Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5251
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5251
Version 2.0, June 2013
Detection and Measurement of Land Subsidence Using Global Positioning System Surveying and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, Coachella Valley, California, 1996–2005
Prepared in cooperation with Coachella Valley Water District
By Michelle Sneed and Justin T. Brandt
Table of Contents
Conversion Factors
Abstract
Introduction
Geohydrologic Setting
Mechanics of Pumping-Induced Land Subsidence
Global Positioning System (GPS) Surveys
InSAR Methodology
Comparison of InSAR and GPS Results
Future Monitoring
Summary
Acknowledgments
References
Figures
Figure 1. Map showing location of study area and of six Continuous Global Positioning System (CGPS) stations in or near Coachella Valley, California.
Figure 2. Map showing generalized geology of the Coachella Valley, California.
Figure 3. Map showing network of Global Positioning System (GPS) stations and wells used to monitor vertical changes in land surface and ground-water levels, respectively, in the southern Coachella Valley, California.
Figure 4. Hydrographs showing water-surface elevations for selected wells (between 1995 and 2005), and ellipsoid-height changes (relative to the first measurement) for geodetic monuments measured at least twice, and water-surface elevations for a subset of the wells in A for 1925-2005.
Figure 5. Image showing land-surface features, consolidated rock, Global Positioning System (GPS) stations, two Continuous Global Positioning System (CGPS) stations, three areas of subsidence, and selected roads and production wells, Coachella Valley, California.
Figure 6. Areas of subsidence, linearities at subsidence margins, consolidated rock, GPS stations, and two CGPS stations in the Coachella Valley, California, for November 30, 2003, through May 23, 2004, as shown on the interferogram, and as shown by subsidence contours interpreted from the interferogram in A.
Figure 7. Areas of subsidence, consolidated rock, GPS stations, and two CGPS stations in the Coachella Valley, California, for August 1, 2004, through September 5, 2004, as shown on the interferogram, and as shown by subsidence contours interpreted from the interferogram in A.
Figure 8. Areas of subsidence, consolidated rock, GPS stations, and two CGPS stations in the Coachella Valley, California, for October 26, 2003, throughJune 12, 2005, as shown on the interferogram, and as shown by subsidence contours interpreted from the interferogram in A.
Figure 9. Hydrographs showing water-surface elevations for selected production wells, and InSAR timeseries showing land subsidence for 5/7/2003–9/25/2005, and water-surface elevations for the same production wells for 1970–2005 in the three InSAR-detected land subsidence areas in the Coachella Valley, California.
Tables
Table 1. Horizontal positions and ellipsoid heights for 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2005, and ellipsoid-height changes relative to the first measurement of geodetic monuments in the Coachella Valley, California.
Table 2. Vertical change measured using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) for 3 areas in the Coachella Valley, California, 2003–2005.
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Send questions or comments about this report to the author, Michelle Sneed, (916) 278-3119.
For more information about USGS activities in California, visit the USGS California Water Science Center home page.
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
