L-band SAR interferometry and offset tracking were applied for the estimation of arctic glacier motion over Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and Svalbard using SAR data acquired by the JERS-1 satellite with 44 days time interval. Our SAR interferometric results indicate a generally good coherence with well preserved fringes over the slow moving glaciers. Decorrelation is mainly observed along outlet glacier margins with excessive strain rates. On the other hand, the effects on the interferometric coherence of snow and ice melting, snow accumulation or wind drift, and volume decorrelation because of microwave penetration in the dry snow cover and ice are limited. Offset tracking applied to pairs of SLC images highlights the displacement of the fastest moving glaciers around the ice caps. However, azimuth streaks, possibly related to auroral zone ionospheric disturbances, were detected.