Fine permafrost deformation features observed using TerraSAR-X ST mode InSAR in Beiluhe of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, West China

Generally speaking the permafrost in the Tibet region is influenced by the global climate change. The synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) could detect the surface uplift/subsidence in millimeter-level resolutions, which is powerful for the permafrost monitoring. In recent years, high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with centimeter-level resolution makes it possible to explore the permafrost change not only in regional scales but also in the local scales. In this paper, TerraSAR-X Staring Spotlight (ST) mode data in the Beiluhe of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) from Jun. 2004 to Dec. 2004 was used to explore the fine features of permafrost during the thawing/freezing seasons, and the coupling between the permafrost and the infrastructures in local scales. It is shown that the main displacement of permafrost is related to the landcover types, ground materials and soil moisture. The drainage system has impact on the settlement and heave in the permafrost area. The asymmetric deformation patterns of the thermalkarst lakes are determined by the permafrost configurations of lakes. The anthropogenic activities and infrastructures are the other factor influencing the permafrost thermal regime and displacement distribution.