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Title: Monitoring deformation at the Geysers Geothermal Field, California using C-band and X-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50314· OSTI ID:1407190
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [3];  [3]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. TRE Tele-Rilevamento Europa, Milano (Italy)
  3. Calpine Corporation, Middletown, CA (United States)
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In this study, we resolve deformation at The Geysers Geothermal Field using two distinct sets of interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data. The first set of observations utilize archived European Space Agency C-band synthetic aperture radar data from 1992 through 1999 to image the long-term and large-scale subsidence at The Geysers. The peak range velocity of approximately 50 mm/year agrees with previous estimates from leveling and global positioning system observations. Data from a second set of measurements, acquired by TerraSAR-X satellites, extend from May 2011 until April 2012 and overlap the C-band data spatially but not temporally. These X-band data, analyzed using a combined permanent and distributed scatterer algorithm, provide a higher density of scatterers (1122 per square kilometer) than do the C-band data (12 per square kilometer). The TerraSAR-X observations resolve 1 to 2 cm of deformation due to water injection into a Northwest Geysers enhanced geothermal system well, initiated on October 2011. Lastly, the temporal variation of the deformation is compatible with estimates from coupled numerical modeling.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; FC36-08GO18201
OSTI ID:
1407190
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 40, Issue 11; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 40 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (8)

Joint estimation of tiltmeter drift and volume variation during reservoir monitoring journal January 2019
Comparative Study of Earthquake Clustering in Relation to Hydraulic Activities at Geothermal Fields in California journal May 2018
Interseismic Ground Deformation and Fault Slip Rates in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area From Two Decades of Space Geodetic Data journal September 2018
Measurement of subsidence in the Yangbajing geothermal fields, Tibet, from TerraSAR-X InSAR time series analysis journal December 2015
Ten Years of Experience with Scientific TerraSAR-X Data Utilization journal July 2018
Application of a Small Baseline Subset Time Series Method with Atmospheric Correction in Monitoring Results of Mining Activity on Ground Surface and in Detecting Induced Seismic Events journal April 2019
Refinement of Landslide Susceptibility Map Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry in Areas of Intense Mining Activities in the Karst Region of Southwest China journal November 2019
Ten Years of Experience with Scientific TerraSAR-X Data Utilization January 2018

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