Application of Sntinel-1 radar interferometric images for the monitoring of vertical displacements of the earth’s surface affected by non-tidal atmospheric loading

Abstract

The vertical movements of the Earth’s surface affected by non-tidal atmospheric loading (NTAL) are analyzed using satellite radar interferometry data. A clear relationship between deformation maps data derived from radar interferometry data and the GNSS time series of permanent stations has been established. The object of the study was the areas around the GNSS stations BYCH (Buchach), GORD (Horodok), CRNT (Chernivtsi). The input data were four pairs of radar interferometric images for the specified areas.Radar satellite images were obtained from the Sentinel-1A spacecraft. Data type — SLC (Single Look Complex) with vertical polarization. Acquisition mode — wideband interferometric IW (Interferometric Wide Swath). Data were processed using SNAP (Sentinel Application Platform) software. The processing yileded maps of vertical displacement of the specified territories where the earth’s surface displacement caused by influence of non-tidal atmospheric loading had taken place. The values obtained on the basis of vertical displacement maps have a high agreement with the results of time series of changes in the altitude position of permanent GNSS stations. The results obtained in the article are of both scientific and practical importance for studying the impact of non-tidal atmospheric loading in large areas. The practical significance is in improving the accuracy of terrestrial geodetic measurements’ processing, in particular high-precision levelling. The research data allow to make corrections of the results of levelling for short-period displacements affected by the influence of non-tidal atmospheric loading (NTAL).