Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Application of Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) in monitoring slope movements in Nainital, Uttarakhand Lesser Himalaya, India

  • Published:
Journal of Earth System Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Orogenic movements and sub-tropical climate have rendered the slopes of the Himalayan region intensely deformed and weathered. As a result, the incidences of slope failure are quite common all along the Himalayan region. The Lesser Himalayan terrane is particularly vulnerable to mass-movements owing to geological fragility, and many parts of it are bearing a high-risk of associated disaster owing to the high population density. An important step towards mitigation of such disasters is the monitoring of slope movement. Towards this, the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) technique can be applied. In the present study, the PSI technique is employed in Lesser Himalayan town of Nainital in Uttarakhand state of India to decipher and monitor slope movements. A total of 15 multi-date ENVISAT ASAR satellite images, acquired during August 2008 to August 2010 period, were subjected to PSI, which revealed a continuous creep movement along the hillslopes located towards the eastern side of the Nainital lake. The higher reaches of the hill seem to be experiencing accelerated creep of \({\sim }21\) mm/year, which decreases downslope to \({\sim }5\) mm/year. Based on spatial pattern of varying PSI Mean LOS Velocity (MLV) values, high (H), moderate (M), low (L) and very low (S) creeping zones have been delineated in the hillslopes. Given the long history of mass movements and continuously increasing anthropogenic activities in Nainital, these results call for immediate measures to avert any future disaster in the town.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adam N, Kampes B and Eineder M 2005 Development of a scientific permanent scatterer system: Modifications for mixed ERS/ENVISAT time series; ESA Spec. Publ.  SP-572 457–465.

  • Amelung F, Jónsson S, Zebker H and Segall P 2000 Widespread uplift and ‘trapdoor’ faulting on Galapagos volcanoes observed with radar interferometry; Nature  407 (6807) 993–996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anbalagan R, Kumar R, Lakshmanan K, Parida S and Neethu S 2015 Landslide hazard zonation mapping using frequency ratio and fuzzy logic approach, a case study of Lachung Valley, Sikkim; Geoenviron. Disasters  2(6), https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-014-0009-y.

  • Auden J B 1934 The geology of the Krol belt; Geol. Surv. India Rec.  71 357–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Auden J B 1942 Geological report on the hill side of Nainital; Unpubl. Rep., Geol. Surv. India, Kolkata.

  • Bartarya S K and Valdiya K S 1989 Landslides in the catchment of the Gaula River, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India; Mt. Res. Dev.  9 405–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Census of India 2011 Office of Registrar-General, New Delhi, India.

  • Chang C P, Chen K S, Wang C T, Yen J Y, Chang T Y and Lin C W 2004 Application of space borne radar interferometry on crustal deformations in Taiwan: A perspective from the nature of events; Terr. Atmos. Ocean Sci.  15(3) 523–543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang C P, Yen J Y, Hooper A, Chou F M, Chen Y A, Hou C S, Hung W C and Lin M S 2010 Monitoring of surface deformation in northern Taiwan using DInSAR and PSInSAR technique; Terr. Atmos. Ocean Sci.  21(3) 447–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cigna F, Bianchini S and Casagli N 2013 How to assess landslide activity and intensity with persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI): The PSI-based matrix approach; Landslides  10 267–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colesanti C, Ferretti A, Prati C and Rocca F 2003 Monitoring landslide and tectonic motions with the permanent scatterer technique; Eng. Geol.  86 3–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colesanti C, Crosta G B, Ferretti A and Ambrosi C 2006 Monitoring and assessing the state of activity of slope instabilities by the permanent scatterer technique; In: Landslide from Massive Rock Slope Failure (eds) Evans S G, Mugnozza G S, Strom A and Hermanns R L, NATO Science Series, IV Earth Environ. Sci. Springer, Nertherlands, 49, 175–194.

  • Crosetto M, Arnaud A, Duro J, Biescas E and Agudo M 2003 Deformation monitoring using remotely sensed radar interferometric data; 11th Int. FIG Symp. Deformation Measurements, Geod. and Geod. Appl. Lab., Department of Civil Engineering, Patras University, Santorini, Italy.

  • Dahal R K, Hasegawa S, Nonomura A, Yamanaka M, Dhakal S and Paudiyal P 2008 Predictive modeling of rainfall-induced landslide hazard in Lesser Himalaya of Nepal based on weight-of-evidence; Geomorphology  102 496–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DMMC 2011 Slope instability and geo-environment issues of the area around Nainital; Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre, Dehradun, India, 92p., http://dmmc.uk.gov.in/files/pdf/Nainital_Enviornmental_Degradation.pdf.

  • DMMC 2013 Slope instability issues in the area around Mussoorie; Disaster Mitigation and Management Center, Dehradun, India, 48p., http://dmmc.uk.gov.in/files/pdf/Slope_instability_in_Mussoorie.pdf.

  • Ferretti A, Prati C and Rocca F 2001 Permenent scatterers in SAR interferometry; IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote  39(1) 8–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta R P, Saha A K, Arora M K and Kumar A 1999 Landslide hazard zonation in a part of the Bhagirathi valley, Garhwal Himalaya, using integrated remote sensing – GIS; Him. Geol.  20 71–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanssen R F 2001 Radar Interferometry: Data Interpretation and Error Analysis; Kluwer Academic Publ., Dordrecht.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hashimi N H, Pathak M C, Jauhari P and Nair R R 1993 Bathymetric study of the Neotectonic Naini lake in outer Kumaun Himalaya; J. Geol. Soc. India  41 91–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooper A, Zebker H, Segall P and Kampes B 2004 A new method for measuring deformation on volcanoes and other natural terrains using InSAR persistent scatterers; Geophys. Res. Lett.  31 L23611, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL021737.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooper A, Segall P and Zebker H 2007 Persistent scatterer interferometric synthetic aperture radar for crustal deformation analysis, with application to Volcan Alcedo, Galapagos, Galapagos; J. Geophys. Res.  112 B07407, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JB004763.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hukku B M, Srivastava A K and Jaitli G N 1974 Evolution of lakes around Nainital and the problem of hillside instability; Him. Geol.  4 516–531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Massonnet D, Rossi M, Carmona C, Adragna F, Peltzer G, Feigl K and Rabaute T 1993 The displacement field of the Landers earthquake mapped by radar interferometry; Nature 364 138–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathew J, Jha V K and Rawat G S 2009 Landslide susceptibility zonation mapping and its validation in part of Garhwal Lesser Himalaya, India, using binary logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve method; Landslide  6(1) 17–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middlemiss C S 1890 Geological sketch of Nainital with some remarks on the natural conditions governing mountain slopes; Rec. Geol. Surv. India  23 213–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldham R D 1880 Note on the Nainital landslide 18th Sept 1880; Rec. Geol. Surv. India  13 277–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira S C, Zĕzere J L, Catalão J and Nico G 2015 The contribution of PSInSAR interferometry to landslide hazard in week rock dominated areas; Landslides 12 703–719.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pant C C and Goswami P K 2003 Tide-storm dominated shelf sequence of the Neoptoterozoic Blaini Formation and its implications on the evolution of Krol-belt, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya; J. Nepal Geol. Soc. 28 19–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rautela P, Khanduri S, Bhaisora B, Pande K N, Ghildiyal S, Chanderkala, Badoni S and Rawat A 2014 Implications of rapid land use/land cover changes upon the environment of the area around Nainital in Uttarakhand, India; Asian J. Environ. Disaster Manag.  6(1) 83–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romero R, Fernández D, Carrasco D, Luzón F, Martínez A, Rodríguez-Velasco G, Moreno V, Araña V and Aparicio A 2002 Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR): Application to ground deformation studies for volcano and seismic monitoring; Física de la Tierra  14 55–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma A K 1981 Structural study of area east of Nainital with special reference to the hillside instability; Unpubl. Ph.D. thesis, Kumaun University, Nainital.

  • Singh I B and Rai V 1983 Faun and biogenic structures in Krol–Tal succession (Vendian to Early Cambrian), Lesser Himalaya: Their biostratigraphic and palaeoecological significance; J. Palaeontol. Soc. India  28 67–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava A K 1967–1968 Third progress report on the geological investigations of the stability of the hill slopes around Nainital, Uttar Pradesh; Geol. Surv. India, Unpubl. Report.

  • Tofani V, Raspini F, Catani F and Casagli N 2013 Persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) techniques for landslide characterization and monitoring; Remote Sens.  5 1045–1065, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs5031045.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuan S L, Chang C P, Xuan T N and Yhokha A 2016 TerraSAR-X data for high-precision land subsidence monitoring: A case study in the historical center of Hanoi, Vietnam, Vietnam; Remote Sens.  8 338, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs8040338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valdiya K S 1988 Geology and natural environment of Nainital hills, Kumaun Himalaya; Gyanodaya Prakashan, Nainital, India, 160p.

  • Yen J Y, Chen K S, Chang C P and Boerner W M 2007 Evaluation of earthquake potential and surface deformation by differential interferometry; Remote Sens. Environ.  112 782–795.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yen J Y, Lu C H, Chang C P, Hooper A, Chang Y H, Liang W T, Lin M S and Chen K S 2011 Investigating active deformation in the northern longitudinal valley and city of Hualien in eastern Taiwan using persistent scatterer and small baseline SAR interferometry; Terr. Atmos. Ocean Sci. 22(3) 291–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yhokha A, Chang C P, Goswami P K, Yen J Y and Lee S I 2015 Surface deformation in the Himalaya and adjoining piedmont zone of the Ganga plain, Uttarakhand, India: Determined by different radar interferometric techniques; J. Asian Earth Sci. 106 119–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zebker H A and Villasenor J 1992 Decorrelation in interferometric radar echoes; IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote  30 950–959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Taiwan for funding the present work as a part of Indo-Taiwan Joint Research Program (Grant No. NSC 10102923-M-008-002) and other individual project with MOST (Project No. MOST103-2116-M-259-002). The ENVISAT satellite data was provided by ESA under the Earth Observation project (Project No. CIP. 9519). The Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA), Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), New Delhi, India is thankfully acknowledged for the active cooperation in implementing the Indo-Taiwan Joint Research Program. The authors are also thankful to the Director, CSRSR, NCU, Taiwan; Head of the Department of Geology, KU, India for providing supports in many ways. Constructive comments from Dr. Navin Juyal, Associate Editor and two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged, which drastically improved the quality of the paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences and Institute of Geophysics, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Akano Yhokha & Chung-Pai Chang

  2. Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital, India

    Pradeep K Goswami

  3. Centre for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chung-Pai Chang & K Manini Aruche

  4. Department of Natural Resource and Environment Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan

    Jiun-Yee Yen

  5. Department of Geomatics, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Kuo-En Ching

Authors
  1. Akano Yhokha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pradeep K Goswami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chung-Pai Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jiun-Yee Yen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kuo-En Ching
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. K Manini Aruche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pradeep K Goswami.

Additional information

Corresponding editor: Navin Juyal

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yhokha, A., Goswami, P.K., Chang, CP. et al. Application of Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) in monitoring slope movements in Nainital, Uttarakhand Lesser Himalaya, India. J Earth Syst Sci 127, 6 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-017-0907-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-017-0907-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation