Detailed motion of Earth's crust - accurate to mm/year

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SUMMARY

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry (InSAR) has demonstrated the capability to measure Earth's crustal movements with precision down to a few millimeters per year, as highlighted in the Envisat ESA press release. This technology is primarily utilized for monitoring seismic zones and volcanoes, but its application could extend to other Earth studies, particularly when combined with GRACE results to analyze gravity anomalies. Furthermore, deploying InSAR technology on missions to Venus, Mars, or Io could provide valuable insights into crustal movements on these planets, addressing existing hypotheses about tectonics on Venus.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology
  • Familiarity with InSAR techniques and applications
  • Knowledge of GRACE satellite mission and gravity anomaly analysis
  • Basic concepts of planetary geology, particularly tectonics
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  • Research advanced InSAR techniques for measuring crustal movements
  • Explore the integration of GRACE data with InSAR for gravity anomaly studies
  • Investigate the tectonic hypotheses related to Venus' geology
  • Study the potential applications of SAR technology in planetary missions
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Geophysicists, planetary scientists, researchers in remote sensing, and anyone interested in the detailed study of crustal movements on Earth and other planets.

Nereid
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Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry (InSAR) has been used to make detailed crustal movement images, showing relative displacements of as small as a few millimetres per year, according to this Envisat ESA PR. Although the PR talks about using InSAR for monitoring seismic zones and volcanos, I wonder if it could also be used for other Earth studies. For example, combined with GRACE results, to better characterise the nature of gravity anomolies? to test some of the alternative theories to GR (such as SCC)?

Perhaps the same technology could be deployed on a Venus, Mars, or Io mission, to determine the extent of any crustal movements? :approve:
 
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Amazing, the current airborne SAR's give a highest resolution in spot mode only of some 4 inches (10 cm) ROM whilst satellite SAR resolution under two feet (half a meter) is unheard of. I wonder about detecting techniques of changes in mm. It seems like grabbing a needle with boxing gloves.

Yes Venus would be a good target. There are still 5 unanswered hypotheses about the tectonics on Venus.