Monitoring the State of the Landslide Zone on the Bureya River in 2018–2019 with Radar and Optical Satellite Images

Abstract

Results are presented from monitoring the current state of the area of the landslide on the Bureya River in 2018–2019 using images from synthetic aperture radars and optical sensors of the Sentinel multisatellite system. Differential radar interferometry shows the stability of the landslide’s surface in the first four months after the landslide and since the end of July 2019. The small-scale dynamics of the surface are revealed within the landslide circus. It is shown that interferometry cannot be used to observe large modifications of the shoreline, in contrast to optical images, where the effects of the collapse of shoreline fragments and shoreline flooding were clearly observed. Ongoing landslide activity within the landslide circus and area of shoreline collapse is detected using satellite images. Continuous monitoring of this and other dangerous landslide zones on the Bureya River is needed.