Developing robust model for retrieving sea surface current from RADARSAT-1 SAR satellite data

Abstract

This paper introduces a new approach for retrieving sea surface current from RADARSAT-1 SAR standard beam mode (S2) data. In doing so, the robust algorithm that involves the wavelength diversity ambiguity resolving (WDAR) and multi look beat frequency (MLBF) algorithms was used to remove Doppler Centroid ambiguity. The result shows that the proposed robust algorithm can acquire accurate Doppler Centroid and fine spatial sea surface current variations in RADARSAT-1 SAR standard beam mode (S2) data. The current velocities ranged between 0.18 and 0.78 m/s. In conclusion, RADARSAT-1 SAR S2 mode data can be used to retrieve sea surface current with root mean square error (RMSE) of ± 0.11 m/s. Both WDAR and MLBF algorithms can provide accurate information on Doppler Centroid which can acquire accurately sea surface current pattern in RADARRSAT-1 SAR image. Key words: RADARSAT-1 SAR, robust model, sea surface current, wavelength diversity ambiguity resolving (WDAR) algorithm, multi look beat frequency (MLBF) algorithm.