An InSAR ground velocity field for the Western Basin and Range
Falk Amelung and Tim Dixon, University of Miami
In this project SAR data acquired by the European Remote Sensing satellites (ERS) is analyzed to derive a new, high spatial resolution, high accuracy, surface velocity field of the Western Basin and Range Province during the 1992-2004 time period. The European Space Agency provides 2000 SAR images in support of this project. The InSAR velocity field can be interpreted as the vertical velocity field because InSAR measures velocities in direction of the line-of-sight of the radar satellite which is nearly vertical. High precision measurements are achieved using new stacking and time series analysis methods.
The InSAR velocity field serves to detect areas of increased ground deformation in the Western Basin and Range that can be targeted using detailed, multi-disciplinary measurements campaigns by EarthScope. Comparison of this pre-Earthscope velocity field with the velocity field of the Earthscope era will provide new insights into the nature of transient deformation in the Western Basin and Range.
