High Resolution Monitoring of Campi Flegrei (Naples, Italy) by exploiting TerraSAR-X data: An Application to Solfatara Crater

Abstract

Geodetic monitoring of Campi Flegrei caldera, west of Naples (Italy), is carried out through integrated ground based networks and space-borne Differential InSAR (DInSAR) techniques, exploiting the SAR sensors onboard ERS1-2 (till the end of their lifetime) and ENVISAT satellites. Unfortunately, C-band sensors give no information when dealing with very low deformation rates and very small deforming areas. To overcome these problems, we decided to use TerraSAR-X from DLR, a high resolution SAR sensor operating in the X-band, starting in December 2009. TerraSAR-X Spotlight scenes covering the main part of the Campi Flegrei caldera and centred on the Solfatara crater were used for a DInSAR analysis, using DLR’s InSAR software. Starting from this period, many field surveys highlighted a strong fumarolic activity in the Solfatara - Pisciarelli area [1], so geodetic and geochemical observations were strongly increased. Furthermore, the growing stack of High-Resolution Spotlight TerraSAR-X data processed using the Small Baseline Subset Algorithm (SBAS) as described by Berardino at al. [2], allowed getting information for a bigger area and data from ground based networks could be integrated. First results of the SBAS processing and the combination of different observation techniques are presented.