Monitoring Landslides and Volcanic Deformation from Insar Techniques

Our research has shown that interferometric SAR techniques can be used to monitor deformation at landslides and volcanoes under specific conditions. Special filtered interferograms are being used to reduce speckle and minimize errors created by vegetation. InSAR images were used to monitor current post slide motion along existing fault lines at the Frank Slide a 30 x 10 m rock avalanche, in the Canadian Rockies. This information is used to understand the post failure mechanism and mobility of the slide. At Miyake-Jima Island in Japan a filtered interferogram was used to monitor post eruption volcanic shrinkage. The volcano erupted in July-August 2000 that led to the total evacuation of inhabitants from the island. Our differential InSAR results show subsidence at the summit after the eruption, and allow us to monitor the post eruption processes, thereby assisting in planning the return of local residents to the island.