Rapid Detection of Periglacial Talus Deformation on the Tibetan Plateau Using LT-1 A/B SAR Satellite Constellation Data

Periglacial Talus, a type of landform characterized by the accumulation of rock debris at the base of alpine rock walls, are numerous worldwide and extensively distributed in the periglacial environments of the Tibetan Plateau. Climate warming significantly impacts rockwall–talus systems through frost action, permafrost changes, and deglaciation dynamics, affecting mountain hazards and hydrology of permafrost environment. The new lunched SAR satellite constellation Lutan-1 A/B (LT-1 A/B) present a novel opportunity to assess the deformation of periglacial talus. In this study, we firstly employ high-resolution GF-2 optical images to identify periglacial talus landforms in the high-risk geological hazard zone of the northeastern Himalayas. We then use LT-1 A/B SAR data with a refined stacking approach to rapidly detect and analyze deformations in these talus formations. We identified a total of 148 periglacial talus landforms. By utilizing LT-1 SAR data, we successfully detected deformations in these talus formations. The results reveal that the line-of-sight (LOS) deformation velocity of talus in the study area is lower than other periglacial landform such as rock glacier, some of the talus showing noticeable movement within their outlines. The results of this study demonstrate the capability of Stacking InSAR technology to rapidly identify deformation anomalies in areas prone to landslide hazards, and highlight the value of LT-1 SAR satellites in examining the dynamics of periglacial talus geomorphology.