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Evolution of Secondary Deformations Captured by Satellite Radar Interferometry: Case Study of an Abandoned Coal Basin in SW Poland

Author

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  • Jan Blachowski

    (Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Anna Kopeć

    (Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Wojciech Milczarek

    (Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Karolina Owczarz

    (Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland)

Abstract

The issue of monitoring surface motions in post-mining areas in Europe is important due to the fact that a significant number of post-mining areas lie in highly-urbanized and densely-populated regions. Examples can be found in: Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, as well as the subject of this study, the Polish Walbrzych Hard Coal Basin. Studies of abandoned coal fields show that surface deformations in post-mining areas occur even several dozen years after the end of underground coal extraction, posing a threat to new development of these areas. In the case of the Walbrzych area, fragmentary, geodetic measurements indicate activity of the surface in the post-mining period (from 1995 onward). In this work, we aimed at determining the evolution of surface deformations in time during the first 15 years after the end of mining, i.e., the 1995–2010 period using ERS 1/2 and Envisat satellite radar data. Satellite radar data from European Space Agency missions are the only source of information on historical surface movements and provide spatial coverage of the entirety of the coal fields. In addition, we attempted to analyze the relationship of the ground deformations with hydrogeological changes and geological and mining data. Three distinct stages of ground movements were identified in the study. The ground motions (LOS (Line Of Sight)) determined with the PSInSAR (Persistent Scatterer Interferometry) method indicate uplift of the surface of up to +8 mm/a in the first period (until 2002). The extent and rate of this motion was congruent with the process of underground water table restoration in separate water basins associated with three neighboring coal fields. In the second period, after the stabilization of the underground water table, the surface remained active, as indicated by local subsidence (up to −5 mm/a) and uplift (up to +5 mm/a) zones. We hypothesize that this surface activity is the result of ground reaction disturbed by long-term shallow and deep mining. The third stage is characterized by gradual stabilization and decreasing deformations of the surface. The results accentuate the complexity of ground motion processes in post-mining areas, the advantages of the satellite radar technique for historical studies, and provide information for authorities responsible for new development of such areas, e.g., regarding potential flood zones caused by restoration of groundwater table in subsided areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Blachowski & Anna Kopeć & Wojciech Milczarek & Karolina Owczarz, 2019. "Evolution of Secondary Deformations Captured by Satellite Radar Interferometry: Case Study of an Abandoned Coal Basin in SW Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-21, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:3:p:884-:d:204373
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark Grzovic & Abduwasit Ghulam, 2015. "Evaluation of land subsidence from underground coal mining using TimeSAR (SBAS and PSI) in Springfield, Illinois, USA," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 79(3), pages 1739-1751, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Erhu Bai & Xueyi Li & Wenbing Guo & Yi Tan & Mingjie Guo & Peng Wen & Zhibao Ma, 2022. "Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of Surface Residual Deformation above Longwall Abandoned Goaf," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Artur Guzy & Agnieszka A. Malinowska, 2020. "Assessment of the Impact of the Spatial Extent of Land Subsidence and Aquifer System Drainage Induced by Underground Mining," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-28, September.
    3. Keren Dai & Xianlin Shi & Jisong Gou & Leyin Hu & Mi Chen & Liang Zhao & Xiujun Dong & Zhenhong Li, 2020. "Diagnosing Subsidence Geohazard at Beijing Capital International Airport, from High-Resolution SAR Interferometry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Zhanjie Feng & Zhenqi Hu & Xi Zhang & Yuhang Zhang & Ruihao Cui & Li Lu, 2023. "Integrated Mining and Reclamation Practices Enhance Sustainable Land Use: A Case Study in Huainan Coalfield, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Anna Kopeć & Paweł Trybała & Dariusz Głąbicki & Anna Buczyńska & Karolina Owczarz & Natalia Bugajska & Patrycja Kozińska & Monika Chojwa & Agata Gattner, 2020. "Application of Remote Sensing, GIS and Machine Learning with Geographically Weighted Regression in Assessing the Impact of Hard Coal Mining on the Natural Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-26, November.
    6. Chunyi Li & Laizhong Ding & Ximin Cui & Yuling Zhao & Yihang He & Wenzhi Zhang & Zhihui Bai, 2022. "Calculation Model for Progressive Residual Surface Subsidence above Mined-Out Areas Based on Logistic Time Function," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-20, July.
    7. Hyung-Sup Jung & Saro Lee & Biswajeet Pradhan, 2020. "Sustainable Applications of Remote Sensing and Geospatial Information Systems to Earth Observations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-6, March.

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