Results of persistent scatterer interferometry of the new planned Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant area, Lithuania

Abstract

Ground surface deformations can be related to tectonic motions, landsliding, flooding, erosion, groundwater pumping, karst processes, etc. Ground movement data can be obtained from stationary observations using standard geodetic methods, GPS as well as using geostationary satellites. The combination of the methods and additional geological information can improve the understanding of the processes and clarify the causes of the ground surface movements. In Lithuania, the ground surface deformations are usually related to landsliding, karst, suffusion, technogenic processes, which can trigger deformations of foundations, destruction of buildings, and other harmful accidents. Lithuania is planning to build a new Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), therefore the assessment of the stability of the ground (and structures upon it) across potential new NPP construction sites and their vicinity is a question of vital importance. IAEA SSG-9 safety guidelines recommend remote sensing imagery to be employed to better understand ongoing rates and the type of tectonic activity, therefore the rate of ground surface movements is the vital information for planning and designing a new NPP. The Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) data has been used to provide historical motion measurements across the new planned Visaginas NPP area. The aim of this paper is to present the PSI dataset interpretation results and clarify the causes of the ground surface vertical movements in the studied Visaginas area.