Bayou Corne, Louisiana, sinkhole: Precursory deformation measured by radar interferometry

Research Article| February 01, 2014 Bayou Corne, Louisiana, sinkhole: Precursory deformation measured by radar interferometry Cathleen E. Jones; Cathleen E. Jones Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, MS 300-319, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California 91109, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ronald G. Blom Ronald G. Blom Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, MS 300-319, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California 91109, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Cathleen E. Jones Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, MS 300-319, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California 91109, USA Ronald G. Blom Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, MS 300-319, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California 91109, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 24 Jul 2013 Revision Received: 17 Oct 2013 Accepted: 18 Oct 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2014 Geological Society of America Geology (2014) 42 (2): 111–114. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34972.1 Article history Received: 24 Jul 2013 Revision Received: 17 Oct 2013 Accepted: 18 Oct 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Cathleen E. Jones, Ronald G. Blom; Bayou Corne, Louisiana, sinkhole: Precursory deformation measured by radar interferometry. Geology 2014;; 42 (2): 111–114. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34972.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Catastrophic sinkholes are formed through the collapse of natural or human-made subterranean caverns, and are common in areas with evaporite and carbonate rock. Despite their danger, advance warning of these events is rare. We report a measurement of precursory surface deformation of as much as 260 mm, derived with interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and evident over a month before surface collapse, at the site of the Bayou Corne, Louisiana (USA) sinkhole that formed in August 2012. Data collected by the airborne Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle SAR (UAVSAR) instrument were used for the study. Analysis of data acquired from two flight tracks with near-opposing imaging geometries reveal a deformation pattern consistent with compressive loading at the surface due to loss of support from a subterranean cavity collapse related to Texas Brine Oxy Geismar Well #3. The precursor deformation was nearly entirely horizontal, i.e., oriented along the surface, and manifested as movement of surface material toward the location where the sinkhole later formed. The sinkhole formed in the area with the largest gradient in surface strain, but did not cover the full extent of the precursory deformation detected with radar. This work suggests that InSAR data collected operationally for hazard monitoring could, in some cases, identify sinkhole development before surface collapse, and decrease subsequent danger to people and property. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.