MUVE: Multi Sensor SAR Monitoring of Hillslope Processes

Section: Geophysics

Responsible staff: Nicolas D’Oreye

Research strategy: Understanding and Preserving Nature

The MUVE project aims to analyse ground movements along steep slopes in Nepal, using SAR radar images and optical images from different satellites. High spatial and temporal resolution radar and optical data are used to:

• characterise the dynamics of slow‑moving landslides in the Marsyandi and Khudi valleys,

• and to understand how they respond to monsoon rainfall.

Multitemporal SAR displacement time series and optical pixel‑tracking time series are projected and combined along the line of steepest slope to derive average velocities for several identified periods.

The study reveals a coherent cumulative displacement of mobile panels of several metres (up to 15 m) during the monsoon seasons, as well as non‑linear responses to monsoon rainfall. These non‑linear responses differ from one site to another.