InSAR Svalbard Ground Motion Service

InSAR is a key technology for monitoring ground movements such as subsidence, uplift, unstable slopes, and natural hazards, and it plays a critical role in reducing risks to infrastructure and communities. Since the launch of InSAR Norway in 2018 and European Ground Motion Service (EGMS) in 2022, these datasets have been freely available. However, Svalbard has not been covered by any of these services. With temperatures rising at a rate seven times faster than the global average, the need for consistent and long-term InSAR data in Svalbard and the Arctic is evident.

With funding from the Norwegian Space Agency and in collaboration with NORCE, the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) launched the InSAR Svalbard Ground Motion Service in February 2026. The pilot products provide the first open-access InSAR dataset for Svalbard using Sentinel-1 data. Tailored to Arctic conditions, the service offers (1) seasonal data during snow-free periods aimed to detect fast-moving areas and to monitor seasonal patterns, and (2) interannual data between snow-free periods to monitor slower ground motion. It delivers essential data for monitoring permafrost degradation, slope creep processes, and freeze-thaw processes, providing critical information for research and risk management.

The pilot products are currently available for selected areas around settlements and research stations and are accessible through a web-GIS platform that provides easy visualization and analysis tools. Future development will expand coverage across the entire archipelago, integrate new satellite data, and progress towards a comprehensive ground and ice motion service.