InSAR Experiments in Arctic Alaska

Reginald Muskett, University of Alaska Fairbanks, reginald.muskett@gmail.com (Presenter)

Geodetic methods to measure centimeter to millimeter-scale changes using aircraft- and spacecraft deployed Synthetic Aperture RADAR cannot ignore volume scattering. Backscatter and coherence at L-frequency and others possess both surface and volumetric scattering. On lowland tundra underlain by permafrost volume scattering is dominant. Measurement of the L-frequency penetration depth for evaluation of mass change (loss and transport) through permafrost thaw-degradation with erosion is necessary. Data from the NASA Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (ICESat GLAS), JAXA Advanced Land Observing Satellite Phased Array type L-frequency Synthetic Aperture RADAR (ALOS PALSAR), aircraft-deployed NASA L-frequency UAVSAR and in-situ observations are employed. Collocation of ICESat GLAS exact-repeat profiles for elevation change (surface scattering) with PALSAR InSAR Line-Of-Sight changes (volume scattering) and UAVSAR Polarimetry Cross-Pole HHVV (volume scattering) confirms the dominance of volume scattering on lowland tundra (RADAR soft targets) and surface scattering on river channel deposits and rock outcrops (RADAR hard targets).

NASA NNX17AC57A

References:

Muskett, R.R. (2015), ICESat GLAS Elevation Changes and ALOS PALSAR InSAR Line-Of-Sight Changes on the Continuous Permafrost Zone of the North Slope, Alaska. International Journal of Geosciences, 6 (10), 1101-1115. doi:10.4236/ijg.2015.610086

Muskett, R.R. (2017), L-Band InSAR Penetration Depth Experiment, North Slope Alaska. Geoscience and Environment Protection, vol. 5, no.3, p. 14-30. doi: 10.4236/gep.2017.53002.

Associated Project(s): 

• Iwahana-01

Poster Location ID: 80

Session Assigned: Permafrost and Hydrology