The Case for 6-Hour Repeat Insar

Modern spaceborne radar systems today achieve near-global coverage at moderate resolution with weekly or better repeat intervals. Consideration of adequate temporal sampling and the need to average images to reduce noise suggests that reducing radar revisit times can enable heretofore impossible applications. We propose that the aspirational goal of fine-resolution repeat coverage every 6 hours would be a revolutionary advance in radar and InSAR capability and utility, and should be a guidepost for new system design. Here we review the science and user needs for such a system, and show that current technologies, with some evolutionary extensions can enable such a system.