TOPS Image Quality and Processor Verification Study: TOPS Time Series - Part 1: Flevoland Flashing Fileds Analysis

Abstract

This report is Part 1 of the Technical Note 4 on “WP 240 TOPS Time Series” and on “WP 241 Analysis of TOPS Time Series with TerraSAR-X Products” in the frame of the ESA/ESTEC Contract with number 22243/09/NL/JA: “TOPS Image Quality and Processor Verification Study”. Both belong to the superordinate workpackage “WP 200 Sentinel-1 Image Quality". The report presents the results from investigations of TOPS time series data. In the frame of the present study different TOPS time series data have been regularly acquired by the TerraSAR-X sensor over a period of one year. Different test site locations have been selected for different purpose of the analysis. TOPS data acquired for Flevoland, NL are investigated with respect to the presence, stability and seasonal occurrence of flashing fields. The Mexico City time series is investigated with respect to differential interferometric applications. In particular the investigations relate to a comparison of stripmap and TOPS data, the characterisation of coherent scatterers and the analysis of deformation pattern. This is part1 of TN4 and includes the analysis of the Flevoland time series data. The Mexico City time series data is analysed in part 2.