Kinematic Response of Subaerial Salt Diapirs to Geomorphic, Tectonic and Climatic Regimes: Insights From Space‐Based Observations in the Western Kuqa Fold‐Thrust Belt, NW China

Abstract

AbstractEphemeral subaerial salt diapirs are gravitationally unstable and vulnerable to climate and tectonic activity due to the rheology and incompressibility of rock salt. Quantifying the kinematics of subaerial salt and clarifying the role of tectonics, surface processes, and climate in reshaping the surface salt morphology provides an invaluable opportunity to explore the interactions between Earth’s spheres on a much shorter timescale. With diverse exposed salt diapirs and potential motions, the Kuqa fold‐thrust belt (KFTB), NW China, represents an optimum natural laboratory to understand subaerial salt kinematics. Here, we integrated ascending and descending geometries of Sentinel‐1 synthetic aperture radar images with optical remote sensing data, seismic profiles, digital elevation models, and meteorological records to explore the potential correlation between subaerial salt motions and geomorphic, tectonic, and climatic factors. Using the interferometric synthetic aperture radar technique, we observed a maximum of 25 mm/yr in vertical and 40 mm/yr in horizontal surface salt deformation in the KFTB from 2014 to 2020. Our findings demonstrate a gravity spreading dominant system, where topography exerts a primary control on the surface displacement patterns of salt structures, while weather variables influence deformation mainly by softening salt and facilitating gravity‐driven salt flow.