CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - S-band SAR (NISAR) -
Full Name S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) (NISAR) Status Approved
Instrument Agencies ISRO Maturity
Instrument Type Imaging microwave radars Geometry Side-looking
Instrument Technology Imaging radar (SAR) Sampling Imaging
Data Access Open Access Data Format TBD
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 4 - 24m resolution
[Best Resolution: 4m]
Swath Summary 230 km min
[Max Swath: 244 km]
Accuracy Summary TBD
Waveband Summary Microwave: 3.2 GHz
MW (~0.1 cm - ~100 cm)
S-Band (4 - 2 GHz)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Soil moistureSoil moisture at the surface
Thematic Links Global Climate Observing System Essential Climate Variables (GCOS ECVs)
ECVDescriptionProduct(s)ECV Inventory 3.0 Record(s)
Soil Moisture click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
NISAR - NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (2025 - 2028)