Spatio-temporal evolution of aseismic ground deformation in the Mexicali Valley (Baja California, Mexico) from 1993 to 2010, using differential SAR interferometry

O Sarychikhina,E Glowacka

doi:10.5194/piahs-372-335-2015

Abstract

Abstract. Ground deformation in Mexicali Valley, Baja California, Mexico, the southern part of the Mexicali-Imperial valley, is influenced by active tectonics and human activity, mainly that of geothermal fluid extraction in the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field. Significant ground deformation, mainly subsidence (~ 18 cm yr−1), and related ground fissures cause severe damage to local infrastructure. The technique of Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) has been demonstrated to be a very effective remote sensing tool for accurately measuring the spatial and temporal evolution of ground displacements over broad areas. In present study ERS-1/2 SAR and ENVISAT ASAR images acquired between 1993 and 2010 were used to perform a historical analysis of aseismic ground deformation in Mexicali Valley, in an attempt to evaluate its spatio-temporal evolution and improve the understanding of its dynamic. For this purpose, the conventional 2-pass DInSAR was used to generate interferograms which were used in stacking procedure to produce maps of annual aseismic ground deformation rates for different periods. Differential interferograms that included strong co-seismic deformation signals were not included in the stacking and analysis. The changes in the ground deformation pattern and rate were identified. The main changes occur between 2000 and 2005 and include increasing deformation rate in the recharge zone and decreasing deformation rate in the western part of the CPGF production zone. We suggested that these changes are mainly caused by production development in the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field.

Highlights

Any process involving large-scale extraction of groundwater, including geothermal energy development, can be accompanied by ground deformation
Differential synthetic aperture radar interferometry (DInSAR) is a space-based geodetic technique widely applied for large-scale monitoring of ground deformation at a low cost (Massonnet and Rabaute, 1993; Zebker et al, 1994; Massonnet and Feigl, 1998), and for subsidence regardless of its cause (Massonnet et al, 1997; Fielding et al, 1998; Avallone et al, 1999; Carnec and Fabriol, 1999; Wright and Stow, 1999; Carnec and Delacourt, 2000)
In the present study ERS-1/2 SAR and ENVISAT ASAR images acquired between 1993 and 2010 were used to perform an analysis of historical ground deformation caused by geothermal energy development in the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field (CPGF) in Mexicali Valley, in an attempt to evaluate its spatio-temporal evolution and improve the understanding of its dynamic

Summary

Introduction

Any process involving large-scale extraction of groundwater, including geothermal energy development, can be accompanied by ground deformation. Differential synthetic aperture radar interferometry (DInSAR) is a space-based geodetic technique widely applied for large-scale monitoring (spatially continuous) of ground deformation at a low cost (Massonnet and Rabaute, 1993; Zebker et al, 1994; Massonnet and Feigl, 1998), and for subsidence regardless of its cause (Massonnet et al, 1997; Fielding et al, 1998; Avallone et al, 1999; Carnec and Fabriol, 1999; Wright and Stow, 1999; Carnec and Delacourt, 2000). In the present study ERS-1/2 SAR and ENVISAT ASAR images acquired between 1993 and 2010 were used to perform an analysis of historical ground deformation caused by geothermal energy development in the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field (CPGF) in Mexicali Valley, in an attempt to evaluate its spatio-temporal evolution and improve the understanding of its dynamic

Study area

Methodology for deformation rate estimation

Historical deformation analysis

Conclusions

Findings

339 References