Comparison of TerraSAR-X and RADARSAT-2 deformation time series and estimation of atmospheric phase characteristics in short-time interferograms

TerraSAR-X and RADARSAT-2 high resolution data are acquired for the same area with similar spatial resolution appropriate for comparison of deformation measurements and tropospheric structures. The investigation area is in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. This area is affected by active salt and abandoned potash mining, salt leaching caverns and gas storage facilities with some varying non-uniform surface deformation superimposed on effects from ground water table changes in a river flood plain. The atmospheric phase delay is identified as a major limitation factor in radar interferometry already assuming correct unwrapping. Spatial auto-correlation is analyzed with appropriate stochastic methods to describe the spatial characteristics of tropospheric structures in several stacks of short-term interferograms. Parameter for fitted variogram functions are presented for comparison of TerraSAR-X and RADARSAT-2 interferograms and to describe seasonal differences in the inventory of tropospheric structures in the investigation area.