InSAR Norway: Advancing Geohazard Understanding through Wide-Area Analysis

Since its inception in 2018, InSAR Norway has emerged as a pivotal tool in addressing geological hazards and advancing scientific research in Norway. Utilizing the C-band data from Sentinel-1, it provides annual comprehensive ground movement updates crucial for understanding and mitigating natural disasters and ensuring infrastructure stability across Norway's complex terrain. The service's impact is particularly pronounced in landslide mapping and permafrost studies, areas of critical importance given Norway's climatic and geological vulnerability.

InSAR Norway has been instrumental in detecting and monitoring landslide-prone areas, providing data essential for early warning systems and risk assessment. Detailed morpho-kinematic inventories have been updated nationwide to include previously undetected movements. By classifying slope movements and providing velocity data, InSAR Norway has significantly contributed to understanding the kinematics of landslides, enabling more cost-effective monitoring solutions. A recent study leveraging InSAR Norway data has statistically explored the link between permafrost and displacement rates of large unstable rock slopes (LURSs), revealing that permafrost presence significantly influences these rates and that complete thawing of permafrost can reduce or halt displacement, indicating the nuanced role of permafrost in geological hazard scenarios.

InSAR Norway's data has also shed light on the dynamics of rock glaciers and permafrost creep. Studies utilizing this data have revealed the impact of permafrost thawing on rock glacier velocities and the broader implications for landscape stability and hydrology. By providing detailed movement profiles of rock glaciers in transition from active to relict stages, InSAR Norway has offered insights into the effects of climate change on cold region dynamics.

The service's free and open data policy has been central to its success, catalyzing a wide range of research and operational applications by providing unrestricted access to high-quality, high-resolution data. This policy has facilitated a collaborative environment where academics, government agencies, and industry can innovate and develop solutions to shared challenges.

With the impending integration of L-band data from the NISAR satellite mission, InSAR Norway is poised for significant enhancements. NISAR data will augment the service's ability to monitor ground movements, particularly in vegetated areas and through seasonal changes. This integration reflects our commitment to adopting cutting-edge technology to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and applicability of geohazard monitoring and research. By fusing the strengths of C-band and L-band data, InSAR Norway will provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of ground deformation processes, supporting safer, more informed decision-making in the face of Norway's dynamic and often harsh environmental conditions. InSAR Norway will continue its legacy of pioneering satellite-based monitoring, safeguarding communities, and advancing scientific understanding of geohazards.