Abstract
Abstract Mokpo City, located on the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula, has been built on one of the largest areas of reclaimed coastal land in Korea. This reclaimed land is currently experiencing significant ground subsidence due to soil consolidation. We have estimated the subsidence rate of Mokpo City (8 × 8 km) using the synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) and InSAR permanent scatterer (PSInSAR) techniques to analyze 26 JERS-1 SAR images acquired between 1992 and 1998 and six ENVISAT ASAR images acquired in 2004–2005. Mean subsidence velocity, which was clearly related to reclaimed land, was computed from the JERS-1 PSInSAR analysis. The results indicate a continuous and significant subsidence at three sites (Dongmyung, Hadang and Wonsan), where the subsidence velocity has reached more than 5–7 cm/yr in the area of maximum subsidence. The subsidence rate was found to have decreased in Wonsan and Hadang between 1992 and 1998, while it remained steady or increased in Dongmyung during the same period. The subsidence extended to the period of 2004–2005, and the subsidence rate predicted by the JERS-1 PSInSAR analysis using a linear model was confirmed by the ENVISAT ASAR InSAR results. Our results show that InSAR/PSInSAR-based subsidence maps are useful for the long-term monitoring of soil consolidation and for defining risk zones in coastal reclaimed regions.
Highlights
Ground subsidence is a common occurrence in many urban areas and is most commonly caused by mining, excessive groundwater extraction, soil consolidation, and tectonic movement (Galloway et al, 1999; Hu et al, 2004)
Mokpo City area has experienced serious subsidence. This subsidence is considered to be mostly the result of soil consolidation related to reclamation and construction activities because subsiding areas are in good agreement with lands reclaimed from tidal flats or areas of shallow water
The subsidence map derived from JERS-1 L-band SAR data between September 1992 and October 1998 reveals the spatial extent of the deformations and subsidence velocity
Summary
Ground subsidence is a common occurrence in many urban areas and is most commonly caused by mining, excessive groundwater extraction, soil consolidation, and tectonic movement (Galloway et al, 1999; Hu et al, 2004). Civil engineering structures in urbanized areas can be damaged by the subsidence action directly and/or indirectly, with an example of the latter being flooding in coastal areas, as experienced in New Orleans and Venice (Dixon et al, 2006; Teatini et al, 2005). SAR interferometry (InSAR) method has been used successfully to estimate subtle deformations in the Earth’s surface caused by earthquakes, volcanic activity, and urban subsidence (Burgmann et al, 2000; Massonnet and Feigl, 1998; Massonnet et al, 1993; Zebker et al, 1994). InSAR has been found to be very useful for the long-term monitoring of ground subsidence in urban areas
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