coastal sabkhas (salt flats) showed evidence for uplift (up to 35 mm/yr) due to the continuous evaporation of the saline waters within the sabkhas and the deposition of the evaporites in the surficial and near-surficial sabkha sediments; (4) the increased precipitation during Sentinel-1 period compared to the ALOS Palsar-1 period led to a rise in groundwater levels and an increase in the areas occupied by surface water within the sabkhas, which in turn increased the rate of deposition of the evaporitic sediments; (5) high subsidence rates (up to 14 mm/yr) were detected over landfills and dumpsites, caused by mechanical compaction and biochemical processes; and (6) the deformation rates over areas surrounding known sinkhole locations were low (+/−2 mm/yr). We suggest that this study can pave the way to similar countrywide studies over the remaining Arabian Peninsula countries and to the development of a ground motion monitoring system for the entire Arabian Peninsula.

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Removal of systematic seasonal atmospheric signal from interferometric synthetic aperture radar ground deformation time series

Geophysical Research Letters ◽

10.1002/2014gl061307 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 41 (17) ◽

pp. 6123-6130 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Sergey V. Samsonov ◽

Alexander P. Trishchenko ◽

Kristy Tiampo ◽

Pablo J. González ◽

Yu Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Synthetic Aperture Radar ◽

Ground Deformation ◽

Synthetic Aperture ◽

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar ◽

Aperture Radar

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Three-dimensional deformation time series of glacier motion from multiple-aperture DInSAR observation

Journal of Geodesy ◽

10.1007/s00190-019-01325-y ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (12) ◽

pp. 2651-2660 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sergey Samsonov

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Surface Deformation ◽

Ground Deformation ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Data Sets ◽

Ice Flow ◽

The North ◽

Glacier Ice ◽

Deformation Component ◽

3D Deformation

AbstractThe previously presented Multidimensional Small Baseline Subset (MSBAS-2D) technique computes two-dimensional (2D), east and vertical, ground deformation time series from two or more ascending and descending Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) data sets by assuming that the contribution of the north deformation component is negligible. DInSAR data sets can be acquired with different temporal and spatial resolutions, viewing geometries and wavelengths. The MSBAS-2D technique has previously been used for mapping deformation due to mining, urban development, carbon sequestration, permafrost aggradation and pingo growth, and volcanic activities. In the case of glacier ice flow, the north deformation component is often too large to be negligible. Historically, the surface-parallel flow (SPF) constraint was used to compute the static three-dimensional (3D) velocity field at various glaciers. A novel MSBAS-3D technique has been developed for computing 3D deformation time series where the SPF constraint is utilized. This technique is used for mapping 3D deformation at the Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, during January–March 2015, and the MSBAS-2D and MSBAS-3D solutions are compared. The MSBAS-3D technique can be used for studying glacier ice flow at other glaciers and other surface deformation processes with large north deformation component, such as landslides. The software implementation of MSBAS-3D technique can be downloaded from http://insar.ca/.

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Detecting land deformation due to groundwater changes with InSAR observations - the case of the island of Gotland, Sweden

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-3402 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mehdi Darvishi ◽

Fernando Jaramillo

Keyword(s):

Land Subsidence ◽

Groundwater Level ◽

Ground Deformation ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Ground Surface ◽

Groundwater Depletion ◽

Groundwater Levels ◽

Small Baseline Subset ◽

Small Baseline ◽

The Baltic

In the recent years, southern Sweden has experienced drought conditions during the summer with potential risks of groundwater shortages. One of the main physical effects of groundwater depletion is land subsidence, a geohazard that potentially damages urban infrastructure, natural resources and can generate casualties. We here investigate land subsidence induced by groundwater depletion and/or seasonal variations in Gotland, an agricultural island in the Baltic Sea experiencing recent hydrological droughts in the summer. Taking advantage of the multiple monitoring groundwater wells active on the island, we explore the existence of a relationship between groundwater fluctuations and ground deformation, as obtained from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). The aim in the long-term is to develop a high-accuracy map of land subsidence with an appropriate temporal and spatial resolution to understand groundwater changes in the area are recognize hydroclimatic and anthropogenic drivers of change.We processed Sentinel-1 (S1) data, covering the time span of 2016-2019, by using the Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) to process 119 S1-A/B data (descending mode). The groundwater level of Nineteen wells distributed over the Gotland island were used to assess the relationship between groundwater depletion and the detected InSAR displacement. In addition to that, the roles of other geological key factors such as soil depth, ground capacity in bed rock, karstification, structure of bedrock and soil type in occurring land subsidence also investigated. The findings showed that the groundwater level in thirteen wells with soil depths of less than 5 meters correlated well with InSAR displacements. The closeness of bedrock to ground surface (small soil depth) was responsible for high coherence values near the wells, and enabled the detection land subsidence. The results demonstrated that InSAR could use as an effective monitoring system for groundwater management and can assist in predicting or estimating low groundwater levels during summer conditions.

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Ground motion areas detection (GMA-D): an innovative approach to identify ground deformation areas using the SAR-based displacement time series

Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences ◽

10.5194/piahs-382-277-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 382 ◽

pp. 277-284

Author(s):

Roberta Bonì ◽

Claudia Meisina ◽

Linda Poggio ◽

Alessandro Fontana ◽

Giulia Tessari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Synthetic Aperture Radar ◽

Ground Motion ◽

Coastal Plain ◽

Ground Deformation ◽

Innovative Approach ◽

Synthetic Aperture ◽

Ne Italy ◽

Innovative Methodology

Abstract. In this work, an innovative methodology to generate the automatic ground motion areas mapping is presented. The methodology is based on the analysis of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)-based displacement time series. The procedure includes two modules developed using the ModelBuilder tool (ArcGis). These modules allow to identify the ground motion areas (GMA) using only one dataset and the persistent GMA (PGMA) considering the different monitored periods and datasets. These areas represent clusters of targets characterized by the same displacement time series trend. The procedure was tested using different sensors such as ERS-1/2, ENVISAT, COSMO-SkyMed and Sentinel-1 covering the periods, 1992–2000, 2003–2010, 2012–2016 and 2014–2017, respectively, over an area of about 500 km2 in the Venetian-Friulian coastal Plain (NE Italy). The resulting mapping allows to detect priority areas where to address further in situ investigations such as to verify the presence of localized buried landforms.

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MasTer: A Full Automatic Multi-Satellite InSAR Mass Processing Tool for Rapid Incremental 2D Ground Deformation Time Series

10.1109/igarss47720.2021.9553615 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

N. d'Oreye ◽

D. Derauw ◽

S. Samsonov ◽

M. Jaspard ◽

D. Smittarello

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Ground Deformation

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Monitoring stability of embankment dams in response to 2019 Iran Flood event

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-14308 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi ◽

Mahdi Motagh

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Flood Event ◽

Zagros Mountains ◽

High Resolution Data ◽

Khuzestan Province ◽

Embankment Dams ◽

Before And After ◽

Small Baseline Subset ◽

Small Baseline

In April 2019, large parts of Khuzestan province in Iran were affected by intense record rainfall in the Zagros mountains. Persian Gulf catchment received approximately 30% of its long-term average rainfall over the course of a few days. Karkheh and Dez, two of the major rivers in this catchment, overflowed their banks. As several dams, including Karkheh, with the country's largest capacity, reached their limits, the water had to be released from the reservoirs, which resulted in flooding downstream of the dams. Several cities and more than 200 villages were flooded, and many people had to be evacuated. Many of the dams affected by the 2019 flood were embankment dams, &#160;previously reported to exhibit post-construction settlements, at places reaching 13 cm/yr. Therefore, during and after the flood,&#160; significant concerns were raised about their health and stability.In this study, we use Sentinel-1 InSAR to monitor embankment dams' response in Khuzestan to the 2019 flood event. We process the full archive of Sentinel-1 using the Small Baseline Subset approach and estimate the time series of displacement for three different embankment dams in Khuzestan province. The first two studied dams are Karkheh and Gotvand, which have the country's largest capacities and became operational in 2001 and 2012, respectively. The third studied dam is the Masjed-Soleyman dam, previously reported to sustain a high displacement rate since its operation in 2002.The Sentinel-1 InSAR displacement results indicate that all observed dams exhibit long-term post-construction settlement before the flood, with rates varies from approximately 1 cm/yr for the Karkheh dam to 5 cm/yr for Gotvand dam and 8 cm/yr for Masjed-Soleyman dam. The time series of displacement for Karkheh and Gotvand dams show gentle changes of displacement in response to the increase in water level following the flood. However, for the Masjed-Soleyman dam, the movement accelerates sharply after the flood with more than 2 cm of displacement on the crest in only two months. For the Masjed-Soleyman dam experiencing the most severe effect of the flood, we also analyzed high-resolution data from TerraSAR-X and COSMO-SkyMed. The results provide a detailed picture of the displacement pattern over the crest and the dam's body before and after the flood.

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