Deciphering Earth's Movements: Unveiling Subsidence and Displacement in Capo Colonna Through SAR and CGPS

This study investigates the subsidence phenomenon in the Capo Colonna area (Calabria, southern Italy) using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from C and X bands, and Continuous Global Positioning System (CGPS) measurements collected between 2003 and 2018. Persistent Scatterer Pair Differential Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSP-DIFSAR) and Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) techniques were employed to produce detailed deformation maps. With ascending and descending datasets from various satellites, along with acquisition parameters such as incidence and heading angles, the Line of Sight (LOS) measurements were decomposed into vertical and east-west displacement components. This provided a comprehensive understanding of the displacement rates in the Capo Colonna peninsula, revealing significant subsidence patterns, particularly in the promontory. Varied deformation rates were observed across different sectors, with higher rates in the peninsula than in Crotone's hinterland and urban areas. The complementary comparison between SAR and CGPS data offered critical insights into the region's geodynamic behavior, enhancing risk assessment and management strategies to preserve its geological and archaeological heritage.