Monitoring surface deformation of permafrost in Wudaoliang Region, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau with ENVISAT ASAR data

•SBAS-InSAR was used for monitoring surface deformation in the Wudaoliang Region.•A number of GNSS levelling series were used to validate the InSAR derived deformation.•Permafrost deformation detected by InSAR corresponded well with GNSS levelling series.•Periodic and seasonal deformation could be observed in most of the study area.•The deformation amplitude varies significantly among different terrain types.