CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - L-band SAR (NISAR) -
Full Name L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) (NISAR) Status Approved
Instrument Agencies NASA, ISRO Maturity Low Heritage
Instrument Type Imaging microwave radars Geometry Side-looking
Instrument Technology Imaging radar (SAR) Sampling Imaging
Data Access Open Access Data Format HDF-5, GeoTIFF
Measurements and Applications 3-year mission to study solid earth deformation (earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides), changes in ice (glaciers, sea ice) and changes in vegetation biomass
Resolution Summary 10m resolution
[Best Resolution: 10m]
Swath Summary 240 km (12-day repeat and global coverage)
[Max Swath: 240 km]
Accuracy Summary TBD
Waveband Summary Microwave: 1.25 GHz
MW (~0.1 cm - ~100 cm)
L-Band (2 - 1 GHz)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Landscape topographyLand surface topography
Multi-purpose imagery (land)Surface Coherent Change Detection
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessGlacier motion
VegetationVegetation Cover
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
Instrument Missions
NISAR - NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (2024 - 2027)