Evaluating InSAR-derived rates of surface-elevation change along the central U.S. Gulf Coast
- 1Tulane University (New Orleans, United States of America)
- 2Center for Space Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- 3Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Abstract
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is widely used to monitor surface-elevation change in subsiding coastal regions, but inconsistencies between studies hinder understanding of the processes driving vertical land motion (VLM). Here we compare two recent InSAR datasets from the central U.S. Gulf Coast which yield similar mean rates (−2.8 ± 2.8 and −3.3 ± 1.8 mm yr⁻¹) but show negligible spatial correlation (R² = 0.05), except in medium to highly developed urban areas (R² > 0.5). Using 41 Global Navigation Satellite System records from adjacent Pleistocene uplands with minimal shallow subsidence and sediment accretion, we find a median VLM of −1.2 mm yr⁻¹, largely driven by glacial isostatic adjustment that is higher than previously believed. InSAR data exhibit larger uncertainties and are presently unable to capture this rate. Given the struggles of InSAR in vegetated landscapes, we recommend that vertical velocities below 5 mm yr⁻¹ are interpreted with utmost caution.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026evaluating,
title = {{Evaluating InSAR-derived rates of surface-elevation change along the central U.S. Gulf Coast}},
author = {Guandong Li and Torbjörn E. Törnqvist and Jingyi Ann Chen},
journal = {Earth Observation},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.5194/eo-1-1-2026},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5194/eo-1-1-2026},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Evaluating InSAR-derived rates of surface-elevation change along the central U.S. Gulf Coast
AU - Guandong Li
AU - Torbjörn E. Törnqvist
AU - Jingyi Ann Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/05
JO - Earth Observation
DO - 10.5194/eo-1-1-2026
UR - https://doi.org/10.5194/eo-1-1-2026
AB - Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is widely used to monitor surface-elevation change in subsiding coastal regions, but inconsistencies between studies hinder understanding of the processes driving vertical land motion (VLM). Here we compare two recent InSAR datasets from the central U.S. Gulf Coast which yield similar mean rates (−2.8 ± 2.8 and −3.3 ± 1.8 mm yr⁻¹) but show negligible spatial correlation (R² = 0.05), except in medium to highly developed urban areas (R² > 0.5). Using 41 Global Navigation Satellite System records from adjacent Pleistocene uplands with minimal shallow subsidence and sediment accretion, we find a median VLM of −1.2 mm yr⁻¹, largely driven by glacial isostatic adjustment that is higher than previously believed. InSAR data exhibit larger uncertainties and are presently unable to capture this rate. Given the struggles of InSAR in vegetated landscapes, we recommend that vertical velocities below 5 mm yr⁻¹ are interpreted with utmost caution.
SN - 3054-1786
ER -