InSAR Investigations of Salt Diapir Motion on Axel Heiberg Island, Canada
Abstract
Salt diapirs are compelling targets for radar interferometry because they move relatively quickly on a geological time scale. This project explores the utility of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) techniques to determine the rate of movement of anhydrite diapirs on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada. Axel Heiberg Island contains the second highest concentration of exposed diapirs in the world, but despite excellent exposure of these structures in the polar desert, the remote location remains poorly studied. Previous results from RADARSAT-1 InSAR pairs over Stolz Diapir in the eastern part of the island show decorrelation. This suggests that the structure is moving, although a precise rate of movement has yet to be determined. In our study, we are using RADARSAT-2 InSAR pairs that span timescales of months to years. This C-Band (5.6 cm wavelength) radar has the capability of detecting line-of-sight movement on the order of centimeters. Results will be compared over different timescales to determine the rate of movement of salt in this region. We use nine custom designed corner reflectors as reference points, installed in both the mobile diapirs and the surrounding stable bedrock. Studying diapir movements has economic applications, since petroleum reservoirs and lead-zinc ore deposits can develop in the vicinity of salt bodies. Remote sensing tools are particularly useful for monitoring diapir motion, as many salt deposits are found in inaccessible regions or remote locations, including other planetary bodies like Ceres.
Salt diapirs are compelling targets for radar interferometry because they move relatively quickly on a geological time scale. This project explores the utility of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) techniques to determine the rate of movement of anhydrite diapirs on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada. Axel Heiberg Island contains the second highest concentration of exposed diapirs in the world, but despite excellent exposure of these structures in the polar desert, the remote location remains poorly studied. Previous results from RADARSAT-1 InSAR pairs over Stolz Diapir in the eastern part of the island show decorrelation. This suggests that the structure is moving, although a precise rate of movement has yet to be determined. In our study, we are using RADARSAT-2 InSAR pairs that span timescales of months to years. This C-Band (5.6 cm wavelength) radar has the capability of detecting line-of-sight movement on the order of centimeters. Results will be compared over different timescales to determine the rate of movement of salt in this region. We use nine custom designed corner reflectors as reference points, installed in both the mobile diapirs and the surrounding stable bedrock. Studying diapir movements has economic applications, since petroleum reservoirs and lead-zinc ore deposits can develop in the vicinity of salt bodies. Remote sensing tools are particularly useful for monitoring diapir motion, as many salt deposits are found in inaccessible regions or remote locations, including other planetary bodies like Ceres.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUFM.P54B..01H
- Keywords:
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- 6299 General or miscellaneous;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTSDE: 5464 Remote sensing;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETSDE: 5470 Surface materials and properties;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETSDE: 5499 General or miscellaneous;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS