GNSS 3D displacement field determination in Lorca (Murcia, Spain) subsidence area

Trabajo presentado en el AGU (American Geophysical Union) Fall Meeting: Advancing Earth and Space Science, celebrado en San Francisco (Estados Unidos), del 12 al 16 de diciembre de 2016Land subsidence associated to the overexploitation of aquifers represents a common hazard impacting extensive areas worldwide. Recently, González and Fernández (20101) revealed that the Alto Guadalentín Basin, located in southern Spain, is affected by the highest subsidence rates measured in Europe (about 10 cm/yr) as a direct consequence of long-term aquifer exploitation. They used ERS and ENVISAT radar data spanning the 1992¿2007 period. They identify a delayed transient nonlinear compaction of the Alto Guadalentín aquifer due to the 1990¿1995 drought period. Bonì et al. (2015) extend the previous studies using advanced DInSAR techniques to process ALOS PALSAR (2007¿2010) and COSMO-SkyMed (2011¿2012) radar images. The combination of multi-sensor SAR images with different resolutions allows for a wider monitoring time span of 20 years (1992¿2012) over the Alto Guadalentín Basin. All regional studies of the area to date are based on satellite radar interferometry using just ascending or descending acquisitions, without any combination among them to obtain vertical and horizontal (E-W) components. It is important to obtain the 3D motion field in order to perform a correct interpretation of the observations, as well as an advanced model of the aquifer evolution, to be consider for sustainable management plans of groundwater resources and hazard assessments. With this objective, a GNSS network has been defined and two surveys have been carried out in November 2015 and July 2016. Despite the limited time interval covered by the surveys, the results allow us to obtain, for the first time, the regional 3D displacement field associated to the exploitation of the aquifer. These results, although in a preliminary form, confirm previous observations and suggest that the ad-hoc establishment of small GNSS networks represent a valuable technique for the spatio-temporal monitoring of the 3D displacement field of areas subjected to extensive groundwater extraction.Peer reviewe

Modeling the two- and three-dimensional displacement field in Lorca, Spain, subsidence and the global implications

Land subsidence associated with overexploitation of aquifers is a hazard that commonly affects large areas worldwide. The Lorca area, located in southeast Spain, has undergone one of the highest subsidence rates in Europe as a direct consequence of long-term aquifer exploitation. Previous studies carried out on the region assumed that the ground deformation retrieved from satellite radar interferometry corresponds only to vertical displacement. Here we report, for the first time, the two- and three-dimensional displacement field over the study area using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from Sentinel-1A images and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations. By modeling this displacement, we provide new insights on the spatial and temporal evolution of the subsidence processes and on the main governing mechanisms. Additionally, we also demonstrate the importance of knowing both the vertical and horizontal components of the displacement to properly characterize similar hazards. Based on these results, we propose some general guidelines for the sustainable management and monitoring of land subsidence related to anthropogenic activitie

Results obtained from the multiple geodetic observations at Lorca (Murcia, Spain) subsidence area

Trabajo presentado en el AGU (American Geophysical Union) Fall Meeting: Advancing Earth and Space Science, celebrado en Washington D.C. (Estados Unidos), del 10 al 14 de diciembre de 2018The Lorca region, located in the Alto Guadalentín Basin, southern Spain, shows the highest subsidence rates recorded in Europe (about 10 cm/yr). It is produced by a long-term aquifer exploitation (González and Fernández, 2011; Bonì et al., 2014). This process has been studied in various works using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) with images acquired from different satellites (ERS and ENVISAT radar data spanning the 1992 – 2007 period; ALOS PALSAR data for the period 2007–2010; and COSMO-SkyMed data for the period 2011–2012). González et al. (2012) established a relationship between the crustal unloading produced by the groundwater overexploitation and the stress change on the regional active tectonic faults in relation with the May 2008 Lorca earthquake. Those previous studies, based on InSAR and using either ascending or descending acquisitions, assumed that the surface displacement direction is entirely vertical. However, it is important to obtain the complete 3D motion field in order to perform a correct interpretation of the observations, as well as to carry out an advanced numerical model of the aquifer evolution, to be considered for sustainable management plans of groundwater resources and hazard assessments. To achieve this goal, GNSS surveys have been carried out from 2015 to 2018, showing the regional 3D displacement field associated to the exploitation of the aquifer (Prieto et al., 2016; Fernández et al. 2017). Also, simultaneous ascending and descending InSAR observations have been used, along with structural gravimetry (Camacho et al., 2015) and microgravity to study the subsidence area in a more complete geodetic way. We present the results obtained from all those techniques, their comparison, and the interpretation results using different inversion techniques (Tiampo et al., 2011; Camacho et al., 2011, 2015; Cannavò et al., 2015).Peer reviewe

Surface displacement due to groundwater exploitation using spatial and terrestrial techniques

Trabajo presentado en el AGU (American Geophysical Union) Fall Meeting: Advancing Earth and Space Science, celebrado en San Francisco (Estados Unidos), del 12 al 16 de diciembre de 2016Subsidence is a natural hazard that affects wide areas in the world causing important economic costs annually. It is estimated that there are over 150 cities in the world with serious problems of subsidence due to excessive groundwater withdrawal like the Po Valley (Italy), Mexico DC, San Joaquin Valley (USA) and Bangkok (Thailand). Globally, groundwater depletion rates have risen in recent decades and significant lowering of groundwater tables has been reported. Aquifer overdraft has been a concern for the management of water resources, due to the potential irreversible loss of aquifer storage caused by aquifer system compaction and associated land subsidence. From a mechanical point of view, groundwater extraction from a confined aquifer reduces groundwater pore pressure. Because the overburden remains unchanged, the effective stress on the grain matrix of the aquifer increases, and the volume of the confined aquifer decreases, resulting in compaction and triggering surface subsidence. The control of land subsidence could serve as a proxy for the management of pore pressure change and groundwater flows in underlying aquifers (Galloway & Hoffmann, 2007). Our main interest is to study the ground surface displacement and Coulomb stress transfer produced by an extended source located in a homogeneus, elastic and isotropic half-space, based on Geerstma¿s model (1973). This study implies the improvement, development and implementation of the tools necessary for modelling and interpretation of the observations, as well as to evaluate possible interactions with other phenomena, such as the potential to influence on nearby faults.Peer reviewe

Surface displacement due to groundwater exploitation in Lorca (Murcia, Spain) region

Trabajo presentado en el 18th International Symposium on Geodynamics and Earth Tides: Intelligent Earth system sensing, scientific enquiry and discovery, celebrado en Trieste (Italia), del 5 al 9 de junio de 2016Lowering of the groundwater table is a significant problem in Mediterranean coastal areas, leading to saltwater intrusion, drying of wetlands, and the disappearance of rivers (Coccossis and Hénocque, 2001). Aquifer overdraft has been a concern for the management of the water resources, due to the potential irreversible loss of aquifer storage caused by aquifer-system compaction, and associated land subsidence (Galloway and Hoffmann, 2007). From a mechanical point of view, groundwater extraction from a confined aquifer reduces groundwater pore pressure. Because the overburden remains unchanged, the effective stress on the grain matrix of the aquifer increases, and the volume of the confined aquifer decreases, resulting in compaction and triggering surface subsidence. Therefore, the control of land subsidence could serve as a proxy for the management of the pore pressure change and groundwater flows in underlying aquifers (Galloway and Hoffmann, 2007). Our main interest is the study of the ground deformation occurring in the Lorca area, where ground deformation data indicate large-scale deformation being of the highest rates of groundwater-related land subsidence recorded in Europe (>10cm/yr).(González and Fernández, 2011; Boni et al., 2015). Ground subsidence induced by overexploitation of aquifers is a common problem affecting urban areas and can be well characterized by radar interferometry (Tomas et al., 2005; Herrera et al., 2009 and 2010, Bru et al., 2010). This deformation study will be complemented by the development, improvement and implementation of the necessary tools that will allow modelling and interpretation of the observations, as well as to evaluate possible interactions with other phenomena, such as the potential to influence faulting on nearby faults.Peer reviewe

Suitability Assessment of X-Band Satellite SAR Data for Geotechnical Monitoring of Site Scale Slow Moving Landslides

This work addresses the suitability of using X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data for operational geotechnical monitoring of site scale slow moving landslides, affecting urban areas and infrastructures. The scale of these studies requires high resolution data. We propose a procedure for the practical use of SAR data in geotechnical landslides campaigns, that includes an appropriate dataset selection taking into account the scenario characteristics, a visibility analysis, and considerations when comparing advanced differential SAR interferometry (A-DInSAR) results with other monitoring techniques. We have determined that Sentinel-2 satellite optical images are suited for performing high resolution land cover classifications, which results in the achievement of qualitative visibility maps. We also concluded that A-DInSAR is a very powerful and versatile tool for detailed scale landslide monitoring, although in combination with other instrumentation techniques.This work was financially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) research projects IPT-2011-1234-310000, ESP2013-47780-C2-1-R, and RTC-2014-1922-5. Research by RI and JJM has been also supported by the Big Risk project (contract number BIA2008-06614) and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO), the State Research Agency (AEI) and the European Funds for Regional Development (EFRD) under project TEC2017-85244-C2-1-P. CommSensLab is Unidad de Excelencia Maria de Maeztu MDM-2016-0600 financed by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación, SpainPeer reviewe

Study of the 3D displacement field in Lorca (Murcia, Spain) subsidence area

Trabajo presentado en la European Geosciences Union General Assembly, celebrada en Viena (Austria), del 23 al 28 de abril de 2017González and Fernández (2011) revealed that the Alto Guadalentín Basin, located in southern Spain, is affected by the highest subsidence rates measured in Europe (about 10 cm/yr) as a direct consequence of long-term aquifer exploitation. They used ERS and ENVISAT radar data spanning the 1992 – 2007 period. They identify a delayed transient nonlinear compaction of the Alto Guadalentín aquifer due to the 1990–1995 drought period. González et al. (2012) evaluated the relationship between crust unloading due to groundwater overexploitation and stress change on regional active tectonic faults in the same in relation with the May 2008 Lorca earthquake. Bonì et al. (2014) extended these previous studies using advanced DInSAR techniques and ALOS PALSAR (2007–2010) and COSMO-SkyMed (2011–2012) radar images for the time period 1992–2012. Additionally, the satellite measurements provide locally comparable results with measurements acquired by two permanent GNSS stations located in the study area. Furthermore, new geological and hydrogeological data were collected and analyzed in order to assess aquifer system compressibility and groundwater level changes in the past 50 years. The comparison of these data with advanced DInSAR displacement measurements allowed for a better spatial and temporal understanding of the governing mechanisms of subsidence due to overexploitation of the Alto Guadalentín aquifer system. But even though the aforementioned achievements have been reached, all regional studies of the area to date are based on satellite radar interferometry using just ascending or descending acquisitions, without any combination among them to obtain vertical and horizontal (E-W) components. Therefore, only the regional LOS displacement field is known and it is assumed to correspond to vertical displacement. However, it is important to obtain the 3D motion field in order to perform a correct interpretation of the observations, as well as to carry out an advanced numerical model of the aquifer evolution, to be consider for sustainable management plans of groundwater resources and hazard assessments. With this objective, a GNSS network has been defined and various surveys have been carried out in November 2015, July 2016 and beginning of 2017. The results, showing the regional 3D displacement field associated to the exploitation of the aquifer are described and compared with the InSAR ones. First results (Prieto et al., 2016) confirm previous observations (e.g. Bonì et al., 2015) and suggest that the ad-hoc establishment of small-medium GNSS networks, represent a valuable technique for the spatio-temporal monitoring of the 3D displacement field of areas subjected to extensive groundwater extraction.Peer reviewe