Evaluating the Vertical Accuracy of DEM Generated from ZiYuan-3 Stereo Images in Understanding the Tectonic Morphology of the Qianhe Basin, China

Zhiheng Liu,Hongye Cao,Yiqi Ji,Jianhua Guo,Zhaohui Yang,Ling Han,Fengcheng Guo

doi:10.3390/rs13061203

Abstract

Currently available high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) is not particularly useful to geologists for understanding the long-term changes in fluvial landforms induced by tectonic uplift, although DEMs that are generated from satellite stereo images such as the ZiYuan-3 (ZY3) satellite include characteristics with significant coverage and rapid acquisition. Since an ongoing analysis of fluvial systems is lacking, the ZY3 DEM was generated from block adjustment to describe the mountainous area of the Qianhe Basin that have been induced by tectonic uplift. Moreover, we evaluated the overall elevation difference in ZY3 DEM, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (1″ × 1″) (SRTM1), and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER GDEM) by using the Ice Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite/Geoscience Laser Altimeter (ICESat/GLAH14) point cloud and a DEM of 1:50,000 scale. The values of the root mean square error (RMSE) of the elevation difference for ZY3 DEM were 9.31 and 9.71 m, respectively, and are in good agreement with SRTM1. The river long profiles and terrace heights were also extracted to compare the differences in channel steepness and the incision rates with SRTM1 and ASTER GDEM. Our results prove that ZY3 DEM would be a good alternative to SRTM1 in achieving the 1:50,000 scale for DEM products in China, while ASTER GDEM is unsuitable for extracting river longitudinal profiles. In addition, the northern and southern river incision rates were estimated using the ages and heights of river terraces, demonstrating a range from 0.12–0.45 to 0.10–0.33 m/kyr, respectively. Collectively, these findings suggest that ZY3 DEM is capable of estimating tectonic geomorphological features and has the potential for analyzing the continuous evolutionary response of a landscape to changes in climate and tectonics.

Highlights

Changes in elevation that are produced by digital elevation model (DEM) can reflect surface processes that result from tectonic uplift and provide details about the displacement of a fault [1,2,3,4]
The elevation difference between the ASTER GDEM and the measured DEM is greater in areas elevation difference between the and the measured is greater in areas with higher relief and slope [90], which will undoubtedly affect the length and shape of the withriver higher and slope [90], which will
The root mean square error (RMSE) of the elevation difference in the DEM generated by the ZY3 satellite stereo images is approximately 9.31 and 9.71 m, which is comparable with GLAH14 and 1:50,000 DEM and is in good agreement with SRTM1

Summary

Introduction

Changes in elevation that are produced by digital elevation model (DEM) can reflect surface processes that result from tectonic uplift and provide details about the displacement of a fault [1,2,3,4]. Increasing the resolution of DEMs, implies that more surface geological phenomena and geometries such as landslides [5,6,7], seismic processes [8], active faulting [9,10], volcanic geomorphology [11], rock damage [12], and the extent of glaciation [13,14] can be interpreted. Several studies have focused on quantifying the response of a transient landscape to active faulting based on DEMs [3,9,15], replacing the requirement for time-consuming and laborious geological fieldwork to track neotectonic movements and landform evolution [16,17].

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion