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Ground Deformation Detection and Geomatic Applications by InSAR and GNSS Techniques II

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Remote Sensing in Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 15022

Special Issue Editors


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Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Catania, Osservatorio Etneo, 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: GNSS; geodynamics; volcano geodesy; land subsidence; modeling
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Guest Editor
Scool of Enginering and Architecture, DICAM - University of Bologna Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy
Interests: GNSS; In-SAR; land subsidence; ground deformation control; monitoring
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Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Nazionale Terremoti, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Rome, Italy
Interests: InSAR; tectonics; land subsidence; ground deformation modeling

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAR), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: remote sensing; development of GIS and WebGIS technology and applications for the monitoring of the territory; management and processing of data acquired by UAVs; liDAR technology; spatial data base
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAR), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: remote sensing; development of GIS and WebGIS technology and applications for the monitoring of the territory; management and processing of data acquired by UAVs; liDAR technology; spatial data base
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last two decades, the rapid growth of continuous GNSS networks and improvements in InSAR imaging have allowed for the acquisition of both continuous and spatially extensive datasets over large regions of Earth, significantly increasing the range of geoscience applications. These datasets have been able to capture, with high resolution, the deformations occurring at various spatial and temporal scales, therefore providing important constraints on ongoing crustal processes. In addition, the promising results obtained by the scientific community and the free availability of data, which permitted drastic cost reductions, have drawn increasing interest from administrative managing offices for the mapping and monitoring of ground deformation issues by means of new GIS technology and geomatic approaches.

In this Special Issue, we will compile state-of-the-art research that focuses on the detection of ground deformation patterns by using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and GNSS observations. Moreover, we will also focus on GIS technology and geomatic approaches aimed at the management and visualization of these data/results to improve the dialogue with the stakeholdes involved in the general management of a territory.

Review contributions are welcomed, as are papers describing new measurement concepts/sensors and GIS technology and geomatic approaches.

Dr. Mimmo Palano
Prof. Dr. Stefano Gandolfi
Dr. Giuseppe Pezzo
Dr. Michele Mangiameli
Prof. Giuseppe Mussumeci
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • GNSS
  • InSAR
  • earthquakes
  • volcano deformation
  • land subsidence
  • slow-moving landslides
  • ground deformation modelling
  • GIS and geomatic approaches

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 10049 KiB  
Article
Ground Subsidence, Driving Factors, and Risk Assessment of the Photovoltaic Power Generation and Greenhouse Planting (PPG&GP) Projects in Coal-Mining Areas of Xintai City Observed from a Multi-Temporal InSAR Perspective
by Chao Ding, Guangcai Feng, Zhiqiang Xiong and Lu Zhang
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(6), 1109; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16061109 - 21 Mar 2024
Viewed by 439
Abstract
In recent years, photovoltaic power generation and greenhouse planting (PPG&GP) have become effective approaches for reconstructing and restoring the ecological environment of old coal-mining industry bases, such as Xintai City. However, the ecological impacts or improvements of the PPG&GP projects and their daily [...] Read more.
In recent years, photovoltaic power generation and greenhouse planting (PPG&GP) have become effective approaches for reconstructing and restoring the ecological environment of old coal-mining industry bases, such as Xintai City. However, the ecological impacts or improvements of the PPG&GP projects and their daily operations on the local environment are still unclear. To solve these problems, this study retrieved the ground deformation velocities and time series of the study region by performing the Small-Baseline Subset (SBAS)-Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technique on the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) PALSAR and Sentinel-1 SAR datasets. With these deformation results, the spatial analysis indicated that the area of the subsidence region within the PPG&GP projects reached 10.70 km2, with a magnitude of approximately −21.61 ± 12.10 mm/yr. Also, even though the ground deformations and their temporal changes were both visible in the construction and operation stages of the PPG&GP projects, the temporal analysis demonstrated that most observation points finally entered into the stationary phases in the late stage of the observation period. This phenomenon validated the effectiveness of the PPG&GP projects in enhancing the ground surface stability in coal-mining areas. Additionally, the precipitation, geological structure, increased coal-mining depths, and emergent agricultural modes were assumed to be the major impact factors controlling the ground deformation within the local PPG&GP projects. Finally, a novel risk assessment method with a designed index of IRA was utilized to classify the ground subsidence risks of the PPG&GP projects into three levels: Low (69.7%), Medium (16.9%), and High (9.4%). This study sheds a bright light on the ecological monitoring and risk management of the burgeoning industrial and agricultural infrastructures, such as the PPG&GP projects, constructed upon the traditional coal-mining areas in China from a multi-temporal InSAR perspective. Full article
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16 pages, 8786 KiB  
Article
InSAR Monitoring Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) and Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) Techniques for Ground Deformation Measurement in Metropolitan Area of Concepción, Chile
by Eugenia Giorgini, Felipe Orellana, Camila Arratia, Luca Tavasci, Gonzalo Montalva, Marcos Moreno and Stefano Gandolfi
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(24), 5700; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15245700 - 12 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1021
Abstract
InSAR capabilities allow us to understand ground deformations in large metropolitan areas, this is key to assessing site conditions in areas in an inherently expanding context. The multi-temporal interferometry of SAR data records ground surface displacement velocities over large metropolitan areas, identifying anomalous [...] Read more.
InSAR capabilities allow us to understand ground deformations in large metropolitan areas, this is key to assessing site conditions in areas in an inherently expanding context. The multi-temporal interferometry of SAR data records ground surface displacement velocities over large metropolitan areas, identifying anomalous and potential geological hazards. The metropolitan city of Concepción, Chile, is an alluvial basin in one of the world’s most seismically active subduction zones, where many subduction earthquakes have occurred throughout history. In this study, we monitored the deformations of the ground surface in the metropolitan area of Concepción using two interferometric techniques, the first being Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) and the second, the Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) technique. To do this, we have used the same Sentinel-1 dataset, obtaining ground movement rates between 2019 and 2021. The velocities were aligned with the GNSS station available in the area. Ground deformation patterns show local deformations depending on factors such as soil type and heterogeneity, and regional deformations due to geographical location in the subduction area. Our results highlight the similarity of the deformation rates obtained with different processing techniques and have also allowed us to identify areas of deformation and compare them to site conditions. These results are essential to evaluate ground conditions and contribute to urban planning and risk management in highly seismic areas. Full article
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19 pages, 126391 KiB  
Article
Detection Ground Deformation Characteristics of Reclamation Land with Time-Series Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar in Tianjin Binhai New Area, China
by Yanan Chen, Fuli Yan, Jian Chen and Xiangtao Fan
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(22), 5303; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15225303 - 09 Nov 2023
Viewed by 775
Abstract
In order to alleviate the conflict between populations and land resource, Tianjin adopted multi-phase reclamation projects to the formed large-scale artificial reclamation land. The reclamation areas, however, are prone to subsidence, which poses a significant threat to infrastructure as well as the safety [...] Read more.
In order to alleviate the conflict between populations and land resource, Tianjin adopted multi-phase reclamation projects to the formed large-scale artificial reclamation land. The reclamation areas, however, are prone to subsidence, which poses a significant threat to infrastructure as well as the safety and assets of the residents. The SBAS-InSAR was used to acquire surface deformation of Tianjin Binhai New Area from January 2017 to December 2022, analyze in depth the response relationship between land subsidence, reclamation project time, and land-use type. There is a strong correlation between surface deformation and reclamation time. Severe land subsidence occurred over newly reclaimed areas. In the offshore direction, the deformation values of the Nangang Industrial Zone, the Lingang Industrial Zone, and Hangu Harbor were −98 mm to −890 mm, 45 mm to −580 mm, and −140 mm to −290 mm, respectively. Significant differences in deformation were detected among different land-use types where reclamation projects were completed in the same time. Subsidence was positively correlated with surface load; in areas with higher surface loads, the surface settlement was also more severe. The average surface settlement for the heavy shipyard, with 67 grain storage tanks and 27 grain storage tanks, road, and bare land were −201 mm, −166 mm, −107 mm, −64 mm, and −43 mm, respectively. This study reveals significant differences of surface deformation in the reclamation completed at different times, and determines that the load is the main driving factor of settlement difference in the reclamation land completed at the same time. This has important guiding significance for preventing and controlling geological disasters in the reclamation area and later development planning. Full article
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18 pages, 5209 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Horizontal Crustal Deformation in the Sichuan–Yunnan Region Using GPS Data
by Quanshu Zhao, Kaihua Ding, Guanghong Lan, Yunlong Wu, Yuan Liu, Shengxiang Peng and Tianao Li
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(19), 4724; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15194724 - 27 Sep 2023
Viewed by 636
Abstract
Based on various velocity fields from Global Positioning System (GPS) data over nearly 20 years in the Sichuan–Yunnan region, this paper calculated the strain rate field and its spatiotemporal characteristics by using an improved least squares collocation method. We evaluated the calculated strain [...] Read more.
Based on various velocity fields from Global Positioning System (GPS) data over nearly 20 years in the Sichuan–Yunnan region, this paper calculated the strain rate field and its spatiotemporal characteristics by using an improved least squares collocation method. We evaluated the calculated strain field by extensively discussing the impact of non-tectonic factors on the calculation. Subsequently, we described the present-day strain rate features and their spatiotemporal variations. The results indicate the necessity of considering the influence of non-tectonic factors when calculating the strain rate field by using GPS velocity data. Widespread strain accumulation is observed in the Sichuan–Yunnan region, and significant second strain rate invariant with an average value of 33.1 nanostrain/yr primarily occurs along the eastern boundary faults of the Sichuan–Yunnan rhomboid block, specifically the Xianshuihe–Anninghe–Zemuhe–Xiaojiang fault systems. These fault systems also demarcate the zones with negative and positive dilation strain. According to the spatiotemporal variations of strain rate fields, the northern and southern segments of the Xianshuihe Fault, the Anninghe Fault and its eastern adjacent faults, and the Xiaojiang Fault are undergoing intensifying strain. Consequently, these zones should be paid more attention due to their relatively higher seismic risk in the Sichuan–Yunnan region. Full article
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12 pages, 5939 KiB  
Communication
Study of a Steady-State Landscape Using Remote Sensing and Topographic Analysis
by Xueliang Wang, Yanjie Zhang, John J. Clague, Songfeng Guo, Qisong Jiao, Junfei Wang, Juanjuan Sun, Wenxin Fang and Shengwen Qi
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(10), 2583; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15102583 - 15 May 2023
Viewed by 1220
Abstract
The current limited approaches to calculating hillslope erosion rate hamper the study of the relationships among the rates of hillslope erosion, river incision, and tectonic uplift and hence the discussion of steady-state landscape evolution. In this paper, we use remote sensing and geochronological [...] Read more.
The current limited approaches to calculating hillslope erosion rate hamper the study of the relationships among the rates of hillslope erosion, river incision, and tectonic uplift and hence the discussion of steady-state landscape evolution. In this paper, we use remote sensing and geochronological methods to calculate the upper and lower bounding hillslope erosion rates in the Qilian Shan range, Tibet. Our analysis focuses on five convex landslide sediment units derived from the weathered hillslopes at Qingyang Mountain on the tectonically active northeastern Tibetan Plateau. These sediment units range in thickness from 5.5 to 12.8 m and in volume from 119 × 103 to 260 × 103 m3. Based on field observations, measurements extracted from high-resolution DEMs, and optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages on fluvial terraces, we obtain lower and upper bounding rates of 0.13 ± 0.03 and 0.21 ± 0.04 mm/yr, respectively. Finally, we calculate incision rates, ranging from 0.21 ± 0.02 to 0.39 ± 0.01 mm/yr, from heights of a dated fluvial terrace above the present river and the time of abandonment of the associated bedrock strath estimated from OSL ages. The rates of hillslope erosion and river incision at Qingyang Mountain and the tectonic uplift of the Qilian Mountains are estimated to be within a factor of two over the past 117 ka, suggesting that a state of dynamic equilibrium has likely existed on this timescale. Full article
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28 pages, 31701 KiB  
Article
Present-Day Surface Deformation in North-East Italy Using InSAR and GNSS Data
by Giulia Areggi, Giuseppe Pezzo, John Peter Merryman Boncori, Letizia Anderlini, Giuliana Rossi, Enrico Serpelloni, David Zuliani and Lorenzo Bonini
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(6), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15061704 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2019
Abstract
Geodetic data can detect and estimate deformation signals and rates due to natural and anthropogenic phenomena. In the present study, we focus on northeastern Italy, an area characterized by ~1.5–3 mm/yr of convergence rates due to the collision of Adria-Eurasia plates and active [...] Read more.
Geodetic data can detect and estimate deformation signals and rates due to natural and anthropogenic phenomena. In the present study, we focus on northeastern Italy, an area characterized by ~1.5–3 mm/yr of convergence rates due to the collision of Adria-Eurasia plates and active subsidence along the coasts. To define the rates and trends of tectonic and subsidence signals, we use a Multi-Temporal InSAR (MT-InSAR) approach called the Stanford Method for Persistent Scatterers (StaMPS), which is based on the detection of coherent and temporally stable pixels in a stack of single-master differential interferograms. We use Sentinel-1 SAR images along ascending and descending orbits spanning the 2015–2019 temporal interval as inputs for Persistent Scatterers InSAR (PSI) processing. We apply spatial-temporal filters and post-processing steps to reduce unrealistic results. Finally, we calibrate InSAR measurements using GNSS velocities derived from permanent stations available in the study area. Our results consist of mean ground velocity maps showing the displacement rates along the radar Line-Of-Sight for each satellite track, from which we estimate the east–west and vertical velocity components. Our results provide a detailed and original view of active vertical and horizontal displacement rates over the whole region, allowing the detection of spatial velocity gradients, which are particularly relevant to a better understanding of the seismogenic potential of the area. As regards the subsidence along the coasts, our measurements confirm the correlation between subsidence and the geological setting of the study area, with rates of ~2–4 mm/yr between the Venezia and Marano lagoons, and lower than 1 mm/yr near Grado. Full article
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24 pages, 23583 KiB  
Article
Land Subsidence in Tianjin, China: Before and after the South-to-North Water Diversion
by Xiao Yu, Guoquan Wang, Xie Hu, Yuhao Liu and Yan Bao
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(6), 1647; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15061647 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3055
Abstract
The South-to-North Water Diversion (SNWD) is a multi-decadal infrastructure project in China aimed at alleviating severe water shortages in north China. It has imposed broad social, economic, environmental, and ecological impacts since 2015, particularly in the Beijing-Tianjin metropolitan area. Sentinel-1A/B Interferometric Synthetic Aperture [...] Read more.
The South-to-North Water Diversion (SNWD) is a multi-decadal infrastructure project in China aimed at alleviating severe water shortages in north China. It has imposed broad social, economic, environmental, and ecological impacts since 2015, particularly in the Beijing-Tianjin metropolitan area. Sentinel-1A/B Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) (2014–2021), Global Positioning System (GPS) (2010–2021), and hydraulic-head data are used to assess the impacts on ongoing land subsidence in Tianjin in this study. Additionally, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is employed to highlight primary factors controlling the recent land subsidence. Our results show that the reduced groundwater pumping has slowed down the overall subsidence since 2019 due to SNWD. As of 2021, the subsiding area (>5 mm/year) has reduced to about 5400 km2, approximately 85% of the subsiding area before SNWD; the areas of rapid subsidence (>30 mm/year) and extremely rapid subsidence (>50 mm/year) have reduced to 1300 km2 and 280 km2, respectively, approximately 70% and 60% of the areas before SNWD. Recent subsidence (2016–2021) was primarily contributed by the inelastic compaction of clays in deep aquifers of Aquifers III and IV ranging from approximately 200 to 450 m below the land surface. The ongoing rapid subsidence (>30 mm/year) in Tianjin is limited to border areas adjacent to large industrial cities (e.g., Langfang, Tanshan, Cangzhou) in Hebei Province. Ongoing subsidence will cease when hydraulic heads in the deep Aquifers (IV and V) recover to the new pre-consolidation head, approximately 45 m below the land surface, and subsidence will not be reinitiated as long as the hydraulic heads remain above the new pre-consolidation head. This study reveals the importance of coordinating groundwater and surface water uses at local, regional, and national scales for land subsidence mitigation. Full article
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20 pages, 12319 KiB  
Article
Sentinel-1 InSAR and GPS-Integrated Long-Term and Seasonal Subsidence Monitoring in Houston, Texas, USA
by Yuhao Liu, Guoquan Wang, Xiao Yu and Kuan Wang
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(23), 6184; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14236184 - 06 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2176
Abstract
For approximately 100 years, the Houston region has been adversely impacted by land subsidence associated with excessive groundwater withdrawals. The rapidly growing population in the Houston region means the ongoing subsidence must be vigilantly monitored. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) has become a [...] Read more.
For approximately 100 years, the Houston region has been adversely impacted by land subsidence associated with excessive groundwater withdrawals. The rapidly growing population in the Houston region means the ongoing subsidence must be vigilantly monitored. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) has become a powerful tool for remotely mapping land-surface deformation over time and space. However, the humid weather and the heavy vegetation have significantly degraded the performance of InSAR techniques in the Houston region. This study introduced an approach integrating GPS and Sentinel-1 InSAR datasets for mapping long-term (2015–2019) and short-term (inter-annual, seasonal) subsidence within the greater Houston region. The root-mean-square (RMS) of the detrended InSAR-displacement time series is able to achieve a subcentimeter level, and the uncertainty (95% confidence interval) of the InSAR-derived subsidence rates is able to achieve a couple of millimeters per year for 5-year or longer datasets. The InSAR mapping results suggest the occurrence of moderate ongoing subsidence (~1 cm/year) in nothwestern Austin County, northern Waller County, western Liberty County, and the city of Mont Belvieu in Champers County. Subsidence in these areas was not recognized in previous GPS-based investigations. The InSAR mapping results also suggest that previous GPS-based investigations overestimated the ongoing subsidence in southwestern Montgomery County, but underestimated the ongoing subsidence in the northeastern portion of the county. We also compared the InSAR- and GPS-derived seasonal ground movements (subsidence and heave). The amplitudes of the seasonal signals from both datasets are comparable, below 4 mm within non-subsiding areas and over 6 mm in subsiding (>1 cm/year) areas. This study indicates that groundwater-level changes in the Evangeline aquifer are the primary reason for ongoing long-term and seasonal subsidence in the Houston region. The former is dominated by inelastic deformation, and the latter is dominated by elastic deformation. Both could cause infrastructure damage. This study demonstrated the potential of employing the GPS- and InSAR-integrated method (GInSAR) for near-real-time subsidence monitoring in the greater Houston region. The near-real-time monitoring would also provide timely information for understanding the dynamic of groundwater storage and improving both long-term and short-term groundwater resource management. Full article
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Review

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23 pages, 2229 KiB  
Review
Remote Sensing-Based 3D Assessment of Landslides: A Review of the Data, Methods, and Applications
by Hessah Albanwan, Rongjun Qin and Jung-Kuan Liu
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(3), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16030455 - 24 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1248
Abstract
Remote sensing (RS) techniques are essential for studying hazardous landslide events because they capture information and monitor sites at scale. They enable analyzing causes and impacts of ongoing events for disaster management. There has been a plethora of work in the literature mostly [...] Read more.
Remote sensing (RS) techniques are essential for studying hazardous landslide events because they capture information and monitor sites at scale. They enable analyzing causes and impacts of ongoing events for disaster management. There has been a plethora of work in the literature mostly discussing (1) applications to detect, monitor, and predict landslides using various instruments and image analysis techniques, (2) methodological mechanics in using optical and microwave sensing, and (3) quantification of surface geological and geotechnical changes using 2D images. Recently, studies have shown that the degree of hazard is mostly influenced by speed, type, and volume of surface deformation. Despite available techniques to process lidar and image/radar-derived 3D geometry, prior works mostly focus on using 2D images, which generally lack details on the 3D aspects of assessment. Thus, assessing the 3D geometry of terrain using elevation/depth information is crucial to determine its cover, geometry, and 3D displacements. In this review, we focus on 3D landslide analysis using RS data. We include (1) a discussion on sources, types, benefits, and limitations of 3D data, (2) the recent processing methods, including conventional, fusion-based, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods, and (3) the latest applications. Full article
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Other

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15 pages, 6057 KiB  
Technical Note
Present-Day Three-Dimensional Deformation across the Ordos Block, China, Derived from InSAR, GPS, and Leveling Observations
by Chuanjin Liu, Lingyun Ji, Liangyu Zhu, Caijun Xu, Wenting Zhang, Jiangtao Qiu and Guohua Xiong
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(11), 2890; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15112890 - 01 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1371
Abstract
The Ordos Block in China experiences tectonic activity and frequent earthquakes due to compression from the Tibetan Plateau and extension from the North China Block. This has prompted the construction of a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) deformation field to better understand the region’s crustal [...] Read more.
The Ordos Block in China experiences tectonic activity and frequent earthquakes due to compression from the Tibetan Plateau and extension from the North China Block. This has prompted the construction of a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) deformation field to better understand the region’s crustal movement. Considering the limitations of the existing geodetic observations, we used InSAR, GPS, and leveling observations to create a high-precision 3D deformation field for the Ordos Block. Spherical wavelet decomposition was used to separate tectonic and non-tectonic deformation signals. Short-wavelength non-tectonic deformation fields revealed complex surface deformation patterns caused by groundwater, oil, gas extraction, and coal mining. Long-wavelength tectonic deformation fields showed subsidence in the southern margin of the block, while the interior and northeastern margins were uplifted. By combining imaging results from the seismic velocity structure and magnetotellurics, we infer that the upwelling of deep materials beneath the northeastern margin leads to surface uplift with tensile strain rates. The crustal uplift in the area south of 38°N matches the thickening of the lower crust. The weak subsidence and eastward horizontal movement disappearing near 108°E at the southern margin support the existence of asthenosphere flow beneath the Qinling orogenic belt. Full article
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