Articles | Volume 11, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-483-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-483-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
10 Feb 2017
Research article |
| 10 Feb 2017
Active-layer thickness estimation from X-band SAR backscatter intensity
Barbara Widhalm
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik, Division Data, Methods and Modelling, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Annett Bartsch
Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik, Division Data, Methods and Modelling, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Vienna University of Technology, Department of Geodesy and Geoinformation, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Marina Leibman
Earth Cryosphere Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Tyumen 625000, Russia
Tyumen State University, Department of Cryosophy, Tyumen 625006, Russia
Artem Khomutov
Earth Cryosphere Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Tyumen 625000, Russia
Tyumen State University, Department of Cryosophy, Tyumen 625006, Russia
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Cited
25 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Monitoring permafrost changes in central Yakutia using optical and polarimetric SAR data S. Park et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2022.112989
- InSAR-derived seasonal subsidence reflects spatial soil moisture patterns in Arctic lowland permafrost regions B. Widhalm et al. 10.5194/tc-19-1103-2025
- Progress in space-borne studies of permafrost for climate science: Towards a multi-ECV approach A. Trofaier et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2017.05.021
- Reflecting Properties of the Seasonally Thawed Layer during Thawing and Freezing of the Light Loam Soil. Numeric-analytical Study K. Muzalevsky 10.1007/s11141-023-10250-2
- A Review of Satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry Applications in Permafrost Regions: Current status, challenges, and trends Z. Zhang et al. 10.1109/MGRS.2022.3170350
- Ecological carrying capacity of alpine grassland in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau based on the structural dynamics method Y. Fang et al. 10.1007/s10668-020-01182-2
- Analysis of Groundwater Depletion/Inflation and Freeze–Thaw Cycles in the Northern Urumqi Region with the SBAS Technique and an Adjusted Network of Interferograms B. Wang et al. 10.3390/rs13112144
- Permafrost Monitoring from Space A. Bartsch et al. 10.1007/s10712-023-09770-3
- Remote sensing evaluation of High Arctic wetland depletion following permafrost disturbance by thermo-erosion gullying processes N. Perreault et al. 10.1139/as-2016-0047
- Permafrost Deformation Monitoring Along the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Engineering Corridor Using InSAR Observations with Multi-Sensor SAR Datasets from 1997–2018 Z. Zhang et al. 10.3390/s19235306
- Seasonal Progression of Ground Displacement Identified with Satellite Radar Interferometry and the Impact of Unusually Warm Conditions on Permafrost at the Yamal Peninsula in 2016 A. Bartsch et al. 10.3390/rs11161865
- Permafrost Stability Mapping on the Tibetan Plateau by Integrating Time-Series InSAR and the Random Forest Method F. Zhao et al. 10.3390/rs15092294
- Linking tundra vegetation, snow, soil temperature, and permafrost I. Grünberg et al. 10.5194/bg-17-4261-2020
- Mapping permafrost landscape features using object-based image classification of multi-temporal SAR images L. Wang et al. 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2018.03.026
- Arctic Tundra Land Cover Classification on the Beaufort Coast Using the Kennaugh Element Framework on Dual-Polarimetric TerraSAR-X Imagery W. A’Campo et al. 10.3390/rs13234780
- Active Layer Thickness Retrieval of Qinghai–Tibet Permafrost Using the TerraSAR-X InSAR Technique C. Wang et al. 10.1109/JSTARS.2018.2873219
- Thaw-Season InSAR Surface Displacements and Frost Susceptibility Mapping to Support Community-Scale Planning in Ilulissat, West Greenland J. Scheer et al. 10.3390/rs15133310
- Validation of Permafrost Active Layer Estimates from Airborne SAR Observations A. Parsekian et al. 10.3390/rs13152876
- Monitoring soil moisture in cotton fields with synthetic aperture radar and optical data in arid and semi-arid regions J. Fan et al. 10.1117/1.JRS.18.034501
- Ten Years of Experience with Scientific TerraSAR-X Data Utilization A. Roth et al. 10.3390/rs10081170
- Trends in Satellite Earth Observation for Permafrost Related Analyses—A Review M. Philipp et al. 10.3390/rs13061217
- Ground‐penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction, terrain, and vegetation observations coupled with machine learning to map permafrost distribution at Twelvemile Lake, Alaska S. Campbell et al. 10.1002/ppp.2100
- Scattering Characteristics of X-, C- and L-Band PolSAR Data Examined for the Tundra Environment of the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Canada T. Ullmann et al. 10.3390/app7060595
- Feasibility of tundra vegetation height retrieval from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data A. Bartsch et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2019.111515
- Land Cover Mapping in Northern High Latitude Permafrost Regions with Satellite Data: Achievements and Remaining Challenges A. Bartsch et al. 10.3390/rs8120979
24 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Monitoring permafrost changes in central Yakutia using optical and polarimetric SAR data S. Park et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2022.112989
- InSAR-derived seasonal subsidence reflects spatial soil moisture patterns in Arctic lowland permafrost regions B. Widhalm et al. 10.5194/tc-19-1103-2025
- Progress in space-borne studies of permafrost for climate science: Towards a multi-ECV approach A. Trofaier et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2017.05.021
- Reflecting Properties of the Seasonally Thawed Layer during Thawing and Freezing of the Light Loam Soil. Numeric-analytical Study K. Muzalevsky 10.1007/s11141-023-10250-2
- A Review of Satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry Applications in Permafrost Regions: Current status, challenges, and trends Z. Zhang et al. 10.1109/MGRS.2022.3170350
- Ecological carrying capacity of alpine grassland in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau based on the structural dynamics method Y. Fang et al. 10.1007/s10668-020-01182-2
- Analysis of Groundwater Depletion/Inflation and Freeze–Thaw Cycles in the Northern Urumqi Region with the SBAS Technique and an Adjusted Network of Interferograms B. Wang et al. 10.3390/rs13112144
- Permafrost Monitoring from Space A. Bartsch et al. 10.1007/s10712-023-09770-3
- Remote sensing evaluation of High Arctic wetland depletion following permafrost disturbance by thermo-erosion gullying processes N. Perreault et al. 10.1139/as-2016-0047
- Permafrost Deformation Monitoring Along the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Engineering Corridor Using InSAR Observations with Multi-Sensor SAR Datasets from 1997–2018 Z. Zhang et al. 10.3390/s19235306
- Seasonal Progression of Ground Displacement Identified with Satellite Radar Interferometry and the Impact of Unusually Warm Conditions on Permafrost at the Yamal Peninsula in 2016 A. Bartsch et al. 10.3390/rs11161865
- Permafrost Stability Mapping on the Tibetan Plateau by Integrating Time-Series InSAR and the Random Forest Method F. Zhao et al. 10.3390/rs15092294
- Linking tundra vegetation, snow, soil temperature, and permafrost I. Grünberg et al. 10.5194/bg-17-4261-2020
- Mapping permafrost landscape features using object-based image classification of multi-temporal SAR images L. Wang et al. 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2018.03.026
- Arctic Tundra Land Cover Classification on the Beaufort Coast Using the Kennaugh Element Framework on Dual-Polarimetric TerraSAR-X Imagery W. A’Campo et al. 10.3390/rs13234780
- Active Layer Thickness Retrieval of Qinghai–Tibet Permafrost Using the TerraSAR-X InSAR Technique C. Wang et al. 10.1109/JSTARS.2018.2873219
- Thaw-Season InSAR Surface Displacements and Frost Susceptibility Mapping to Support Community-Scale Planning in Ilulissat, West Greenland J. Scheer et al. 10.3390/rs15133310
- Validation of Permafrost Active Layer Estimates from Airborne SAR Observations A. Parsekian et al. 10.3390/rs13152876
- Monitoring soil moisture in cotton fields with synthetic aperture radar and optical data in arid and semi-arid regions J. Fan et al. 10.1117/1.JRS.18.034501
- Ten Years of Experience with Scientific TerraSAR-X Data Utilization A. Roth et al. 10.3390/rs10081170
- Trends in Satellite Earth Observation for Permafrost Related Analyses—A Review M. Philipp et al. 10.3390/rs13061217
- Ground‐penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction, terrain, and vegetation observations coupled with machine learning to map permafrost distribution at Twelvemile Lake, Alaska S. Campbell et al. 10.1002/ppp.2100
- Scattering Characteristics of X-, C- and L-Band PolSAR Data Examined for the Tundra Environment of the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Canada T. Ullmann et al. 10.3390/app7060595
- Feasibility of tundra vegetation height retrieval from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data A. Bartsch et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2019.111515
Discussed (final revised paper)
Latest update: 15 Aug 2025
Short summary
The active layer above the permafrost, which seasonally thaws during summer, is an important parameter for monitoring the state of permafrost. Its thickness is typically measured locally. The relationship between active-layer thickness (ALT) and X-band SAR backscatter of TerraSAR-X has been investigated in order to explore the possibility of delineating ALT with continuous and larger spatial coverage.
The active layer above the permafrost, which seasonally thaws during summer, is an important...
