Multi-Platform geodetic synergy of InSAR, UAV, optical, and HD-ERT constrains kinematic evolution of the Jungong landslide (Yellow River Basin)

• 20 m of co-failure horizontal deformation was detected with DIC method. • Multi-track InSAR revealed a 3D velocity field dominated by horizontal motion. • SSA-wavelet analysis revealed climate-river-human impact on landslides. Following the September 20, 2019 instability event, the Jungong landslide—a large-scale red-bed feature in the upper Yellow River Basin—has exhibited persistent creep, necessitating systematic kinematic analysis to constrain deformation drivers. In this context, we conducted a multidisciplinary approach integrating interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys, optical satellite remote sensing, and high-density electrical resistivity tomography (HD-ERT) to investigate its kinematic evolution. Firstly, interferometric processing of SAR imagery from ALOS/PALSAR-1, ALOS/PALSAR-2 and Sentinel-1 systems (March 2007-August 2024) revealed continuous creeping with maximum deformation velocity reaching −129 mm/yr in descending Sentinel-1. Based on morphological and deformation characteristics, the slope was divided into four secondary zones. Through digital image correlation (DIC) of optical images, horizontal displacements exceeding 20 m induced by instability were detected at the front edge of Zone I. The three-dimensional (3D) deformation field was then inverted by combining multi-orbit InSAR observations and a topography-constrained model, revealing significant spatial heterogeneity of displacement characteristics. The maximum velocities in the eastward, northward, and vertical directions were −107, 53, and −71 mm/yr, respectively. Additionally, the internal structure along two profiles was detected using HD-ERT. Finally, a method combining Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) and wavelet transform was proposed to quantitatively analyze the temporal relationship between periodic displacements and rainfall. Different zones exhibited varying degrees of correlation with rainfall, with a time lag of approximately 45 days in Zone I. This multidisciplinary approach enhances our understanding of the kinematic behavior of the Jungong landslide, providing critical reference for future hazard assessment.