The P-band radar aboard the AFRC C-20A (NASA802) successfully completed imaging of the complex terrain soil moisture in the Mammoth area on 26 June.  In addition, we conducted a science demonstration flight imaging landslide area in Northern California as well as the densely vegetated Long Valley caldera (a large volcanic complex in eastern California) to study the use of P-band DInSAR (differential interferometric SAR) techniques over areas that typically decorrelates in L-band imagery over a short time period and deep-seated landslides.

The M6.4 and M7.1 Searles Valley earthquakes on 4 and 5 July respectively generated many requests for satellite and airborne DInSAR data to observe ground deformation along known and previously unknown faults during and after these major earthquakes.  UAVSAR acquired data over China Lake back in 2008, an area to the southeastern end of the fault rupture.  We have been asked to plan some future UAVSAR flights to image the China Lake area as well as the main fault rupture.  UAVSAR data complement satellite SAR observations by imaging the affected area from different viewing geometry.  The first UAVSAR flight is planned for late July.