Dem Generation above 60° North Using Ers – Envisat Cross-interferometry

One special focus of ESAs ERS ENVISAT Tandem (EET) Campaigns were high northern latitudes. Considering the good potential of EET Crossinterferometry (CInSAR) for DEM generation over relatively flat areas, one objective was to fill the gap in the SRTM DEM coverage at latitudes above 60 deg. North. To address this topic, develop methodologies, and asses potential and limitations we investigated suited EET pairs over three relatively flat river delta areas. High coherence in the differential interferograms confirmed that the selected pairs were suited and the processing adequate. Nevertheless, the topography was found to be too severe, for CInSAR DEM generation because of the very high phase to elevation sensitivity. Except for the very flat extended beds of the meandering rivers, high phase gradients prevented in all three areas a reliable unwrapping of the phase.