Open-Access Global Ground Deformation Dataset for Tectonic High-Strain Zones Based on Sentinel-1 Interferometry

Abstract

The SAR4Tectonics project will deliver openly accessible, global measurements of ground deformation in tectonically active high-strain zones, providing geoscientists with ready-to-use velocity maps and time series. This reduces the need for researchers to process SAR data themselves, allowing to focus on the deformation analysis. Ground deformation in high-strain areas is important for understanding geological processes in tectonically active regions. These regions, situated near tectonic plate boundaries, are characterized by significant ground deformation and elevated seismic activity, making them critical for geoscientific research and seismic risks assessment. Traditional ground-based methods like GNSS provide limited spatial coverage, often leaving data gaps. InSAR techniques, especially PS/DS analysis, overcomes this with millimeter-scale displacement measurements across large areas and high temporal resolution. In the project, we processed 6.5 years of Sentinel-1 SAR data, focusing on areas where the second invariant of strain exceeds 3 nanostrain per year. Using the terrabyte high-performance data analytics platform (a collaboration between German Aerospace Center DLR and the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre LRZ), we applied the PS/DS technique with the IWAP processor to produce high-accuracy results. Error corrections included ionospheric mitigation via CODE total electron content maps, tropospheric delay correction using ECMWF reanalysis, and solid earth tide modeling. Vegetation and soil moisture impacts are minimized through a full covariance matrix approach, and GNSS data ensured precise calibration. The SAR data processing is complete, and we are finalizing the publication of the results as an open-access dataset aiming to make comprehensive ground deformation data readily accessible for scientific discovery and practical applications. By providing globally consistent, high-quality deformation products as open-access resources, this initiative hopefully reduces the burden of SAR data processing for geoscientists, enabling them to focus on analyzing Earth's dynamic processes. Additionally, it provides a baseline reference for future studies.