CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - PALSAR-2 -
Full Name Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar-2 Status Operational
Instrument Agencies JAXA Maturity Medium Heritage
Instrument Type Imaging microwave radars Geometry Side-looking
Instrument Technology Imaging radar (SAR) Sampling Imaging
Data Access Open Access Data Format CEOS SAR and GeoTiFF
Measurements and Applications Disaster monitoring, land monitoring, agricultural monitoring, natural resource exploration, global forest monitoring, potential use and interferometry.
Resolution Summary Spotlight mode (1 to 3 m), stripmap mode (3 to 10 m).
[Best Resolution: 1m]
Swath Summary Spotlight mode: 25km, Stripmap mode: 50-70 km, Scan SAR mode: 350 - 490 km, Polarimetry: 30-50 km
[Max Swath: 490 km]
Accuracy Summary Surface Resolution: 1 to 3 m (Spotlight Mode), 3m (Ultra-Fine Mode), 6m (High sensitive Mode), 10m (Fine Mode),100 m (Scan Mode); Radiometric: ±1 dB
Waveband Summary Microwave: L-Band 1270 MHz
L-Band (2 - 1 GHz)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Albedo and reflectanceEarth surface albedo
Atmospheric WindsOil spill cover
Gravity, Magnetic and Geodynamic measurementsCrustal Motion
Ice sheet topographySea-ice sheet topography
Landscape topographyLand surface topography
Multi-purpose imagery (land)Fire fractional cover
Land surface imagery
Multi-purpose imagery (ocean)Ocean imagery and water leaving spectral radiance
Ocean surface windsWind vector over sea surface (horizontal)
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Sea-ice type
Iceberg fractional cover
Glacier motion
Snow cover, edge and depthSnow cover
Snow melting status (wet/dry)
Soil moistureSoil moisture at the surface
VegetationVegetation type
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
Albedo click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Fire 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
Instrument Missions
ALOS-2 - Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 (2014 - 2025)