Simulation of time-series surface deformation to validate a multi-interferogram InSAR processing technique

Abstract

A refined, small baseline subset (SBAS) interferometric synthetic aperture (InSAR) method has been developed to estimate time-series surface deformation through fusion of multi-interferogram processing. Using a synthetic data set that takes into account two time-varying deformation sources, topography-induced errors, atmospheric delay anomalies, orbital errors and temporal decorrelation, all of which are based on realistic ERS-1/ERS-2 SAR image acquisition dates and baseline configuration over the Seguam volcano, Alaska, we assess the accuracy of the refined SBAS technique. Detailed comparison between SBAS-derived products, including time-series deformation maps, atmospheric delays and baseline errors with those of synthetic values, attest the robustness of the refined SBAS technique. The root mean square error of the mean deformation rate between the simulated and SBAS-retrieved is about 0.66 mm year–1. Thus, the measurement accuracy of the refined SBAS method would be around 1 mm year–1.