Review of the SBAS InSAR Time-series algorithms, applications, and challenges

In the past 30 years,the small baseline subset(SBAS)InSAR time-series technique has emerged as an essential tool for measuring slow surface displacement and estimating geophysical parameters.Because of its ability to monitor large-scale deformation with millimeter accuracy,the SBAS method has been widely used in various geodetic fields,such as ground subsidence,landslides,and seismic activity.The obtained long-term time-series cumulative deformation is vital for studying the deformation mecha-nism.This article reviews the algorithms,applications,and challenges of the SBAS method.First,we recall the fundamental principle and analyze the shortcomings of the traditional SBAS algorithm,which provides a basic framework for the following improved time series methods.Second,we classify the current improved SBAS techniques from different perspectives:solving the ill-posed equation,increasing the density of high-coherence points,improving the accuracy of monitoring deformation and measuring the multi-dimensional deformation.Third,we summarize the application of the SBAS method in monitoring ground subsidence,permafrost degradation,glacier movement,volcanic activity,landslides,and seismic activity.Finally,we discuss the difficulties faced by the SBAS method and explore its future development direction.

Mechanism of Surface Vertical Deformation in Parts of the Underground Gas Storage Reservoir of Hutubi, Xinjiang, China

The Underground Gas Storage( UGS) in Hutubi( HTB),Xinjiang is the largest gas storage reservoir in China and it has significance for coordinating the gas supply and demand relationship,peak-load regulation,implementation of strategic reserves,national security, and social economic sustainable development. Therefore, the deformation monitoring and simulation analysis of UGS operation has important technical support and reference value for the stability and safe operation of the underground gas storage. In this paper,we use the elevation data obtained from 7 periods of second-order leveling surveys in the Hutubi underground gas storage area in 2013- 2015 to analyze the influence of gas well pressure on the vertical deformation of the underground gas storage reservoir.Research has shown that the absolute vertical subsidence rate is approximately in the range from 11. 8mm to 16. 1mm and the relative subsidence change is about 4. 3mm,near the surface deformation of Hutubi underground gas storage area except for the annual subsidence rate of- 2. 86 mm by the basic influence of uplift of the Tianshan Mountains.Groundwater over-extraction in the Hutubi area also has an impact on the vertical variation of the surface in this region. The land surface change per unit pressure of gas storage has an impact of about 0. 625mm- 1. 125 mm. 17 scenes Terra SAR-X radar images acquired from August,2013 to August,2014 are exploited by Small Baseline Subset( SBAS) In SAR method to obtain the surface deformation time series during the operation of UGS in Hutubi,meanwhile combined with the pressure data of injection / productionwells,the multi-point source Mogi model is used to simulate the UGS deformation field in Hutubi. The results show that the deformation characteristics of the whole UGS area is a discontinuous distribution with the peak deformation value of 10 mm and- 8mm in the satellite line of sight( LOS) during gas injection and production,respectively and the retrieved deformation sequences correspond very well to the gas injection / production pressure changes. Based on the multi- point source Mogi model, we simulate the deformation process of UGS,HTB,and with the adaptive forward search method,the radius and depth of point source are obtained. The simulated results indicate that when the average injection / production pressure of UGS,HTB is 18 MPa and 15 MPa, LOS deformation is up to 7mm and- 4mm,respectively,and surface deformation is related to the density of gas injection( production) wells. The UGS gas distribution is not uniform,indicating that the structure of underground gas storage is complex. Thus using a more elaborate geomechanical model and other deformation observation data will be helpful for better simulating the UGS internal structure and explaining the mechanism of deformation.

InSAR measurements of surface deformation over permafrost on Fenghuoshan Mountains section,Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The permafrost development in the Qinghai-Tibet Engineering Corridor(QTEC)is affected by natural environment changes and human engineering activities.Human engineering activities may damage the permafrost growing environment,which in turn impact these engineering activities.Thus high spatial-temporal resolution monitoring over the QTEC in the permafrost region is very necessary.This paper presents a method for monitoring the frozen soil area using the intermittent coherencebased small baseline subset(ICSBAS).The method can improve the point density of the results and enhance the interpretability of deformation results by identifying the discontinuous coherent points according to the coherent value of time series.Using the periodic function that models the seasonal variation of permafrost,we separate the long wavelength atmospheric delay and establish an estimation model for the frozen soil deformation.Doing this can raise the monitoring accuracy and improve the understanding of the surface deformation of the frozen soil.In this study,we process 21 PALSAR data acquired by the Alos satellite with the proposed ICSBAS technique.The results show that the frozen soil far from the QTR in the study area experiences frost heave and thaw settlement(4.7 cm to8.4 cm)alternatively,while the maximum settlement along the QTR reaches 12 cm.The interferomatric syntnetic aperture radar(InSAR)-derived results are validated using the ground leveling data nearby the Beiluhe basin.The validation results show the InSAR results have good consistency with the leveling data in displacement rates as well as time series.We also find that the deformation in the permafrost area is correlated with temperature,human activities and topography.Based on the interfering degree of human engineering activities on the permafrost environment,we divide the QTEC along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway into engineering damage zone,transition zone and natural permafrost.

Active Landslide Detection Based on Sentinel-1 Data and InSAR Technology in Zhouqu County, Gansu Province, Northwest China

Zhouqu County in Gansu Province, Northwest China, is typically highly prone to landslides. On July 12, 2018, a landslide blocked the Bailong River near Zhouqu County, posing a serious threat to the life and property of local residents and the safety of infrastructure. Small baseline subset interferometry synthetic aperture radar technology(SBAS-In SAR) was adopted to identify the potential active landslides in the surrounding area of Zhouqu County, using ascending and descending orbit Sentinel-1 satellite images taken from October 2017 to December 2018. The surface deformation areas detected by SBAS-In SAR were verified by optical remote sensing image interpretation and field investigation, and a total of 23 active landslides were identified finally. The deformation characteristics of four typical landslides are analysed in detail using deformation velocity and rainfall data. It is found that the deformation velocity of landslides in this area is mainly affected by rainfall and there is a lag effect. The results can provide a reference for the prevention and control of landslide risk in Zhouqu County.

Measurement of subsidence in the Yangbajing geothermal fields,Tibet,from TerraSAR-X InSAR time series analysis

Yangbajain contains the largest geothermal energy power station in China.Geothermal explorations in Yangbajain first started in 1976,and two plants were subsequently built in 1981 and 1986.A large amount of geothermal fluids have been extracted since then,leading to considerable surface subsidence around the geothermal fields.In this paper,InSAR time series analysis is applied to map the subsidence of the Yangbajain geothermal fields during the period from December 2011 to November 2012 using 16 senses of TerraSAR-X stripmap SAR images.In the case of the TerraSAR-X data,most orbital fringes were removed using precise orbits during the interferometric processing.However,residual orbital ramps remain in some interferograms due to the uncertainties in the TerraSAR-X orbits.To remove the residual orbital ramps,we estimated a best-fit‘twisted plane’for each epoch interferogram using quadratic polynomial models based on a network approach.This method removes most of the long-wavelength signals,including orbit ramps and atmospheric effects.The vertically stratified component(Topography Correlated Atmospheric Delay,TCAD)was also removed using a network approach.If the influence of seasonal frozen ground(SFG)is not taken into consideration,our results show that the subsidence rate around power plant I(the south plant)is approximately 20 mm/yr with a peak of 30 mm/yr.The subsidence rate around power plant II(the north plant)is approximately 10 mm/yr,when accounting for the influence of SFG on the power plant and its surrounding ground surface.Our results show that ground motion is caused by seasonal frozen ground and is strongly related to the temperature change.

Potential loess landslide deformation monitoring using L-band SAR interferometry

Multi-temporal InSAR technique can implement continuous earth surface deformation detection with long time scale and wide geographical coverage.In this paper,we first employ the Small Baseline Subset method to survey potential landslides in Guide County,Qinghai Province,which is identified as a loess landslide prone area for geological and climate conditions.Two anomalous deformation regions are detected by L-band Phased Array and L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar stacks.Then,qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the measuring points are given for understanding the distribution regularity of deformation.Finally,preliminary correlation between the time-series deformation and triggering factors is analyzed to explore the driving mechanism for landslide movement.The results demonstrate that L-band SAR has high potential in landslide monitoring applications and can be used as the basis for landslide recognizing,precursory information extracting,and early warning.