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Long-Term Surface Uplift Driven by Groundwater Recovery in Xi'an, China: InSAR Constraints on Aquifer Storage and Hydraulic Diffusivity.

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Title: Long-Term Surface Uplift Driven by Groundwater Recovery in Xi'an, China: InSAR Constraints on Aquifer Storage and Hydraulic Diffusivity.
Authors: Sun, Weilai1 (AUTHOR), Zhou, Rongrong2 (AUTHOR), Wu, Xiaojuan1,2 (AUTHOR), Wang, Teng1,2 (AUTHOR) wang.teng@pku.edu.cn
Source: Remote Sensing. May2026, Vol. 18 Issue 9, p1424. 19p.
Subjects: Aquifer storage recovery, Radar interferometry, Cities & towns, Hydraulic conductivity, Deformations (Mechanics), Groundwater management
Geographic Terms: Xi'an Shi (China), China
Abstract: Highlights: What are the main findings? Xi'an exhibits a persistent surface uplift of up to 20 mm/yr, which is strongly coupled with the localized groundwater-level recovery in the shallow confined aquifer. Fissures act as major structural and hydrological boundaries that compartmentalize aquifer properties, directly controlling the spatial pattern of surface deformation and groundwater pressure diffusion. What are the implications of the main findings? Rapid groundwater rebound induces distinct urban geohazards, such as severe basement water seepage, posing significant threats to underground infrastructures. InSAR-derived vertical land motion provides a crucial quantitative framework for assessing aquifer parameters (e.g., hydraulic diffusivity). Vertical land motion in urban areas is a critical manifestation of groundwater, directly affecting infrastructure stability and groundwater sustainability. While land subsidence caused by groundwater extraction has been widely investigated, the opposite process—surface uplift induced by groundwater recovery—remains poorly documented or understood, particularly regarding its hydrological mechanisms and potential hazards. Here, we integrate InSAR time-series analysis of Sentinel-1 imagery (2017–2025) with groundwater well records to quantify the spatial–temporal characteristics of uplift in Xi'an, China, and to evaluate its hydrogeological drivers. Results reveal a persistent surface uplift zone south of the ancient city in Xi'an, with rates up to 20 mm/yr. The uplift correlates closely with rising groundwater levels in the shallow confined aquifer, indicating a strong coupling between aquifer recharge and surface uplift. Calculated storage coefficients and hydraulic diffusivity values highlight marked spatial variations, constrained by some ground fissures that act as both mechanical discontinuities and hydrological barriers controlling pressure diffusion. Time-series analysis further identifies the eastward propagation of subsidence-to-uplift reversal in Yuhuazhai, an urban village with groundwater injection, which is used to quantify the diffusivity coefficients. Field investigations show that rapid groundwater rebound can lead to uplift-related hazards, such as basement seepage, underscoring that surface uplift must be considered alongside subsidence in urban water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Long-Term Surface Uplift Driven by Groundwater Recovery in Xi'an, China: InSAR Constraints on Aquifer Storage and Hydraulic Diffusivity.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sun%2C+Weilai%22">Sun, Weilai</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhou%2C+Rongrong%22">Zhou, Rongrong</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Xiaojuan%22">Wu, Xiaojuan</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Teng%22">Wang, Teng</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> wang.teng@pku.edu.cn</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aquifer+storage+recovery%22">Aquifer storage recovery</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radar+interferometry%22">Radar interferometry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cities+%26+towns%22">Cities & towns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hydraulic+conductivity%22">Hydraulic conductivity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deformations+%28Mechanics%29%22">Deformations (Mechanics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Groundwater+management%22">Groundwater management</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Xi'an+Shi+%28China%29%22">Xi'an Shi (China)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Highlights: What are the main findings? Xi'an exhibits a persistent surface uplift of up to 20 mm/yr, which is strongly coupled with the localized groundwater-level recovery in the shallow confined aquifer. Fissures act as major structural and hydrological boundaries that compartmentalize aquifer properties, directly controlling the spatial pattern of surface deformation and groundwater pressure diffusion. What are the implications of the main findings? Rapid groundwater rebound induces distinct urban geohazards, such as severe basement water seepage, posing significant threats to underground infrastructures. InSAR-derived vertical land motion provides a crucial quantitative framework for assessing aquifer parameters (e.g., hydraulic diffusivity). Vertical land motion in urban areas is a critical manifestation of groundwater, directly affecting infrastructure stability and groundwater sustainability. While land subsidence caused by groundwater extraction has been widely investigated, the opposite process—surface uplift induced by groundwater recovery—remains poorly documented or understood, particularly regarding its hydrological mechanisms and potential hazards. Here, we integrate InSAR time-series analysis of Sentinel-1 imagery (2017–2025) with groundwater well records to quantify the spatial–temporal characteristics of uplift in Xi'an, China, and to evaluate its hydrogeological drivers. Results reveal a persistent surface uplift zone south of the ancient city in Xi'an, with rates up to 20 mm/yr. The uplift correlates closely with rising groundwater levels in the shallow confined aquifer, indicating a strong coupling between aquifer recharge and surface uplift. Calculated storage coefficients and hydraulic diffusivity values highlight marked spatial variations, constrained by some ground fissures that act as both mechanical discontinuities and hydrological barriers controlling pressure diffusion. Time-series analysis further identifies the eastward propagation of subsidence-to-uplift reversal in Yuhuazhai, an urban village with groundwater injection, which is used to quantify the diffusivity coefficients. Field investigations show that rapid groundwater rebound can lead to uplift-related hazards, such as basement seepage, underscoring that surface uplift must be considered alongside subsidence in urban water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.3390/rs18091424
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 1424
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Aquifer storage recovery
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radar interferometry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cities & towns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hydraulic conductivity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deformations (Mechanics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Groundwater management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Xi'an Shi (China)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Long-Term Surface Uplift Driven by Groundwater Recovery in Xi'an, China: InSAR Constraints on Aquifer Storage and Hydraulic Diffusivity.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Sun, Weilai
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            NameFull: Zhou, Rongrong
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            NameFull: Wu, Xiaojuan
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            NameFull: Wang, Teng
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 9
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Remote Sensing
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