InSAR Time-Series Analysis for Monitoring Ground Displacement Trends in the Western Hellenic Arc: The Kythira Island, Greece

• Published in: Geosciences (Basel) 2020-08, Vol.10 (8), p.293
• Main Authors: Alatza, Stavroula, Papoutsis, Ioannis, Paradissis, Demitris, Kontoes, Charalampos, Papadopoulos, Gerassimos A., Raptakis, Costas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Airports; Components; Decomposition; Deformation; Displacement; Earth science; Earthquakes; Exploitation; Fault lines; ground deformation; Ground motion; InSAR time series analysis; Interferometry; Kythira Island; Line of sight; LOS decomposition; Monitoring; Plate tectonics; Quaternary; Seismic activity; Seismic hazard; Seismicity; Sensors; Sentinel-1; Software; Subduction; Subduction (geology); Subduction zones; Synthetic aperture radar interferometry; Tectonics; Time series; Uplift
• ISSN: 2076-3263; 2076-3263
• DOI: 10.3390/geosciences10080293

Kythira Island is situated at the western Hellenic Arc, which is a region of very high seismicity and tectonic activity. On 8 January 2006, a large seismic event of Mw = 6.7 occurred close to Kythira, in association with the Hellenic subduction zone. We present an extensive multi-temporal interferometry study of ground displacements in Kythira Island exploiting SAR data of a decade, from 2003 to 2009, and from 2015 to 2019. The line-of-sight displacement field for the 2003–2009 time period presents small-scale displacements that do not exceed −3 mm/y, identified to the East of Kythira’s airport, and 3 mm/y in the central part of the island. We exploit then Sentinel-1 data from 2015 to 2019, of both descending and ascending Sentinel-1 SAR imaging modes to decompose the line-of-sight measured deformation to vertical and east–west motion components. Higher vertical displacement rates characterize the central part of the island, with a maximum value of 5 mm/y. This short-term uplift rate exceeds by an order of magnitude the long-term geologic uplift rate of ~0.13 mm/y found in the island during the Quaternary. We discuss possible regional geophysical explanations for this discrepancy. Strike-slip components are detected in the N–E coast of the Potamos village, where horizontal displacements occur, with an east-ward trend and a maximum value of −3 mm/y. These insights are valuable input for the systematic monitoring of this high seismic risk island and the dynamic assessment of its hazard potential.