CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - SAR-L -
Full Name L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar Status Operational
Instrument Agencies CONAE Maturity
Instrument Type Imaging microwave radars Geometry Side-looking
Instrument Technology Imaging radar (SAR) Sampling Imaging
Data Access Data Format XML + binary HDF5
Measurements and Applications Land, ocean, emergencies, soil moisture, interferometry, others.
Resolution Summary 10 x 10 m – 100 x 100 m
[Best Resolution: 10m]
Swath Summary 20 – 350 km
[Max Swath: 350 km]
Accuracy Summary Absolute radiometric accuracy: 0.5 dB (QP), 1.0 dB (SP, DP); Polarimetric accuracy: 0.3 dB; Phase accuracy between polarimetric channels: 15°; Geolocation accuracy: on-line: 90 m, off-line: 25 m (with precise orbit).
Waveband Summary L-band (1.275 GHz)
L-Band (2 - 1 GHz)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Atmospheric WindsOil spill cover
Ice sheet topographySea-ice sheet topography
Landscape topographyLand surface topography
Multi-purpose imagery (land)Land surface imagery
Surface Coherent Change Detection
Multi-purpose imagery (ocean)Ocean imagery and water leaving spectral radiance
Ocean surface windsWind speed over sea surface (horizontal)
Wind vector over sea surface (horizontal)
Ocean topography/currentsOcean surface currents (vector)
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Sea-ice type
Glacier cover
Glacier motion
Sea-ice thickness
Snow cover, edge and depthSnow cover
Snow detection (mask)
Soil moistureSoil moisture at the surface
VegetationVegetation type
Land cover
Vegetation Canopy (cover)
Vegetation Canopy (height)
Above Ground Biomass (AGB)
Thematic Links Global Climate Observing System Essential Climate Variables (GCOS ECVs)
ECVDescriptionProduct(s)ECV Inventory 3.0 Record(s)
Above-ground biomass click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Glaciers click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Land cover click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Ocean Colour click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea Ice click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Snow click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Soil Moisture click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Surface Currents click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
SAOCOM 1A - Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas 1A (2018 - 2024)
SAOCOM 1B - Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas 1B (2020 - 2025)
SAOCOM-2 - Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas 2A (2028 - 2033)
SAOCOM-2B - Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas 2B (2030 - 2035)