Comparison of ALOS PALSAR interferometry and field geodetic leveling for marshy soil thaw/freeze monitoring, case study from the Baikal lake region, Russia

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 from 2008 to 2010 have been compared with the survey data for 2011, under the assumption that the seasonal deformation is comparable for different years and lies within the limits of geodetic leveling error. The difference between the interferometric and geodetic measurements is in winter months, whereas in summer, as the upper soil moisture content varies, the difference reaches 2 to 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.