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Ground Displacements Caused by Aquifer- System Water-Level Variations Observed Using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar near Albuquerque, New Mexico

Water-Resources Investigations Report 2002-4235
Prepared in cooperation with the City of Albuquerque
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/wri024235

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Abstract

Six synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images were processed to form five unwrapped interferometric (InSAR) images of the greater metropolitan area in the Albuquerque Basin. Most interference patterns in the images were caused by range displacements resulting from changes in land-surface elevation. Loci of land- surface elevation changes correlate with changes in aquifer-system water levels and largely result from the elastic response of the aquifer-system skeletal material to changes in pore-fluid pressure. The magnitude of the observed land-surface subsidence and rebound suggests that aquifer-system deformation resulting from ground-water withdrawals in the Albuquerque area has probably remained in the elastic (recoverable) range from July 1993 through September 1999. Evidence of inelastic (permanent) land subsidence in the Rio Rancho area exists, but its relation to compaction of the aquifer system is inconclusive because of insufficient water-level data. Patterns of elastic deformation in both Albuquerque and Rio Rancho suggest that intrabasin faults impede ground- water-pressure diffusion at seasonal time scales and that these faults are probably important in controlling patterns of regional ground-water flow.

Suggested Citation

Heywood, C.E., Galloway, D.L., and Stork, S.V., 2002, Ground displacements caused by aquifer-system water-level variations observed using interferometric synthetic aperture radar near Albuquerque, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02–4235, 18 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri024235.

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Radar interferometry
  • Ground-displacement observations
  • Conclusions
  • Selected References
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Ground displacements caused by aquifer-system water-level variations observed using interferometric synthetic aperture radar near Albuquerque, New Mexico
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 2002-4235
DOI 10.3133/wri024235
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New Mexico Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center
Description iv, 18 p.
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