Analysis of ocean surface features with coincident SAR and radiometer data within the Alaska SAR Demonstration

Abstract

Satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments such as those carried on the Canadian Space Agency RADARSAT-I satellite and the European Space Agency European Remote Sensing Satellite 2 (ERS-2) provide a wealth of information on the ocean surface expression of atmospheric and oceanic phenomena. However, since these SAR instruments are both single frequency, single polarization, it is often difficult to unambiguously analyze the myriad features in an image without consulting other types of data. A near real-time demonstration of SAR applications in Alaska, the Alaska SAR Demonstration, provides products to users who have minimal acquaintance with SAR imagery. To aid them in interpreting the SAR signatures, an analysis system called the World Wide Web Interactive Processing Environment (WIPE) is used to provide a capability for analyzing SAR imagery together with other satellite, in situ and model data. This system is then used to interpret SAR signatures of oceanic and atmospheric fronts, storms, upwelling, oil slicks, etc. This paper describes the AKDEMO and its products as well as the WIPE system used to display and analyze the SAR imagery. An example illustrating the synergy of using visible satellite radiometer data along with SAR imagery for ocean feature analysis is then presented.