Abstract:

With the recent development of geodetic observation theory, the increasing satellite platforms and the progress of related technology, InSAR is emerging as a new data source and useful tool for remotely-based geodetic observations. More importantly, InSAR observations play an increasingly irreplaceable role in the field of coseismic deformation observations, earthquake emergency responses, earthquake hazard evaluation and seismogenic structure research. Particularly, InSAR is the most commonly used tool in coseismic deformation measurements on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau or other global seismic zones, where GPS data are sparse or inaccessible in some cases. Specifically, InSAR measurements help us to respond in time after disastrous earthquakes and provide valuable information associated with how the surface of the crust deforms due to large earthquakes. In the area of scientific research, InSAR provides products of surface deformation observations and serves as model constraints kinematically or dynamically in identifying the buried faults, studying the characteristics of seismogenic faults, obtaining three-dimensional displacements, and investigating the relationship between earthquakes and tectonic structures. InSAR observations and its deformation products have the technical advantages of large spatial scale, high precision and in-time, compared to other geodetic measurements. Consequently, InSAR has the ability to provide scientific and technological support for earthquake emergency observations, and meeting the practical needs of earthquake disaster reduction on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

In this review, we mostly limit our focus to the application of InSAR technology in earthquake cycle deformation monitoring in different structural settings on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. We also summarize the InSAR-based studies on fault kinematics and seismogenic structures related to some noted earthquakes on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. We highlight how the applications of InSAR data can greatly promote earthquake science and can be used as routine observations in some important areas. Then proceed to discuss the cutting-edge development trend and some new challenges of InSAR technology, which are frequently discussed and investigated, but not well resolved, in recent applications. The endeavors in increasing the precision of small-magnitude deformation measurements and expanding the InSAR data volumes can make the scientific objectives of earthquake disaster reduction on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and its surrounding areas feasible and reliable. To better understand how InSAR observations have changed the way we study earthquakes, we summarize the development, commercialization, insights, and existing challenges associated with InSAR coseismic deformation measurements and application in recent two decades.

Key words: InSAR technology, coseismic deformation measurements, earthquake prevention and disaster reduction, earthquake emergency response, seismogenic structure

摘要：

随着大地测量观测理论、观测平台和观测技术的发展与进步, InSAR作为一种新型的遥感地质观测途径和数据源, 在同震形变获取、地震应急监测、抗震救灾和发震构造科学研究中发挥了越来越重要和不可替代的作用。其中, InSAR在同震形变监测中的应用最为广泛, 能够在重要灾害性地震事件发生后及时响应, 在识别隐伏断层、确定发震断层、监测地表破裂、研究发震断层的运动学特征、获取三维形变以及厘定发震构造等问题中能提供有效的地表观测数据和模型约束。InSAR观测以其大范围、高精度、及时性等技术和数据优势, 在地震应急观测方面的科技支撑作用逐渐凸显, 能解决防震减灾的实际需求并逐渐趋于业务化。梳理近年来InSAR技术在不同活动构造区和地震危险区地震周期形变监测中的应用、分析基于InSAR同震形变观测的断层运动学特征和发震构造研究、讨论InSAR技术的前沿发展趋势, 能更好地服务于当前青藏高原及周边广大地区的防震减灾事业, 有助于实现活动断层的地震危险性评估等科学目标。基于此, 文中简要综述了近20年来InSAR技术在同震形变获取、应用中的现状、业务化、科学认识和存在的问题。

关键词: InSAR技术, 同震形变监测, 防震减灾, 应急观测, 发震构造