InSAR time series analysis of seasonal surface displacement dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau
Climate change and the associated rise in air temperature have affected the Tibetan Plateau to a significantly stronger degree than the global average over the past decades. This has caused deglaciation, increased precipitation and permafrost degradation. The latter in particular is associated with...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1633-2020 https://doaj.org/article/46750ba13c7b4cfa8c8b05155a7ffa76 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:46750ba13c7b4cfa8c8b05155a7ffa76 2023-05-15T17:57:38+02:00 InSAR time series analysis of seasonal surface displacement dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau E. Reinosch J. Buckel J. Dong M. Gerke J. Baade B. Riedel 2020-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1633-2020 https://doaj.org/article/46750ba13c7b4cfa8c8b05155a7ffa76 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://www.the-cryosphere.net/14/1633/2020/tc-14-1633-2020.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-14-1633-2020 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/46750ba13c7b4cfa8c8b05155a7ffa76 The Cryosphere, Vol 14, Pp 1633-1650 (2020) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1633-2020 2022-12-31T00:09:01Z Climate change and the associated rise in air temperature have affected the Tibetan Plateau to a significantly stronger degree than the global average over the past decades. This has caused deglaciation, increased precipitation and permafrost degradation. The latter in particular is associated with increased slope instability and an increase in mass-wasting processes, which pose a danger to infrastructure in the vicinity. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) analysis is well suited to study the displacement patterns driven by permafrost processes, as they are on the order of millimeters to decimeters. The Nyainqêntanglha range on the Tibetan Plateau lacks high vegetation and features relatively thin snow cover in winter, allowing for continuous monitoring of those displacements throughout the year. The short revisit time of the Sentinel-1 constellation further reduces the risk of temporal decorrelation, making it possible to produce surface displacement models with good spatial coverage. We created three different surface displacement models to study heave and subsidence in the valleys, seasonally accelerated sliding and linear creep on the slopes. Flat regions at Nam Co are mostly stable on a multiannual scale but some experience subsidence. We observe a clear cycle of heave and subsidence in the valleys, where freezing of the active layer followed by subsequent thawing cause a vertical oscillation of the ground of up to a few centimeters, especially near streams and other water bodies. Most slopes of the area are unstable, with velocities of 8 to 17 mm yr −1 . During the summer months surface displacement velocities more than double on most unstable slopes due to freeze–thaw processes driven by higher temperatures and increased precipitation. Specific landforms, most of which have been identified as rock glaciers, protalus ramparts or frozen moraines, reach velocities of up to 18 cm yr −1 . Their movement shows little seasonal variation but a linear pattern indicating that their displacement is ... Article in Journal/Newspaper permafrost The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles The Sentinel ENVELOPE(73.317,73.317,-52.983,-52.983) The Cryosphere 14 5 1633 1650 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 E. Reinosch J. Buckel J. Dong M. Gerke J. Baade B. Riedel InSAR time series analysis of seasonal surface displacement dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Climate change and the associated rise in air temperature have affected the Tibetan Plateau to a significantly stronger degree than the global average over the past decades. This has caused deglaciation, increased precipitation and permafrost degradation. The latter in particular is associated with increased slope instability and an increase in mass-wasting processes, which pose a danger to infrastructure in the vicinity. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) analysis is well suited to study the displacement patterns driven by permafrost processes, as they are on the order of millimeters to decimeters. The Nyainqêntanglha range on the Tibetan Plateau lacks high vegetation and features relatively thin snow cover in winter, allowing for continuous monitoring of those displacements throughout the year. The short revisit time of the Sentinel-1 constellation further reduces the risk of temporal decorrelation, making it possible to produce surface displacement models with good spatial coverage. We created three different surface displacement models to study heave and subsidence in the valleys, seasonally accelerated sliding and linear creep on the slopes. Flat regions at Nam Co are mostly stable on a multiannual scale but some experience subsidence. We observe a clear cycle of heave and subsidence in the valleys, where freezing of the active layer followed by subsequent thawing cause a vertical oscillation of the ground of up to a few centimeters, especially near streams and other water bodies. Most slopes of the area are unstable, with velocities of 8 to 17 mm yr −1 . During the summer months surface displacement velocities more than double on most unstable slopes due to freeze–thaw processes driven by higher temperatures and increased precipitation. Specific landforms, most of which have been identified as rock glaciers, protalus ramparts or frozen moraines, reach velocities of up to 18 cm yr −1 . Their movement shows little seasonal variation but a linear pattern indicating that their displacement is ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
E. Reinosch J. Buckel J. Dong M. Gerke J. Baade B. Riedel |
author_facet |
E. Reinosch J. Buckel J. Dong M. Gerke J. Baade B. Riedel |
author_sort |
E. Reinosch |
title |
InSAR time series analysis of seasonal surface displacement dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau |
title_short |
InSAR time series analysis of seasonal surface displacement dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau |
title_full |
InSAR time series analysis of seasonal surface displacement dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau |
title_fullStr |
InSAR time series analysis of seasonal surface displacement dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau |
title_full_unstemmed |
InSAR time series analysis of seasonal surface displacement dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau |
title_sort |
insar time series analysis of seasonal surface displacement dynamics on the tibetan plateau |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1633-2020 https://doaj.org/article/46750ba13c7b4cfa8c8b05155a7ffa76 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(73.317,73.317,-52.983,-52.983) |
geographic |
The Sentinel |
geographic_facet |
The Sentinel |
genre |
permafrost The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
permafrost The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 14, Pp 1633-1650 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.the-cryosphere.net/14/1633/2020/tc-14-1633-2020.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-14-1633-2020 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/46750ba13c7b4cfa8c8b05155a7ffa76 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1633-2020 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
14 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1633 |
op_container_end_page |
1650 |
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1766166101776924672 |