Xu et al. (2025) Three decades evolution of land subsidence driven by anthropogenic activities in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) from continuous SAR interferometry

Identification

• Journal: Remote Sensing of Environment
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-08
• Authors: Wenbin Xu, Jihong Liu, Lei Xie, Mimi Peng, Hao Wang
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2025.115053

Research Groups

• School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South University, Changsha, China
• School of Information Mechanics and Sensing Engineering, Xidian University, Xi’an, China
• The Second Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources (Lubei Geo-engineering Exploration Institute), Dezhou, China

Short Summary

This study developed a novel Trend-Adaptive Functional Modeling and Connection method (TAFMC) to integrate multi-sensor InSAR time series, enabling the first continuous, three-decade (1992-2024) monitoring of land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) and revealing its evolution driven by anthropogenic activities. It found subsidence up to 220 cm, with rates decreasing after 2021, and identified new subsidence funnels linked to the brine industry and shrimp aquaculture.

Objective

• To resolve continuous land deformation and investigate its underlying mechanisms across a three-decade timeframe (since the early 1990s) in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) using InSAR.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Yellow River Delta (YRD), specifically focusing on areas like Guangrao County and Dongying City.
• Temporal Scale: 32 years, from 1992 to 2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Trend-Adaptive Functional Modeling and Connection method (TAFMC) for multi-sensor InSAR time series integration.
• Data sources: Continuous SAR interferometry from six integrated InSAR sensors.

Main Results

• A total subsidence of up to 220 cm was observed in Guangrao County over the three-decade period.
• The subsidence rate significantly decreased from greater than 10 cm/year during 1992–2021 to approximately 5 cm/year after 2021, indicating effective control measures.
• Since 2015, an inland migration of a coastal subsidence funnel was identified, primarily attributed to the brine industry.
• Around 2023, multiple small-scale subsidence funnels emerged with rates exceeding 15 cm/year, linked to shrimp aquaculture activities.
• The primary drivers of subsidence were identified as deep groundwater extraction, the brine industry, and shrimp aquaculture.

Contributions

• First study to provide a continuous, three-decade (1992-2024) record of land subsidence and its mechanisms in the Yellow River Delta using InSAR.
• Introduction of the Trend-Adaptive Functional Modeling and Connection method (TAFMC) for robust and efficient multi-sensor InSAR time series integration, capable of resolving decadal deformation trends previously obscured by data gaps.
• Offers comprehensive insights into the long-term interaction between anthropogenic activities and land subsidence in the YRD.
• Provides a methodological framework applicable for multi-decadal InSAR analysis in other delta regions worldwide.

Funding

Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Xu2025Three,
  author = {Xu, Wenbin and Liu, Jihong and Xie, Lei and Peng, Mimi and Wang, Hao},
  title = {Three decades evolution of land subsidence driven by anthropogenic activities in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) from continuous SAR interferometry},
  journal = {Remote Sensing of Environment},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.rse.2025.115053},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2025.115053}
}