Determination of the rheology of Arctic glaciers using multi-temporal ERS1/2 SAR interferograms combined in a least squares adjustment

We propose a general method to separate topography- and displacement-related phase components in repeat-pass interferograms based on adjustment theory. The method is exemplarily demonstrated for the analysis of rheology of Arctic glaciers. More than two multitemporal interferometric data sets are combined in a least squares adjustment based on a Gauss-Markov model. Within the adjustment algorithm glacier flow is modeled by a polynomial function. This technique on the one hand allows us to improve the separation of topography- and displacement-related phase components and on the other hand provides glaciological information about the flow characteristics of observed glaciers.