Monitoring and assessment of earth surface deformation due to the gravitative influence of the Moon and the Sun in geodynamically different zones of Kyiv and Kryvyi Rih
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24028/gj.v48i3.354369Keywords:
моніторинг за допомогою лазерного інклінометра, місячно-сонячні припливні сили, деформація ґрунту, стійкість схилів, підземні порожнини, геодинамічні небезпеки, міська геофізика, Києво-Печерська Лавра, Кривий РігAbstract
Human activities such as mineral extraction in the Kryvyi Rih region, have significantly altered the geological environment, affecting soil stability and creating additional risks for buildings, infrastructure, and urban facilities. A comparable process of environmental destabilization occurred much earlier in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra area, where historical architectural structures and cultural monuments were also influenced by changes in the geological environment. Although these processes occurred in different centuries and were driven by distinct historical and economic factors, their consequences exhibit similar patterns. In both regions, cracks of varying severity, localized ground subsidence, and gradual displacement of buildings toward zones containing underground cavities—both natural and man-made—have been documented.
This study employs high-precision laser inclinometers of a Ukrainian design which detect small angular deformations of the ground surface and allow the analysis of factors contributing to slope instability and soil movement in areas with pronounced surface gradients and complex morphology.
Two identical laser inclinometers were installed for experimental monitoring: one in Kyiv and one in Kryvyi Rih. One instrument is certified by the State Enterprise «UKRMETRTESTSTANDARD» and meets modern national standards of accuracy, providing reliable data on soil displacement. Results indicate that lunar—solar tidal forces may influence the stability of shallow soil layers, particularly in regions with significant surface gradients and subsurface voids.
These findings demonstrate the considerable potential of laser inclinometer monitoring for investigating geodynamic processes, assessing deformation risks, predicting hazardous ground movements, and improving urban safety in areas with complex surface morphology and underground cavities.
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