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Land subsidence caused by the East Mesa Geothermal Field, California, observed using SAR interferometry
Author(s) -
Massonnet Didier,
Holzer Thomas,
Vadon Hélène
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/97gl00817
Subject(s) - levelling , synthetic aperture radar , geology , interferometric synthetic aperture radar , interferometry , subsidence , remote sensing , terrain , digital elevation model , radar , geothermal gradient , geothermal power , satellite , geodesy , geomorphology , geography , cartography , geothermal energy , geophysics , telecommunications , physics , astronomy , aerospace engineering , computer science , engineering , structural basin
Interferometric combination of pairs of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images acquired by the ERS‐1 satellite maps the deformation field associated with the activity of the East Mesa geothermal plant, located in southern California. SAR interferometry is applied to this flat area without the need of a digital terrain model. Several combinations are used to ascertain the nature of the phenomenon. Short term interferograms reveal surface phase changes on agricultural fields similar to what had been observed previously with SEASAT radar data. Long term (2 years) interferograms allow the study of land subsidence and improve prior knowledge of the displacement field, and agree with existing, sparse levelling data. This example illustrates the power of the interferometric technique for deriving accurate industrial intelligence as well as its potential for legal action, in cases involving environmental damages.