Surface displacement of the Mw 7 Machaze earthquake (Mozambique): Complementary use of multiband InSAR and radar amplitude image correlation with elastic modelling.

International audienceIn this paper we investigate the surface displacement related to the 2006 Machaze earthquake using Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) and sub-pixel correlation (SPC) of radar amplitude images. We focus on surface displacement measurement during three stages of the seismic cycle. First, we examined the co-seismic stage, using an Advanced SAR (ASAR) sensor onboard the Envisat satellite. Then we investigated the post-seismic stage using the Phase Array L-band SAR sensor (PALSAR) onboard the ALOS satellite. Lastly, we focussed on the inter-seismic stage, prior to the earthquake by analysing the L20 and JERS-1 SAR data. The high degree of signal decorrelation in the C-band co-seismic interferogram hinders a correct positioning of the surface rupture and correct phase unwrapping. The post-seismic L-band interferograms reveal a time-constant surface displacement, causing subsidence of the surface at a ~ 5 cm/yr rate. This phenomenon continued to affect the close rupture field for at least two years following the earthquake and intrinsically reveals a candidate seismogenic fault trace that we use as a proxy for an inversion against an elastic dislocation model. Prior to the earthquake, the JERS interferograms do not indicate any traces of pre-seismic slip on the sismogenic fault. Therefore, slip after the earthquake is post seismic, and it was triggered by the Machaze earthquake. This feature represents a prominent post-seismic slip event rarely observed in such a geodynamic context

Time-variable 3D ground displacements from High-Resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Application to La Valette landslide (South French Alps).

International audienceWe apply an image correlation technique to multi-orbit and multi-temporal High-Resolution (HR) SAR data. Image correlation technique has the advantage of providing displacement maps in two directions; e.g. the Line of Sight direction (LoS) and the Azimuth direction. This information, derived from the two modes of data acquisition (ascending and descending), can be combined routinely to infer the three dimensional surface displacement field at different epochs. In this study, a methodology is developed to characterize the displacement pattern of the large La Valette landslide (South French Alps) using TerraSAR-X images acquired in 2010. The results allow mapping the dynamics of different units of the La Valette landslide at high spatial resolution. The study demonstrates the potential of this new application of High Resolution SAR image correlation technique for landslide ground surface deformation monitoring

Three-dimensional surface displacement of the 2008 May 12 Sichuan earthquake (China) derived from Synthetic Aperture Radar: evidence for rupture on a blind thrust

International audienceThe Sichuan earthquake,Mw7.9, struck the Longmen Shan (LMS) range front,China, on 2008 May 12, affecting an area of moderate historical seismicity where little active shortening has been previously reported. Recent studies based on space geodesy have succeeded in retrieving the far field surface displacements caused by the earthquake, but the near field (±25 km from the faults) coseismic surface displacement is still poorly constrained. Thus, shallow fault geometry and shallow coseismic slip are still poorly resolved. Here, for the first time for this earthquake, we combine C and L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar offsets data from ascending and descending tracks to invert for the 3-D surface displacement in the near coseismic field of the Sichuan earthquake. Our data, coupled with a simple elastic dislocation model, provide new results strongly suggesting the presence of a blind thrust striking along the range front and being active at depth during the earthquake. The presence of a rupture on a blind thrust brings new evidence for an out-of-sequence thrusting event and new elements for interpreting the tectonic strain partitioning in the LMS, which has important implications both for seismic hazard assessment and long-term evolution of the mountain belt

Spatiotemporal evolution of surface creep in the Parkfield region of the San Andreas Fault (1993-2004) from synthetic aperture radar.

International audienceThe Parkfield section of the San Andreas Fault (SAF) is defined as a transitional portion of the fault between slip-release behavior types in the creeping section of the SAF to the northwest and the apparently locked section to the southeast. The Parkfield section is characterized by complex frictional fault behavior because it represents a transition zone from aseismic creep to stick-slip regime. At least six historic earthquakes of Mw ~6 have occurred in this area in 1881, 1901, 1922, 1934, 1966, and 2004. It was observed in the 2004 Mw 6.0 Parkfield earthquake that ~70% of the total (coseismic and postseismic) moment release occurred aseismically. To understand the SAF behavior in this area, it is of particular interest to measure and analyze, not only the spatial evolution of the surface displacement in this area, but also its evolution over time. Using radar data acquired by the European Space Agency's European Remote Sensing (ERS1-2) satellites, we constructed descending interferograms and retrieved time series of surface displacements along the central SAF for the decade preceding the 2004 Parkfield earthquake. We focus on characterizing the space and time evolution of surface creep in the Parkfield and Cholame sections. The spatial pattern of the interseismic displacement rate indicates that tectonic strain was not uniformly distributed along the strike of the fault between 1993 and 2004. Our data indicate not only a decrease in the creep rate from the Parkfield section to south of Highway-46 from 1.4 ±0.3 cm/y to 0.6 ±0.3 cm/y, but also a small but significant creep-rate increase in the Cholame section to 0.2 ±0.1 cm/y. The evidence for episodic creep in the Cholame section of the SAF south-east of Parkfield is in contrast with previously published interpretations of GPS and trilateration data. The Cholame section of the SAF merits close monitoring because it was likely the nucleation site of the 1857 Fort Tejón earthquake and because it has shown recent evidence of deep slow slip as revealed by deep tremors

The interferometry technics applied on residual subsidence analysis measurement of closure coal mines, example from Nord-Pas-de Calais coal mine, France

International audienceThis paper describes the residual movements associated with deep coalmines (France). The Nord-Pas-de Calais basin has been monitored since 10 years by traditional method. The interferometry technics are applied on Nord-Pas-de-Calais coal basin. In this study, both differential SAR Interferometry (DINSAR) and Persistent Scaterrers Interferometry (PSI) are used to estimate the induced deformations during 12 years (1992 to 2004) after the end of exploitation. 88 images of ERS scenes, distributed on two adjacent tracks, are processed, using DIAPASON software for DInSAR and GAMMA-IPTA for PSI. The area undergoes high temporal decorrelation due to the high amount of vegetation. Deformations are well detected; they present low amplitude with a maximum rate of only 1 cm/year during 7 years after the end of the exploitation. They show a good agreement with the traditional methods of levelling. A robust methodology can be developed to use Interferometry for surveying surface above abandoned minesL'article décrit les mouvements résiduels induit par l'exploitation de mines de charbon profondes (France). La surface est suivie depuis plus que 10 ans par la méthode de nivellement classique. La méthode d'interférométrie a également été utilisée dans le basin du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais, les deux techniques (SAR et PSI) ont été utilisées pour estimer les mouvements résiduels durant 12 ans (1992-2004) après l'arrêt de l'exploitation. 88 images de ERS ont été analysées en utilisant le code DIAPASON pour la méthode DInSAR et le code GAMMA-IPTA pour la méthode PSI. La zone étudiée est caractérisée par une couverture végétale très dense, ce qui induit une forte décorrélation temporelle. Les mouvements ont été bien détectés, ils présentent une amplitude de 1 cm/an pendant les 7 ans après l'arrêt des travaux miniers. Les résultants de l'interférométrie ont montré une cohérence avec les mesures par la méthode de nivellement traditionnel. Une méthodologie robuste peut-être développée pour suivre les mouvements induits par les exploitations minières abandonnée

Is land subsidence increasing the exposure to sea level rise in Alexandria, Egypt?

Delta margins are subject to relatively high rates of land subsidence and have the potential to significantly exacerbate future changes in sea levels predicted by global warming models used in impact studies. Through a combined analysis of GPS and persistent scatterer interferometry data, we determine that most of the coastline of Alexandria has been subject to moderate land subsidence over the past decade (0.4 mm/yr on average and up to 2 mm/yr locally). This contrasts to previous studies that suggested subsidence in excess of 3 mm/yr. Based on our findings, we infer that on multi-century to millennia timescales, land subsidence in the area of Alexandria is dominated by tectonic setting and earthquakes or gravitational collapse episodes of a growth fault, whereas on shorter interseismic decadal to century timescales, subsidence rates are likely steady and moderate, in agreement with natural compaction and dewatering of the observed Holocene sediment layer. Key Points Use of a combined analysis of GPS and PSI data Alexandria coastal are has been subject to moderate land subsidence Important considerations for local planning and policy development ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.The work presented in this article was supported by the French Research National Agency (ANR) through the CEP-2009 program under the grant number ANR-09-CEP-001-01 (Project CECILE or “Coastal Environmental Changes: Impact of sea LEvel rise”). Universitat de les Illes Balears provided a visiting professor grant for G. Wöppelmann, whereas M. Marcos acknowledges a “Ramon y Cajal” contract funded by the Spanish Ministry of SciencePeer Reviewe

Three dimensional surface displacement of the Sichuan earthquake (Mw 7.9, China) from Synthetic Aperture Radar

International audienceThe Sichuan earthquake, Mw 7.9, struck the Longmen Shan range front, in the western Sichuan province, China, on 12 May 2008. It severely affected an area where little historical seismicity and little or no significant active shortening were reported before the earthquake (e.g. Gu et al., 1989; Chen et al., 1994; Gan et al., 2007). The Longmen Shan thrust system bounds the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau and is considered as a transpressive zone since Triassic time that was reactivated during the India-Asia collision (e.g., Tapponnier and Molnar, 1977, Chen andWilson 1996; Arne et al., 1997, Godard et al., 2009). However, contrasting geological evidences of sparse thrusting and marked dextral strike-slip faulting during the Quaternary along with high topography (Burchfiel et al., 1995; Densmore et al., 2007) have led to models of dynamically driven and sustained topography (Royden et al., 1997) limiting the role of earthquakes in relief building and leaving the mechanism of long term strain distribution in this area as an open question. Here we combine C and L band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) offsets data from ascending and descending paths to retrieve the three dimensional surface displacement distribution all along the earthquake ruptures of the Sichuan earthquake. For the first time on this earthquake we present near field 3D co-seismic surface displacement, which is an important datum for constraining modelled fault geometry at depth. Our results complement other Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and field analyses in indicating that crustal shortening is one of the main drivers for topography building in the Longmen Shan (Liu-Zeng, 2009; Shen et al., 2009; Hubbard and Shaw, 2009). Moreover, our results put into evidence a small but significant amount of displacement in the range front that we interpret as due to slip at depth on a blind structure. We verify this hypothesis by inverting the data against a simple elastic dislocation model.We discuss this result and its implications for understanding strain partitioning during the Sichuan earthquake

Mesure des déformations sur la surface de la Terre à partir de techniques de télédétection spatiales

This document summarizes the research activity carried out at BRGM since the end of my PhD in the domain of the measurement of the ground surface displacement by the means of Remote Sensing spaceborne techniques. The application of these techniques was thought as contributions to the assessment of natural and anthropogenic risks and therefore targetted related phenomena (urban and mining subsidence, landslides, earthquakes,...). We mainly used spaceborne radar interferometry techniques (conventional and persistent scaterrers) and image correlation. These techniques may be an alternative or a complement to the current ground based techniques for monitoring the concerned phenomena. This document presents our contribution to this thematics concening the methodology (assessment and improvement of the techniques) and applications (phenomena and consequences in terms of hazards). Among our published articles related to this research activity, the more relevant were included in the document.Ce document résume les travaux de recherche effectués au BRGM depuis la fin de ma thèse dans la thématique de la mesure de la déformation de la surface du sol à partir de techniques de télédétection spatiales. Les applications de ces techniques s'inscrivaient dans la perspective d'une contribution à l'évaluation de risques naturels ou anthropiques et par conséquent ciblaient les phénomènes entrant dans ces domaines (tels que subsidence urbaine et minière, glissement de terrains, séismes,...). Nous avons principalement utilisé des techniques d'interférométrie radar satellitaires (conventionnelle et persistent scaterrers) et de corrélation d'images. Ces techniques peuvent apporter une alternative ou un complément aux techniques de surveillance au sol nécessaires au suivi de ces phénomènes. Le document présente notre contribution à cette thématique aussi bien sur le plan méthodologique (évaluation et amélioration des techniques) que des applications (analyses en termes de phénomènes ou de conséquences en terme de risques). Les publications les plus représentatives parmis celles qui ont découlé de ses travaux sont incluses dans le document