Spatiotemporal characteristics of the Huangtupo landslide in the Three Gorges region (China) constrained by radar interferometry

The Huangtupo landslide is one of the largest in the Three Gorges region, China. The county-seat town of Badong, located on the south shore between the Xiling and Wu gorges of the Yangtze River, was moved to this unstable slope prior to the construction of the Three Gorges Project, since the new Three Gorges reservoir completely submerged the location of the old city. The instability of the slope is affecting the new town by causing residential safety problems. The Huangtupo landslide provides scientists an opportunity to understand landslide response to fluctuating river water level and heavy rainfall episodes, which is essential to decide upon appropriate remediation measures. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques provide a very useful tool for the study of superficial and spatially variable displacement phenomena. In this paper, three sets of radar data have been processed to investigate the Huangtupo landslide. Results show that maximum displacements are affecting the northwest zone of the slope corresponding to Riverside slumping mass I#. The other main landslide bodies (i.e. Riverside slumping mass II#, Substation landslide and Garden Spot landslide) exhibit a stable behaviour in agreement with in situ data, although some active areas have been recognized in the foot of the Substation landslide and Garden Spot landslide. InSAR has allowed us to study the kinematic behaviour of the landslide and to identify its active boundaries. Furthermore, the analysis of the InSAR displacement time-series has helped recognize the different displacement patterns on the slope and their relationships with various triggering factors. For those persistent scatterers, which exhibit long-term displacements, they can be decomposed into a creep model (controlled by geological conditions) and a superimposed recoverable term (dependent on external factors), which appears closely correlated with reservoir water level changes close to the river's edge. These results, combined with in situ data, provide a comprehensive analysis of the Huangtupo landslide, which is essential for its management.

Zhoushan Qundao Region, China, 1749 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Carte de l'isle de Cheu-Chan, ou l'isle de Chusan, de la province de Che-kiang : avec les costes et isles voisines, tiré de Thornton, Hydrog. anglois et autres navigatrs. par N.B., Ingr. de la Marine ; J.V. Schley direx. It was published by Pierre de Hondt in 1749. Scale [ca. 1:400,000]. Covers the Zhoushan Qundao region, China. Map in French.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM Zone 51N, meters, WGS 1984) projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, shoreline features (islands, rocks, anchorage points, etc.), and more. Relief shown pictorially. Depths shown by soundings.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Hangzhou, China, 1749 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan de la ville de Hang-Tcheou-Fou ou Hang-Chew-Fu, capitale de la province de Che-kiang : tiré du P. du Halde, J.V. Schley direx. It was published by Pierre de Hondt in 1749. Scale [ca. 1:29,500]. Covers Hangzhou, China. Map in French and Dutch. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM Zone 51N, meters, WGS 1984) projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, canals, selected buildings, fortification, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown pictorially.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

China 1:200,000 : Sheet H-50-XXIV : Zhejiang Sheng Region (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the Soviet Army topographic sheet map covering a portion of the Zhejiang Sheng region, China (map quadrangle number: H-50-XXIV). It is from a series of Soviet Army topographic maps of China 1:200,000. The source map was published in 1979. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Pulkovo 1942 GK Zone 20N projection. Map collar information from the source map have been cropped and are not available as part of the raster image. China 1:200,000 topographic maps were prepared and printed by the Soviet Army General Headquarters, 1976-1991. China 1:200,000 maps are in Russian. Each source map in the series is printed in color. China 1:200,000 maps are typical topographic maps portraying both natural and manmade features. They show and name works of nature, such as mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, vegetation, etc. They also identify the principal works and structures of humans, such as roads, railroads, paths, walls, boundaries, transmission lines, major buildings, etc. Relief is shown with standard contour intervals of 40 meters and/or spot heights.

China 1:200,000 : Sheet H-50-XXX : Zhejiang Sheng Region (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the Soviet Army topographic sheet map covering a portion of the Zhejiang Sheng region, China (map quadrangle number: H-50-XXX). It is from a series of Soviet Army topographic maps of China 1:200,000. Published in 1979, the source map was compiled from maps 1:100,000 published in 1977; corrected according to source material, 1970-1975. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Pulkovo 1942 GK Zone 20N projection. Map collar information from the source map have been cropped and are not available as part of the raster image. China 1:200,000 topographic maps were prepared and printed by the Soviet Army General Headquarters, 1976-1991. China 1:200,000 maps are in Russian. Each source map in the series is printed in color. China 1:200,000 maps are typical topographic maps portraying both natural and manmade features. They show and name works of nature, such as mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, vegetation, etc. They also identify the principal works and structures of humans, such as roads, railroads, paths, walls, boundaries, transmission lines, major buildings, etc. Relief is shown with standard contour intervals of 40 meters and/or spot heights.