How to cite :

ForM@Ter (2020): FLATSIM Data Products. CNES. (Dataset).

doi:10.24400/253171/FLATSIM2020

RIS Citation BibTeX Citation Copy

Description

The FLATSIM (FormaTerre LArge-scale multi-Temporal Sentinel-1 InterferoMetry) service is developed as part of the FormaTerre Solid Earth data and services center and operated by CNES (Thollard & al., 2021^[2]). It allows systematic processing of interferograms from Sentinel-1 data, as well as displacement time series, over large geographic areas. It is based on the InSAR « New Small temporal and spatial BASelines » processing chain (Doin & al., 2011^[4], Grandin, 2015^[3]) NSBAS.

The scientific objectives are to enable the measurement of the deformations of the Earth's surface on a continental scale, and thus ensure the spatio-temporal monitoring of critical regions (large zones of active faults and magmatic systems, landslides on the scale of large massifs…).

A call for ideas to define the areas to be processed is opened periodically (the last was launched in july 2025).

License

These products are under license Creative Commons License - Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 International .

Access to products

Products are accessible from the FormaTerre catalog portal, as soon as they have been produced, for project teams selected through the Call for Ideas process (see table below), and after a limited period of time (generally from a few months to 3 years after production) for all catalog users.
However :

for each collection of a given project, certain products may be distributed more quickly after discussion and agreement with the project team.
Please contact the project leaders (contacts in the table below) and the flatsim team (flatsim-data@poleterresolide.fr) to request access.
although products are generally available on a temporary limited-access basis, a showcase collection has already been set up with a view to enhancing and promoting the quality of the service.
This collection gives access to a sample of products from the various projects and associated collections, processed in the framework of calls for ideas. It enables users to explore the potential of the data processed by the FLATSIM service.

The products generated by the FLATSIM service are described in the documentation: FLATSIM Product Manual.

To have an interactive map, you must use an other browser like Firefox, Chrome or Edge

Areas covered on Call for Ideas

Location	Description	Products
Call for ideas 2020 (data October 2014 - end of April 2021)
Afar	This project aims to characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of the deformation in the region of the Afar depression. The aim is to better understand large-scale tectonics (localization of divergent borders, kinematics of the triple point), but also the dynamics of volcanic, seismic and aseismic events, and the mechanics of active faults. The issue of gravity hazard will also be addressed. Themes: Landslides, Tectonics, Volcanology Project leaders: R. Grandin (IPGP)	Access to products
Central Andes, Peru-Chile	This project aims to better understand the seismic cycle of the Andean subduction zone in Peru and Chile and the crustal faults in the Andes, to follow the functioning of the large active volcanoes in the region (and to detect possible precursors to eruptions) , and to study the seismic, climatic and anthropogenic forcing on the dynamics of landslides in the Andes. Themes: Landslides, Tectonics, Volcanology Project leaders: M. Chlieh (ISTerre)	Access to products
Eastern border of the Tibetan plateau	The objective of the project is to quantify and model the current deformations on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. It focuses on deformations of tectonic origin, at the scale of active faults as well as at the continental scale, to address issues of the seismic cycle and uplift mechanisms of the Tibetan plateau. This project is also interested in non-tectonic signals present in time series (hydrological overloads in particular) Themes: Tectonics Project leaders: M.-P. Doin (ISTerre)	Access to products
Okavango Delta	This project aims to better understand the deformations of tectonic origin in the area of the Okavango Delta (associated with the functioning of the Okavango rift and the East African rift), or of hydrological origin (linked in particular to the flood cycle. ), and the possible interactions between tectonics and hydrology in this region. Themes: Hydrology, Tectonics Project leaders: M. Jolivet (Géosciences Rennes)	Access to products
Ozark aquifer	This project focuses on the study of the deformations associated with the Ozark aquifer (south of the Mississippi basin) subjected to strong variations in groundwater level, and in neighboring regions where significant seismicity is observed, at strong seasonal component (New Madrid), or linked to wastewater injections (Oklahoma). The objective is to better understand the geodesic signature of the hydrological cycle. Themes: Hydrology Project leaders: K. Chanard (IPGP, IGN)	Access to products
Tarim	This project focuses on the analysis of tectonic deformations along the Western Kunlun Range, on the northwestern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. This region is marked by the interaction between large strike-slip and thrust faults, with in particular the existence of one of the largest thrust sheet in the world, whose interseismic loading and the capacity to produce “mega-earthquakes” will be investigated. Themes: Tectonics Project leaders: M. Simoes (IPGP)	Access to products
The Balkan region	The Balkan region is one of the most seismic zones in Europe, with intense industrial and demographic development. This project aims to better quantify the deformations of tectonic origin in this region (kinematics and localization of active faults, study of earthquakes). He is also interested in deformations of anthropogenic or climatic origin (linked to the exploitation of natural resources or to variations in sea level) Themes: Anthropogenic and climatic hazards, Tectonics Project leaders: M. Métois (LGLTPE)	Access to products
Türkiye	The objective of this project is to characterize the seismic and aseismic functioning of the North Anatolian and East Anatolian faults, in order to better assess their seismic hazard and understand the physical processes governing the dynamics of a fault. It also includes the monitoring of deformations in an area of grabens in western Turkey, major geological structures with high seismic potential. Themes: Tectonics Project leaders: R. Jolivet (Laboratoire de Géologie, ENS Paris)	Access to products
Call for ideas 2025 (data October 2014 - end of August 2025)
African rift	Themes: Tectonic Project leaders: V. Pinel (ISTerre)	On Going
Andes	This project complements the Central Andes Peru-Chile of the 1st FLATSIM call Themes: Landslides, Tectonics, Volcanology Project leaders: M. Chlieh (ISTerre)	On Going
Chile	This project complements the Central Chile project of the 2nd FLATSIM call Themes: Hydrology, Tectonic Project leaders: E. Klein (Laboratoire de Géologie ENS Paris)	On Going
Ecuador	Themes: Project leaders: J.-M. Nocquet (IRD)	On Going
Himalaya and Western Tibet	This project complements the AI ??FLATSIM 1 Tarim project and the AI2 Himalaya West Tibet project. Themes: Glaciers, Hydrology, Landslides, Permafrost, Tectonics Project leaders: M.-P. Doin (ISTerre) C.Lasserre (LGLTPE)	On Going
Morocco	This project complements the Maghreb of the 2nd FLATSIM call Themes: Hydrocarbon Reservoir Dynamics, Hydrology, Landlisdes, Tectonics Project leaders: C. Doubre (ITES)	On Going
South Mexico	This project complements the South Mexico project of the 2nd FLATSIM call Themes: Hydrology, Tectonics, Volcanism Project leaders: E. Pathier (ISTerre)	On Going
The Balkan region	This project complements the Balkan region project of the 1st FLATSIM call Themes: Anthropogenic and climatic hazards, Tectonics Project leaders: M. Metois (LGLTPE)	On Going
Türkiye	This project complements the Türkiye project of the 1st FLATSIM call Themes: Tectonics Project leaders: R. Jolivet (Laboratoire de Géologie ENS Paris) B. Rousset (ITES)	On Going

Further details

ISDeform collection (not on Call for Ideas)
France	FLATSIM products have also been calculated for the whole of mainland France in the SNO ISDeform. After post-processing at ISTerre (UGA) and validation by ISDeform (during 2024), these products will also be made available via a dedicated collection in the FormaTerre catalog. The project focuses on tectonic, hydrological, landslide and rock glacier applications. It can also be used to monitor the compaction of sedimentary basins, deformations associated with the exploitation of the subsoil (storage, mining, hydrothermalism) and certain infrastructures (embankments, etc.)

References

Ho Tong Minh, D., Hanssen, R., Doin, M.-P., Pathier, E. (2022). Advanced methods in time series InSAR. ISTE WILEY Science DMRSI Chapter 5. doi: 10.1002/9781119986843.ch5, HTML
Thollard, F., Clesse, D., Doin, M.-P., Donadieu, J., Durand, P., Grandin, R., Lasserre, C., Laurent, C., Deschamps-Ostanciaux, E, Pathier, E., Pointal, E, Proy, C., Specht, B. (2021). FLATSIM: The Form@Ter LArge-Scale Multi-Temporal Sentinel-1 InterferoMetry Service, Remote Sens. 13 (18), 3734. doi:10.3390/rs13183734, HTML
Grandin, R. (2015). Interferometric Processing of SLC Sentinel-1 TOPS Data. In Proceedings of FRINGE’15: Advances in the Science and Applications of SAR Interferometry and Sentinel-1 InSAR Workshop, Frascati, Italy, 23-27 March 2015, ESA Publication SP-731. doi:10.5270/Fringe2015.116, PDF
Doin, M.-P., Lodge, F., Guillaso, S., Jolivet, R., Lasserre, C., Ducret, G., Grandin, R., Pathier, E., Pinel, V. (2011). Presentation of the small baseline NSBAS processing chain on a case example: The Etna deformation monitoring from 2003 to 2010 using Envisat data. In Proceedings of FRINGE 2011 ESA Workshop, Frascati, Italy,19–23 September 2011, ESA Publication SP-697., PDF