Abstract
This study focuses on evaluating the potential of ALOS/PALSAR time-series data to analyze the activation of deep-seated landslides in the foothill zone of the high mountain Alai range in the southern Tien Shan (Kyrgyzstan). Most previous field-based landslide investigations have revealed that many landslides have indicators for ongoing slow movements in the form of migrating and newly developing cracks. L-band ALOS/PALSAR data for the period between 2007 and 2010 are available for the 484 km2 area in this study. We analyzed these data using the Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) time-series technique to assess the surface deformation related to the activation of landslides. We observed up to ±17 mm/year of LOS velocity deformation rates, which were projected along the local steepest slope and resulted in velocity rates of up to −63 mm/year. The obtained rates indicate very slow movement of the deep-seated landslides during the observation time. We also compared these movements with precipitation and earthquake records. The results suggest that the deformation peaks correlate with rainfall in the 3 preceding months and with an earthquake event. Overall, the results of this study indicated the great potential of L-band InSAR time series analysis for efficient spatiotemporal identification and monitoring of slope activations in this region of high landslide activity in Southern Kyrgyzstan.
Highlights
Landslides are a widespread phenomenon in mountainous regions affected by ongoing tectonic activity
We show the potential of satellite InSAR analysis based on L-band ALOS/PALSAR
The obtained L-band results correlate spatially with the X-band results obtained in an earlier study [21], which indicates continuous landslide activity in the area of the Uzgen mountain front
Summary
Landslides are a widespread phenomenon in mountainous regions affected by ongoing tectonic activity. Deep-seated landslides represent an especially high risk to the local population because they generally occur in the relatively densely populated foothill zones of the high mountain ranges. They are characterized by a highly variable activity style that comprises both regular and rather continuous slow movements as well as accelerations, which eventually cause sudden slope failures [1]. One way to monitor this is to establish ground-based monitoring systems, which provide detailed information on above-ground and subsurface process characteristics contributing to the principle understanding of the nature of the phenomenon These methods are mostly point-based and are rather limited in the spatial extent of the monitored area, which is especially insufficient if large areas are affected
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