Advances in InSAR Analysis of Permafrost Terrain

Abstract

ABSTRACTDifferential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is a remote sensing technique for measuring surface displacements with precision down to millimeters, most commonly from satellites. In permafrost landscapes, InSAR measurements can provide valuable information on geomorphic processes and hazards, including thaw subsidence and frost heave, thermokarst, and permafrost creep. We first review recent progress in InSAR data availability, InSAR processing and uncertainty analysis methods relevant to permafrost studies. These technical advances have contributed to our understanding of surface deformation in flat and sloping terrain in polar and mountainous regions. We emphasize two emerging trends. First, InSAR increasingly enables insight into the mechanisms, controls, and drivers of permafrost landscape dynamics on subseasonal to decadal time scales. Second, InSAR observations in conjunction with models enable novel ways to infer subsurface parameters, such as near‐surface ground ice content and active layer thickness. We anticipate that in the coming decade, InSAR will mature into a widely used operational tool for monitoring, modeling, and planning across rapidly changing permafrost landscapes.