Correlating InSAR-derived ground movement rates with landslide activity class and causal factors: a case study from Cyprus

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This study investigates the statistical correlation between ground movement rates in landslide areas, as derived by Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) results, with geological, geomorphological, environmental and geotechnical causal factors in southwestern Cyprus. The analysis examines ground velocities derived using Multi-Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT-InSAR) for both active and inactive landslides that are recorded in an existing inventory, using ascending and descending orbit datasets. The results show that the largest Line-of-Sight (LOS) velocities are observed in landslides characterized as active, followed by dormant and relict landslides. The largest displacement rates correspond mostly to outcrops of fine-grained clastic rocks, such as marls, radiolarian mudstones and mélange, due to their weak shear strength. An analysis based on Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) identified rainfall as the primary factor influencing the increase in LOS velocity. The Plasticity Index (PI) generally exhibits a positive correlation with the velocity, while the Geological Strength Index (GSI) demonstrates a weak negative correlation. The findings suggest that, while geological and geotechnical characteristics are crucial in the emergence of landslide phenomena, the rate of the ground movement, once initiated, is predominantly influenced by the precipitation height.