Detecting the deformation of fast ice by InSAR technology with Sentinel-1A descending and ascending orbits data

Abstract

Accurate mapping of fast ice deformation can effectively characterize the rheological behavior of fast ice and subsequently improve sea ice model. This study used the Sentinel-1A descending and ascending orbits data to detect the deformations of fast ice in the Baltic Sea. A method for automatically obtaining fast ice edge line by combining interferometric coherence image and SAR amplitude image was proposed. Then, the deformations of fast ice were detected from different incidence angles with the descending and ascending orbits data. The results showed that the deformations in radar line of sight obtained from the descending and ascending orbits data were 38cm and 37cm respectively within the fast ice region of 960km2 in the study area. The continuous strong southwest wind was the principal reason for the deformation, and the deformation direction was dominated by east to west. Moreover, the inner fast ice kept stable and its deformation was smaller due to the protection of outer consolidated ice. The experimental results in this paper showed that the deformation trend and characteristics of fast ice can be better understood by InSAR technology with multi-orbits SAR data.