The Flow Country

Long-Term Peatland Condition Assessment via Surface Motion Monitoring Using the ISBAS DInSAR Technique over the Flow Country, Scotland

Research demonstrates the potential of the Intermittent Small BAseline Subset (ISBAS) technique to monitor long-term surface motion over peatland areas, offering a new tool for assessing peatland condition. Unlike traditional InSAR methods, ISBAS can effectively measure surface motion in vegetated and less coherent environments like peatlands. The study applied this technique to the Flow Country in Scotland using ERS C-band (1992–2000) and Sentinel-1 C-band (2015–2016) satellite data, identifying subsidence patterns linked to land cover and use. While ISBAS measurements aligned with ground data trends, uncertainties in magnitude and direction were noted. The findings suggest that ISBAS could be a valuable method for tracking peatland degradation or recovery, though further validation is required.