20 Years SAR Interferometry for Monitoring Ground Deformation over the former Potash-Mine “Glückauf” in Thuringia

Abstract

Geophysical processes and anthropogenic activities cause the deformation of the Earth's surface, both mechanisms interacting sometimes simultaneously. While the occurrence of those processes in rural areas may not always directly a ect the population, the determination of surface deformation in inhabited areas is of high relevance to prevent risks. Traditional surveying techniques provide exact but usually spatially and temporally limited deformation information, making a regular monitoring of whole urban areas di cult. Since about 20 years, RADAR remote sensing, especially SAR interferometry, provide dense and accurate ground motion information, completing hereby the traditional monitoring techniques. This present study investigates ground surface dynamics in a town close to a former potash-mine situated in the northern part of Thuringia, Germany, by means of multi-temporal SAR interferometry. Using the method of Persistent Scatterer Interferometry, 20 years of RADAR data from multiple sensors are evaluated and compared to in-situ data. It shows that ground subsidences decreased since the closing and back lling of the mine, which is in accordance with surveying activities on this site.