HR: 1330h
AN: G42A-0040    [PDF]
TI: InSAR Observed Surface Deformation at the Buckman Well Field, New Mexico
AU: * Thomsen, D R
EM: dthomsen@ucsd.edu
AF: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Dr. MC 0225, La Jolla, CA 92093-0225 United States
AU: Fialko, Y
EM: fialko@radar.ucsd.edu
AF: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Dr. MC 0225, La Jolla, CA 92093-0225 United States
AB: We report on Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) measurements of surface deformation at the Buckman well field near Los Alamos, New Mexico. Based on several interferometric pairs, each spanning a three-year time period, we observe localized ground subsidence over a $\sim$25km$^2$ region with a maximum line of sight displacement rate of $\sim$2cm/yr. The deformation pattern is elongated in the north-south direction with an aspect ratio of 1:3. Based on the spatial correlation of the ground subsidence anomaly and the Buckman well field, we infer that this subsidence is a result of water withdrawal from the underlying aquifer. In 2002, a half-mile fissure with nearly twenty centimeters of offset has developed parallel to the long axis of observed deformation. This fissure is coincident with the recent increase in water withdrawal from the well field. However, deformation rates inferred from satellite interferometry are relatively low over the latest observed time period before failure (1997-1999), compared to the deformation rates observed in the earlier epochs (1993-1997). We interpret these observations as indicating a non-linear response of the upper crustal rocks prior to yielding caused by the water withdrawal and concomitant ground compaction.
UR: http://topex.ucsd.edu
DE: 0933 Remote sensing
DE: 1299 General or miscellaneous
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
DE: 1857 Reservoirs (surface)
DE: 1899 General or miscellaneous
SC: Geodesy [G]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting