Enhancing DInSAR Measurements of Mountanious geohazards using a Novel Active Reflector for Sentinel-1 C-Band

The intensification of the effects of climate change on mountainous geohazards underlines the critical need for advanced tools to monitor geohazards like landslide and permafrost associated hazards. In this study, we present a novel active reflector specifically designed for C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications, optimized for Sentinel-1 missions. The reflector is engineered to receive vertically polarized signals and reflect them in both vertical and horizontal polarizations, significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio in DInSAR processing.

To assess its performance, the reflector was deployed on the Clot de la Menera rock glacier in Andorra. DInSAR analysis revealed subtle surface movements, indicative of an active permafrost layer. The reflector's dual-polarization capability enhances measurement accuracy and reliability by providing a brighter and more consistent measurement point.

This study underscores the potential of advanced SAR instrumentation to enhance monitoring in complex terrains where InSAR techniques does not achieve measurements.