Analysis of landslides in Alpine areas by means of SAR interferometry

Methods and applications of differential SAR interferometry (DINSAR) for detecting and monitoring slow movements of mountain slopes on the order of centimeters per year were investigated in the Austrian and Swiss Alps, using SAR images from the European ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites. The DINSAR analysis methods and criteria for selecting SAR image pairs suitable for landslide monitoring are briefly described. Most of the detected landslides are above the tree line, because on surfaces with sparse vegetation and bare soil or rock the coherence is preserved over long periods. The investigations confirm the operational potential of DINSAR for detecting and monitoring mass movements in high Alpine areas.