The effect of radar and environmental parameters on space-based SAR ocean imaging

Abstract

This paper considers how radar and environmental parameters affect ocean imaging by synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The Space Department at DERA Farnborough in conjunction with GEC-Marconi Research Centre are using space-based SAR data to study these issues. The results described involve both ERS-2 and spaceborne imaging radar-C/X-band SAR (SlR-C/X-SAR) data. Satellite-derived wind and wave products will always need to be collected. Planned future SAR systems will have different radar parameters. In some cases, notably Envisat, simultaneous observations in different radar channels will be possible. It is useful that the effect of these different radar parameters and channels are estimated. The results indicate some of the potential benefits obtainable from Envisat. This study uses empirical models to predict the mean backscatter using wind and wave data and also studies ocean wave imaging of the SIR-C/X-SAR data.