Atmosphere Ocean Science Colloquium

Applications of Terrestrial Radar Interferometry

Speaker: Denis Voytenko, Courant

Location: Warren Weaver Hall 1302

Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2016, 3:30 p.m.

Synopsis:

Terrestrial Radar Interferometry (TRI) is a relatively new ground-based technique that combines the precision and spatial resolution of InSAR with the temporal resolution of GPS. The TRI instrument used for these studies is the Gamma Portable Radar Interferometer, which operates at 17.2 GHz (1.74cm wavelength), has two receiving antennas for DEM generation, and generates intensity and phase images at minute-scale sampling rates. Although TRI can be applied to a variety of fields including bridge and landslide monitoring, it is ideal for studies of the highly dynamic terminal zones of marine-terminating glaciers. The high sampling rate of the TRI is used to observe velocity variations at the glacier terminus associated with calving, and the spatial distribution of tidal forcing. Velocity uncertainties, mainly due to atmospheric effects, are typically less than 0.05 m/d. Additionally, iceberg tracking using the intensity imagery may provide insight into ocean currents near the terminus when fjord or lagoon conditions permit.