Identification of the ground movements caused by mining-induced seismicity with the satellite interferometry

Abstract

Abstract. The assessment of the impact of mining-induced seismicity on the natural environment and infrastructure is often limited to the analysis of terrain surface vibrations. However, similar seismic phenomena, like earthquakes, may also imply dislocations and deformations of the rock mass. Such ground movements may occur in areas which are not directly under the influence of the mining. The study of the displacement field caused by mining-induced seismicity is usually carried out with the use of geodetic methods. Classical geodetic measurements provide discrete information about observed ground movements. As a result, they generally do not provide spatially and temporally relevant estimates of the total range and values of ground movements for specific periods of interest. Moreover, mining-induced seismicity causes a severe threat to buildings. That is why, regarding the complexity of the mechanism of occurrence of mining-induced seismicity and their impact on ground movements, this problem remains a substantial research issue. The presented research aimed to analyse the ground movements caused by mining-induced seismicity. The ground displacements were established based on data from Sentinel-1 satellites applying differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR). The results of the investigation in the copper mining area of the Lower Silesia region of Poland revealed that the observed subsidence caused by mining-induced seismicity usually has a shape of a regular ellipse. The radius of these ground movements does not exceed approximately 2–3 km from the mining-induced tremor's epicenter, and the total subsidence reaches ca. 10–20 cm. More than 50 % of the total subsidence is observed on the surface within a few days after the mining tremor occurrence. Furthermore, the deformations of the surface occur when the energy of mining-induced tremor reaches values of the order of 105 J or higher. The presented research can contribute to better identification and evaluation of the mechanism of the rock mass deformation process caused by mining-induced seismicity. In addition, the use of satellite radar interferometry improves the quality of monitoring of these dynamic phenomena significantly. The data retrieved using this method allow for quasi-continuous monitoring of the local subsidence bowls caused by mining-induced seismicity.

Estimation of Mining-Induced Horizontal Strain Tensor of Land Surface Applying InSAR

“…Every year, at least a few earthquakes with energies greater than 10E7 J are recorded [61,[67][68][69][70][71]. Moreover, mining-induced earthquakes in the study area caused much greater velocity and quantity of ground displacements than land subsidence caused directly by the extraction of copper ore deposits [67,[72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83].…”

Advanced Model of Spatiotemporal Mining-Induced Kinematic Excitation for Multiple-Support Bridges Based on the Regional Seismicity Characteristics

“…In Poland, regions of mining-triggered seismicity are continuously monitored, and the parameters of tremors, such as accelerations or velocities of the ground, are recorded continuously [35][36][37][38][39]. Investigations related to the reconstruction of ground vibration acceleration fields on the basis of point recordings are the subject of seismologists' research in mining-triggered areas.…”

Prediction of mining-induced seismicity and damage assessment of induced surface buildings in thick and hard key stratum working face: a case study of Liuhuanggou coal mine in China

“…Guangyao et al (2020) established a probability density function containing spatial, temporal, and energy parameters of mining-induced seismicity activity and proposed the probability density distribution values as an indicator of the degree of mining-induced seismicity event clustering and used them to predict the location of high energy level mining-induced seismicity events. Ryszard et al (2020) investigated the surface deformation caused by mining-induced seismicity activity using satellite radar interferometry, and the results showed that the surface subsidence caused by mining-induced seismicity is usually in a regular elliptical shape, and the surface will be deformed when the energy of mining-induced seismicity exceeds 1E+05J magnitude. Yang et al (2019) proposed the use of directional hydraulic fracturing of the hard roof to reduce the mining-induced seismicity load, which ensured the safe recovery of the working face.…”