Large-area ground deformation investigation over Taiyuan Basin, China 2007–2011 revealed by ALOS PALSAR imagery

Taiyuan Basin is one of the regions that suffered from severe land subsidence in China. Surface deformation monitoring of local areas within the basin has previously been performed. However, ground subsidence monitoring covering the entire basin has not been implemented before. We conducted this study for the purpose of disaster reduction. ALOS PALSAR imagery from three tracks was used. The StaMPS PS-InSAR technique was used to map the ground deformation over the whole basin. Ground deformation characteristics from 2007 to 2011 were obtained. The accuracy of InSAR results was verified with the levelling measurements from 2007 to 2011 on 62 sites, and the standard deviation between InSAR and levelling measurements is 2.1 mm. Time series deformations in typical areas were analysed. The maximum subsidence rate in the basin reached 75 mm/year. The impact of fault activity and groundwater on land subsidence was discussed. The results show that the existence of hidden faults and groundwater mining has significant effects on land subsidence. Finally, a simple model was used to discuss the effect of concealed fault on deformation. © 2021, Saudi Society for Geosciences.