Salt-dissolution-induced subsidence in the Dead Sea area detected by applying interferometric techniques to ALOS Palsar Synthetic Aperture Radar images

Closson, Damien; Karaki, Najib Abou; Milisavljević, Nada; Hallot, Frédéric; Acheroy, Marc

doi:10.3166/ga.23.65-78

Cited by 23 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…From 1992 onwards, C-band radar images of ERS-1/2 and ENVISAT satellites have been used to map the ground deformation fields at centimetre to millimetre scales with differential interferometry techniques (Closson et al, 2003). From 2007, L-band ALOS PALSAR data were processed (Closson et al, 2010a) as well as the very high resolution radar images of COSMO-SkyMed in X-band (2011-2013). The latest complemented the information acquired in the visible window at nearly the same resolution or better (Closson and Abou Karaki, 2014b).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable development and anthropogenic induced geomorphic hazards in subsiding areas

Karaki

Fiaschi

Closson

2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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In many areas of the world, subsidence related to the lowering of the water table is modifying the landscape and provoking costly environmental hazards. We consider the Dead Sea (the Earth's lowest lake) as a model. Its water level was 395 m bMSL in the 1960s. Due to water diversions in the catchment area, as of 2016, the level has dropped to about 430 m bMSL. Here, as in other parts of the Anthropocene world, from China, to Iran, to Turkey, to Canada and the United States, consequences of human interventions are rapidly modifying the environment. Aggressive geomorphic processes leading to accelerated degradations are taking place and affecting landforms and infrastructures. In Tectonic terms, the lake is a pull‐apart basin resulting from the motion of the Dead Sea Transform fault. Since the 1960s, a slice of brine of about 35 km3 has been lost. The water table is dropping more rapidly in the lake than in the coastal zone creating an ever‐increasing head difference. Consequently, groundwater moves towards the sea to compensate for the imbalance, provoking the reactivation of the area's paleo‐channels with subsidence, sinkholes, and landslides. Since the 1980s, industrial‐touristic infrastructure has covered newly emerging lands in geomorphic hazards‐prone areas of the coastal zone. Time series analysis of high to very high resolution visible/radar satellite images acquired from the 1970s to present, revealed major landscape evolution. Such dynamic systems prevailing in recent decades permitted the study of human/environment interactions to help minimize their effects. Major deformations of an industrial dike were analysed and quantified. The results underline the necessity in the Anthropocene of careful analysis of relevant data sources acquired before and during subsidence, particularly in karst topography zones and prior to the development of major human activities in economically appealing environments around the world. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable development and anthropogenic induced geomorphic hazards in subsiding areas

Karaki

Fiaschi

Closson

2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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“…In the case of space-borne SAR data, the increasing availability, coverage and temporal resolution of data have resulted in numerous investigations focussing on DInSAR for detecting sinkhole-related deformation. One area particularly favoured for testing techniques for sinkhole precursor detection is around the Dead Sea region [6,27,85,109]. In this area, the increasing frequency of sinkhole and subsidence events, from less than 50 per year prior to 1999 to 380 per year since 2003 [6] implies that several cases of sinkholes and their potential precursors could be investigated.…”

Section: Detecting Precursors To Sinkhole Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this area, the increasing frequency of sinkhole and subsidence events, from less than 50 per year prior to 1999 to 380 per year since 2003 [6] implies that several cases of sinkholes and their potential precursors could be investigated. The mechanisms of sinkhole development in the area was associated with the dissolution of a subsurface salty layer due to flood events [109], decreasing water levels in the Dead Sea [6] potentially leading to the consolidation of an aquifer system or a combination of the two. Furthermore, in one investigation, subsidence features were deemed to be structurally controlled in the presence of faults and boundaries of salt domes that were reactivated due to an earthquake in April 1979 [109].…”

Section: Detecting Precursors To Sinkhole Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mechanisms of sinkhole development in the area was associated with the dissolution of a subsurface salty layer due to flood events [109], decreasing water levels in the Dead Sea [6] potentially leading to the consolidation of an aquifer system or a combination of the two. Furthermore, in one investigation, subsidence features were deemed to be structurally controlled in the presence of faults and boundaries of salt domes that were reactivated due to an earthquake in April 1979 [109]. In these investigations, DInSAR techniques were able to identify several circular to elongated features exhibiting primarily vertical movements (mostly subsidence with one case of heave) [85].…”

Section: Detecting Precursors To Sinkhole Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Earth Observation, with a Focus on SAR Interferometry, for Sinkhole Hazard Assessment

Theron

Engelbrecht

2018

Remote Sensing

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Sinkholes are global phenomena with significant consequences on the natural-and built environment. Significant efforts have been devoted to the assessment of sinkhole hazards to predict the spatial and temporal occurrence of future sinkholes as well as to detect small-scale deformation prior to collapse. Sinkhole hazard maps are created by considering the distribution of past sinkholes in conjunction with their geomorphic features, controlling conditions and triggering mechanisms. Quantitative risk assessment then involves the statistical analysis of sinkhole events in relation to these conditions with the aim of identifying high risk areas. Remote sensing techniques contribute to the field of sinkhole hazard assessment by providing tools for the population of sinkhole inventories and lend themselves to the monitoring of precursory deformation prior to sinkhole development. In this paper, we outline the background to sinkhole formation and sinkhole hazard assessment. We provide a review of earth observation techniques, both for the compilation of sinkhole inventories as well as the monitoring of precursors to sinkhole development. We discuss the advantages and limitations of these approaches and conclude by highlighting the potential role of radar interferometry in the early detection of sinkhole-induced instability resulting in a potential decrease in the risk to human lives and infrastructure by enabling proactive remediation.

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“…For a railway built upon permafrost, Shi et al (2014) documented temporal variations of deformation in relation to rainfall and air temperature, and measured higher strain in topographically lower areas, where water accumulation increases the impact of thawing and freezing. Further, the activity of sinkholes has been monitored using DInSAR in different geological settings of Germany (Schäffer, 2009), Israel (Baer at el., 2002Abelson et al, 2003;Nof et al, 2013), Italy (Ferretti et al, 2000(Ferretti et al, , 2004, Jordan (Closson et al, 2005(Closson et al, , 2010, Spain Im p e r ia l C a n a l…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Railway deformation detected by DInSAR over active sinkholes in the Ebro Valley evaporite karst, Spain

Arnedo

Álamo

Gutiérrez

2015

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Subsidence was measured for the first time on railway tracks in the central sector of Ebro Valley (NE Spain) using Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) techniques. This area is affected by evaporite karst and the analysed railway corridors traverse active sinkholes that produce deformations in these infrastructures. One of the railway tracks affected by slight settlements is the Madrid-Barcelona high-speed line, a form of transport infrastructure highly vulnerable to ground deformation processes. Our analysis based on DInSAR measurements and geomorphological surveys indicates that this line shows dissolution-induced subsidence and compaction of anthropogenic deposits (infills and embankments). Significant sinkhole-related subsidence was also measured by DInSAR techniques on the Castejón-Zaragoza conventional railway line. This study demonstrates that DInSAR velocity maps, coupled with detailed geomorphological surveys, may help in the identification of the railway track sections that are affected by active subsidence.

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Salt-dissolution-induced subsidence in the Dead Sea area detected by applying interferometric techniques to ALOS Palsar Synthetic Aperture Radar images

Abstract: This paper discusses the interpretation of ground motions detected in the dried up Lynch Strait, Dead Sea area, by applying radar interferometric techniques to ALOS Palsar Synthetic Aperture Radar images. Four ALOS scenes spanning from

Cited by 23 publications

References 16 publications

Sustainable development and anthropogenic induced geomorphic hazards in subsiding areas

Sustainable development and anthropogenic induced geomorphic hazards in subsiding areas

The Role of Earth Observation, with a Focus on SAR Interferometry, for Sinkhole Hazard Assessment

Railway deformation detected by DInSAR over active sinkholes in the Ebro Valley evaporite karst, Spain

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