Calibration of atmospheric effects on SAR interferograms by GPS and local atmosphere models: first results

Abstract

A comparison between the ZPD (Zenith Path Delay), obtained from GPS measurements, and the expected delay, derived from models used to compensate tropospheric effects on SAR interferograms, is made. The results of the two methods are comparable, though the available data set is not large enough for a complete statistical validation of the methods. The results of this preliminary study suggest a possible integration of GPS-based ZPD data with cheap and standard meteorological data, since the estimated atmospheric component proved to be similar. Furthermore, the impact on volcanology of the effects measured by GPS, and in particular on the determination of the depth of the volcanic sources, is discussed.