Land Subsidence Linked to Evaporite Dissolution in Qatar: Insights from Ground-Truth Survey and PSI InSAR Analysis

Abstract

Sinkholes and cavities resulting from evaporite dissolution pose a significant geotechnical hazard to infrastructure across Qatar. The collapse of these features is closely linked to the dissolution of evaporite layers within the Rus and Dammam formations. To monitor surface deformation nationwide, an extensive ground-truth survey was conducted, supplemented by the evaluation of thousands of geotechnical borehole logs. Data obtained through Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) applied to Sentinel-1 SAR imagery—covering the period from 2017 to 2024—were cross-evaluated. Based on the spatial correlation between PSI-derived deformation, known karst features, and geological formations, three distinct types of areas were identified and investigated across Qatar: (A) zones exhibiting deformation without a direct link to detected subsurface cavities or sinkholes, (B) zones where deformation coincides with mapped subsurface cavities, and (C) zones where deformation patterns are associated with the presence of sinkholes. These findings underscore the influence of geological conditions on land subsidence phenomena and demonstrate the effectiveness of PSI as a tool for regional-scale hazard assessment in evaporite-rich regions.