Early Identification of Geological Disasters in Loess Hilly Area of Ningnan Based on InSAR Technology: A case study of Yuanzhou District, China

Abstract Using small baseline subset InSAR (SBAS-InSAR) technology and multi-temporal synthetic aperture radar data, multitemporal phase and long-term sequential deformation monitoring and early identification of geological hazards were carried out in the loess hilly area of southern Ningnan-Yuanzhou area. Based on the analysis of radar visibility in the loess hilly area of southern Ningxia. The Sentinel-1A historical archived data of 36 periods from January 2019–December 2021 and descending orbit data from January 2019–May 2021 were used to carry out monitoring of surface deformation in the river basin, and a total of 61 hidden danger. 49 new concealed high risk points were identified by comprehensive optical remote sensing interpretation. The annual average deformation rate of the radar line-of-sight direction of the ascent data was -47.6746–71.6472mm/a, and the cumulative deformation variable was -81.20–121.61mm. There were 23 new concealed high risk points identified. The annual average deformation rate was -72.1574–51.6028mm/a, and the cumulative deformation variable was -165.6–112.4 mm. During the descending orbit, there were 21 obvious deformations and 16 newly discovered geological hazards. Taking a group of ascending orbit deformation zones in Yuanzhou District as an example, which proved that the application of SBAS-InSAR technology in the loess hilly area of Ningnan was feasible.