Abstract
Sinkholes linked to cover evaporite karst in urban environments still represent a challenge in terms of their clear identification and mapping considering the rehash and man-made structures. In the present research, we have proposed and tested a methodology to identify the subsiding features through an integrated and non-invasive multi-scale approach combining seismic reflection, PS-InSAR (PSI), leveling and full 3D Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and thus overpassing the limits of each method. The analysis was conducted in a small village in the Alta Val Tagliamento Valley (Friuli Venezia Giulia region, NE Italy). Here, sinkholes have been reported for a long time as well as the hazards linked to their presence. Within past years, several houses have been demolished and at present many of them are damaged. The PSI investigation allowed the identification of an area with higher vertical velocities; seismic reflection imagined the covered karst bedrock, identifying three depocenters; leveling data presented a downward displacement comparable with PSI results; 3D GPR, applied here for the first time in the study and characterization of sinkholes, defined shallow sinking features. Combining all the obtained results with accurate field observations, we identified and mapped the highest vulnerable zone.
Highlights
Several European regions are affected by ground subsidence phenomena due to the presence of highly soluble evaporite rocks
We have proposed and tested a methodology to identify the subsiding features through an integrated and non-invasive multi-scale approach combining seismic reflection, persistent scatterers (PSs)-interferometric SAR (InSAR) (PSI), leveling and full 3D Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and overpassing the limits of each method
The PSI investigation allowed the identification of an area with higher vertical velocities; seismic reflection imagined the covered karst bedrock, identifying three depocenters; leveling data presented a downward displacement comparable with PSI results; 3D GPR, applied here for the first time in the study and characterization of sinkholes, defined shallow sinking features
Summary
Several European regions are affected by ground subsidence phenomena due to the presence of highly soluble evaporite rocks. Gypsum and halite have much lower mechanical strength and more ductile rheology than most carbonate rocks, and their solubility is definitively higher, so in evaporitic terrains, the process is typically much faster and sinkhole frequency is commonly higher ([18] and the references within). GGyyppsusummccroroppssoouuttininaallmmoossttaallllIIttaalliiaann rreeggiioonnss,, oovveerr aabboouutt 11%%oofftthheettoottaallnnaatitoionnaallteterrrirtiotoryry[1[13]3.]. SiSnincecemmooststooffththeesseeeevvaappoorriitteeoouuttccrrooppssaarreevveerryy ssmmaallll,, mmoorree oorr lleessss ddeettaaiilleedd ssttuuddiieessoonnggyyppssuummkkaarrsstt hhavaveebbeeeennccaarrrrieieddoouuttininoonnllyyaaffeeww rreeggiioonnss aass PPiieeddmmoonntt,, FFrriiuullii VVeenneezziiaa GGiiuulliiaa,, EEmmiilliiaa--RRoommaaggnnaa, , CCalaalabbriraia, ,aannddSSiciciliyly. TThheessee ccrroopp oouuttaalloonnggtthheeAAltlataVVaallTTaagglliiaammeenntoto vavlalellyeyanadndalaolnogntghtehneonrtohrethrneranligalnigmnemnte,netn, ceonmcopmaspsainssginPgesPaerisnaari,nPao,nPtoainbtaaiabnadaLnudmLiuemi viaelilevyasl.leTyhs.eTAhleta VAalltTaaVglailamTaegnltiaomveanllteoyv(aFlilgeyur(eFi1g)uirset1h)eims tohset maffoescttaefdfewctietdh whuitnhdhruednsdroefdisnovfenintovreinetdorsiiendkshionlkehso[l1e4s]
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