Frost heave estimation of marshy soil by ALOS PALSAR interferometry and geodetic leveling, case study from the Baikal Lake region

Estimation of vertical ground displacements due to seasonal periods of freezing and thawing was carried out on the Selenga River mouth using differential radar interferometry. The results of seasonal radar interferometry measurements for 2008–2010 have been compared with the survey data for 2011, under the assumption that the seasonal deformation is comparable for different years and lie within the limits of geodetic leveling error. The difference between the interferometric and geodetic measurements is below 1 cm in winter months, whereas in summer, as the upper soils moisture content varies, the difference reaches 2–2.7 cm. It has been concluded that the moisture content and its profile should be taken into consideration in summer or when choosing the radar interferometry in winter