InSAR Monitoring of Permafrost Activity in the Lower Mackenzie Valley, Canada

The region of interest is located approximately in the downstream part of the Mackenzie River, Canada. Our study focuses on guidelines to process RADARSAT-1 interferometric C-band data in a permafrost environment and monitor permafrost activity and landslide motion over 18 month period. From the interferometric method (D-InSAR) on ~100 interferograms, the main conclusions are (1) a high resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and a shorter satellite revisit time intervals are essential to ensure InSAR processing accuracy for small deformations associated with permafrost activity; (2) the permafrost has sustained several changes over a year of monitoring (thaw starting during end of April-mid of May, and freezing around mid October). The deformation peak is reached in the summer time between mid of May and July (up to 15 plusmn 2 mm). This method will provide a guideline for In SAR monitoring of similar areas in permafrost environment.