Analysis of Ground Deformation Detected Using the SBAS-DInSAR Technique in Umbria, Central Italy

Ground deformation affecting the Umbria region (central Italy) in the 9-year period from 1992 to 2000 was investigated through multi-temporal Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR). For the purpose, the Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) technique was adopted, which allows studying the temporal evolution of the detected deformation at two spatial scales: a low-resolution (regional) scale, and a full-resolution (local) scale. For the analysis, SAR data acquired by the European Remote Sensing (ERS-1/2) satellites along ascending and descending orbits were used. The detected deformation was analysed to investigate its relevance to geophysical, geomorphologic, and human-induced processes that may result in hazardous conditions to the population of Umbria. Low-resolution deformation data were used to: (i) determine the amount of displacement caused by the Umbria-Marche earthquake sequence from September 1997 to April 1998 in the Foligno area, (ii) determine the number and percentage of the known landslides that can be monitored by the DInSAR technology in the investigated area, and (iii) identify and measure subsidence induced by exploitation of a confined aquifer in the Valle Umbra. Results indicate that earthquakes moved through the Foligno area westwards up to 3.9 cm and with an uplift reaching 1.7 cm. Intersection in a GIS of the low-resolution deformation maps with a detailed landslide inventory map allowed the determination that the portion of landslides that can be monitored by the SBAS-DInSAR technique in Umbria ranges from 2.7% to 3.4%, and the percentage of the total landslide area ranges from 10.4% to 12.8%. In the Valle Umbra, a dependency was found between the time and the amount of detected ground deformation, and the record of water withdrawal. The full-resolution deformation data were used to investigate the movement of the Ivancich landslide, in the Assisi Municipality. Joint analysis of the spatial and the temporal characteristics of the ground displacement allowed the formulation of a hypothesis on the landslide geometry and deformation pattern.

[1]  Jordi J. Mallorqui,et al.  Mapping ground subsidence induced by aquifer overexploitation using advanced Differential SAR Interferometry: Vega Media of the Segura River (SE Spain) case study , 2005 .

[2]  Fabio Rocca,et al.  Permanent scatterers in SAR interferometry , 2001, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote. Sens..

[3]  Antonio Pepe,et al.  Joint analysis of SAR interferometry and electrical resistivity tomography surveys for investigating ground deformation: the case-study of Satriano di Lucania (Potenza, Italy) , 2006 .

[4]  Michele Manunta,et al.  A small-baseline approach for investigating deformations on full-resolution differential SAR interferograms , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

[5]  V. Singhroy,et al.  Landslide characterisation in Canada using interferometric SAR and combined SAR and TM images , 1998 .

[6]  F. Catani,et al.  On the application of SAR interferometry to geomorphological studies: estimation of landform attributes and mass movements , 2005 .

[7]  Janusz Wasowski,et al.  Investigating landslides with space-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry , 2006 .

[8]  Fabio Rocca,et al.  Dynamics of Slow-Moving Landslides from Permanent Scatterer Analysis , 2004, Science.

[9]  H. Zebker,et al.  Sensing the ups and downs of Las Vegas: InSAR reveals structural control of land subsidence and aquifer-system deformation , 1999 .

[10]  N. Pino,et al.  Geodetic and seismologic evidence for slip variability along a blind normal fault in the Umbria-Marche 1997–1998 earthquakes (central Italy) , 2003 .

[11]  Maurizio Ripepe,et al.  The 1997 Umbria‐Marche, Italy, Earthquake Sequence: A first look at the main shocks and aftershocks , 1998 .

[12]  P. Rosen,et al.  Surface Displacement of the 17 May 1993 Eureka Valley, California, Earthquake Observed by SAR Interferometry , 1995, Science.

[13]  Fausto Guzzetti,et al.  The impact of landslides in the Umbria region, central Italy , 2003 .

[14]  M. Crosetto,et al.  Early detection and in-depth analysis of deformation phenomena by radar interferometry , 2005 .

[15]  G. Natale,et al.  An advanced slip model for the Umbria-Marche earthquake sequence: coseismic displacements observed by SAR interferometry and model inversion , 2006 .

[16]  Bernd Scheuchl,et al.  Monitoring very slow slope movements by means of SAR interferometry: A case study from a mass waste above a reservoir in the Ötztal Alps, Austria , 1999 .

[17]  A. Dziewoński,et al.  Moment tensor analysis of the Central Italy Earthquake Sequence of September–October 1997 , 1998 .

[18]  F. Casu,et al.  An Overview of the Small BAseline Subset Algorithm: a DInSAR Technique for Surface Deformation Analysis , 2007 .

[19]  Riccardo Lanari,et al.  Satellite radar interferometry time series analysis of surface deformation for Los Angeles, California , 2004 .

[20]  K. Feigl,et al.  The displacement field of the Landers earthquake mapped by radar interferometry , 1993, Nature.

[21]  Fuk K. Li,et al.  Synthetic aperture radar interferometry , 2000, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[22]  J. Stanton.  Galton, Pearson, and the Peas: A Brief History of Linear Regression for Statistics Instructors , 2001 .

[23]  Salvatore Stramondo,et al.  Rupture history of the 1997 umbria-Marche (central Italy) main shocks from the inversion of GPS, DInSAR and near field strong motion data , 2004 .

[24]  David A. Seal,et al.  The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission , 2007 .

[25]  Katrin Molch,et al.  Characterizing and monitoring rockslides from SAR techniques , 2004 .

[26]  Giusy Lavecchia,et al.  Architecture and seismotectonics of a regional low‐angle normal fault zone in central Italy , 2000 .

[27]  Riccardo Lanari,et al.  A quantitative assessment of the SBAS algorithm performance for surface deformation retrieval from DInSAR data , 2006 .

[28]  Jordi J. Mallorquí,et al.  Linear and nonlinear terrain deformation maps from a reduced set of interferometric SAR images , 2003, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote. Sens..

[29]  Antonio Pepe,et al.  Volcanic spreading of Vesuvius, a new paradigm for interpreting its volcanic activity , 2005 .

[30]  Gianfranco Fornaro,et al.  A new algorithm for surface deformation monitoring based on small baseline differential SAR interferograms , 2002, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote. Sens..

[31]  H. Zebker,et al.  Persistent scatterer interferometric synthetic aperture radar for crustal deformation analysis, with application to Volcán Alcedo, Galápagos , 2007 .

[32]  Richard M. Goldstein,et al.  Atmospheric limitations to repeat‐track radar interferometry , 1995 .

[33]  Paolo Berardino,et al.  Surface deformation analysis in the Ischia Island (Italy) based on spaceborne radar interferometry , 2006 .

[34]  Giorgio Franceschetti,et al.  Use of differential SAR interferometry in monitoring and modelling large slope instability at Maratea (Basilicata, Italy) , 2003 .

[35]  Nicola Casagli,et al.  Landslide activity as a geoindicator in Italy: significance and new perspectives from remote sensing , 2004 .

[36]  J. Wasowski,et al.  Special issue from the symposium on Remote Sensing and Monitoring of Landslides , 2003 .

[37]  R. Goldstein,et al.  Mapping small elevation changes over large areas: Differential radar interferometry , 1989 .

[38]  H. Zebker,et al.  A new method for measuring deformation on volcanoes and other natural terrains using InSAR persistent scatterers , 2004 .

[39]  Christophe Delacourt,et al.  Observation and modelling of the Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée landslide using SAR interferometry , 1996 .

[40]  M. Tesauro,et al.  Modeling coseismic displacements resulting from SAR interferometry and GPS measurements during the 1997 Umbria-Marche seismic sequence , 2000 .

[41]  Howard A. Zebker,et al.  Inverse modeling of interbed storage parameters using land subsidence observations, Antelope Valley, California , 2003 .

[42]  S. Moretti,et al.  Permanent Scatterers for landslide investigations: outcomes from the ESA-SLAM project , 2006 .

[43]  C. Werner,et al.  Interferometric point target analysis for deformation mapping , 2003, IGARSS 2003. 2003 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. Proceedings (IEEE Cat. No.03CH37477).

[44]  Fabio Rocca,et al.  Nonlinear subsidence rate estimation using permanent scatterers in differential SAR interferometry , 2000, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote. Sens..

[45]  A. Gorini,et al.  The 1997 Umbria-Marche (Italy) earthquake sequence: analysis of the data recorded by the local and temporary networks , 2000 .

[46]  C. Collettini,et al.  Connecting seismically active normal faults with Quaternary geological structures in a complex extensional environment: The Colfiorito 1997 case history (northern Apennines, Italy) , 2005 .

[47]  Yasushi Yamaguchi,et al.  Detection of Landslide Areas Using Satellite Radar Interferometry , 2000 .

[48]  Howard A. Zebker,et al.  Decorrelation in interferometric radar echoes , 1992, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote. Sens..

[49]  Pre‐seismic slip on the 26 September 1997, Umbria‐Marche Earthquake fault? Unexpected clues from the analysis of 1951–1992 elevation changes , 1999 .

[50]  Eugenio Sansosti,et al.  Gravity and magma induced spreading of Mount Etna volcano revealed by satellite radar interferometry , 2004 .

[51]  Kenneth W. Hudnut,et al.  Detection of aquifer system compaction and land subsidence using interferometric synthetic aperture radar, Antelope Valley, Mojave Desert, California , 1998 .

[52]  P. Reichenbach,et al.  The Influence of Structural Setting and Lithology on Landslide Type and Pattern , 1996 .

[53]  Stefania Usai,et al.  A least squares database approach for SAR interferometric data , 2003, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote. Sens..

[54]  Riccardo Lanari,et al.  Mining‐related ground deformation in Crescent Valley, Nevada: Implications for sparse GPS networks , 2007 .

[55]  Gerald W. Bawden,et al.  Tectonic contraction across Los Angeles after removal of groundwater pumping effects , 2001, Nature.

[56]  Richard M. Goldstein,et al.  Rapid subsidence over oil fields measured by SAR interferometry , 1998 .

[57]  Riccardo Lanari,et al.  Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing , 1999 .

[58]  Antonio Pepe,et al.  On the Extension of the Minimum Cost Flow Algorithm for Phase Unwrapping of Multitemporal Differential SAR Interferograms , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

[59]  Christophe Delacourt,et al.  Applicability of SAR Interferometry for Monitoring of Landslides , 1996 .

[60]  Giusy Lavecchia,et al.  A structural model for active extension in Central Italy , 2000 .

[61]  D. Galloway,et al.  The application of satellite differential SAR interferometry-derived ground displacements in hydrogeology , 2007 .

[62]  M. Dragoni,et al.  Monte Carlo Inversion of DInSAR Data for Dislocation Modeling: Application to the 1997 Umbria-Marche Seismic Sequence (Central Italy) , 2004 .

[63]  Giorgio Franceschetti,et al.  The September 26, 1997 Colfiorito, Italy, earthquakes: Modeled coseismic surface displacement from SAR interferometry and GPS , 1999 .

[64]  P. Reichenbach,et al.  Distribution of landslides in the Upper Tiber River basin, central Italy , 2008 .

[65]  Salvatore Stramondo,et al.  Slip distribution of the 1997 Umbria‐Marche earthquake sequence: Joint inversion of GPS and synthetic aperture radar interferometry data , 2002 .

[66]  David M. Cruden,et al.  LANDSLIDE TYPES AND PROCESSES , 1958 .

[67]  Antonio Pepe,et al.  The 2004–2006 uplift episode at Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy): Constraints from SBAS‐DInSAR ENVISAT data and Bayesian source inference , 2008 .

[68]  Paolo Berardino,et al.  Surface deformation of Long Valley caldera and Mono Basin, California, investigated with the SBAS-InSAR approach , 2007 .

[69]  P. Gasperini,et al.  Catalogo dei forti terremoti in Italia dal 461 a.C. , 1995 .

[70]  F. Marra,et al.  The 1997 Umbria‐Marche (Italy) earthquake sequence: Relationship between ground deformation and seismogenic structure , 1999 .