Long time scale INSAR by means of high coherence features

Abstract

It is well-known that a strong limitation for time range applicability of repeat-pass differential SAR interferometry is temporal decorrelation. Therefore, we still cannot perform longterm studies of slow deformation processes like land subsidence and plate tectonics, in spite of the availability of SAR images over several years. However, man-made features appear to maintain their coherence over long time scales. Therefore, we want to investigate whether or not the coherence stability of these structures could be used for long time scale monitoring of slow deformation processes. As a first step, interferograms of a test area in the northern part of the Netherlands are generated spanning different time intervals between 1-day up to more than 3 years, and a study of the effective phase stability of these features is performed.

Keywords: coherence, differential INSAR

Keywords: ESA European Space Agency - Agence spatiale europeenne, observation de la terre, earth observation, satellite remote sensing, teledetection, geophysique, altimetrie, radar, chimique atmospherique, geophysics, altimetry, radar, atmospheric chemistry