The Sentinel-1 mission for the improvement of the scientific understanding and the operational monitoring of the seismic cycle

We describe the state of the art of scientific research on the earthquake cycle based on the analysis of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data acquired from satellite platforms. We examine the achievements and the main limitations of present SAR systems for the measurement and analysis of crustal deformation, and envision the foreseeable advances that the Sentinel-1 data will generate in the fields of geophysics and tectonics. We also review the technological and scientific issues which have limited so far the operational use of satellite data in seismic hazard assessment and crisis management, and show the improvements expected from Sentinel-1 data. ► A review of the scientific progresses generated by SAR data in the understanding of the seismic cycle. ► An analysis of the main research results obtained from the use of ERS and ENVISAT C-band SAR data. ► A review of the attempts to use SAR data in an operational monitoring. ► An analysis of the limitations of the present and past SAR sensors. ► A description of the advantages of the Sentinel 1 system and of the improvements expected in the scientific and operational applications.