Characteristics of Surface Deformation Detected by X-band SAR Interferometry over Sichuan-Tibet Grid Connection Project Area, China

• Published in: Remote Sensing
• Main Authors: Yunshan Meng, Hengxing Lan, Langping Li, Yuming Wu, Quanwen Li
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2015
• Subjects: Sichuan-Tibet grid; surface deformation; PSI; freeze-thaw cycle effect; landslide; Science; Q; Psi; permafrost
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs70912265; https://doaj.org/article/63c6929a0b8348e09d2ff9dd65e4e41c

The Sichuan-Tibet grid connection project is a national key project implemented in accordance with the developmental needs of Tibet and the living requirements of 700 thousand local residents. It is the first grid project with special high voltage that passes through eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The ground deformation due to widely distributed landslides and debris flow in this area is the major concern to the safety of the project. The multi-temporal interferometry technique is applied to retrieve the surface deformation information using high resolution X-band SAR imagery. The time series of surface deformation is obtained through the sequential high spatial and temporal resolution TerraSAR images (20 scenes of X-band TerraSAR SLC images acquired from 5 January 2014 to 12 December 2014). The results have been correlated with the permafrost activities and intensive precipitation. They show that the study area is prone to slow to moderate ground motion with the range of −30 to +30 mm/year. Seasonal movement is observed due to the freeze-thaw cycle effect and intensive precipitation weather condition. Typical region analysis suggests that the deformation rate tends to increase dramatically during the late spring and late autumn while slightly during the winter time. The correlations of surface deformations with these two main trigger factors were further discussed. The deformation curves of persistent scatterers in the study area showing the distinct seasonal characteristics coincide well with the effect of freeze-thaw cycle and intensive precipitation. The movement occurring at late spring is dominated by the freeze-thaw cycle which is a common phenomenon in such a high-elevated area as the Tibetan Plateau. Intensive precipitation plays more important role in triggering landsides in the summer season. The combining effect of both factors results in fast slope movement in May. The results also suggest that the movement often occur at the middle to toe part of the slope where the combining effect of ...