CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - L-band SAR -
Full Name L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar Status Being developed
Instrument Agencies ESA, COM Maturity
Instrument Type Imaging microwave radars Geometry Side-looking
Instrument Technology Imaging radar (SAR) Sampling Imaging
Data Access Data Format
Measurements and Applications L-band SAR instrument offering full polarimetry, high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, low ambiguity ratios and capability for repeat-pass & single-pass cross-track interferometry to measure surface deformation of vegetated terrain, soil moisture, land cover classification, crop type discrimination and its temporal analysis. Furthermore, it will monitor Polar ice sheets and ice caps, and the sea-ice conditions (i.e. type, drift, deformation, concentration, lead fraction), as well as contribute to the European maritime situational awareness.
Resolution Summary 50m2 (dual-pol)
[Best Resolution: 5m]
Swath Summary 260km
Accuracy Summary Radiometric accuracy 1.5 dB (3 sigma) NESZ: -28 dB PTAR: -25 dB DTAR: -23 dB Radiometric stability: 0.5 dB (3 sigma)
Waveband Summary L-band (1.215 – 1.3 GHz)
L-Band (2 - 1 GHz)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Atmospheric WindsOil spill cover
Gravity, Magnetic and Geodynamic measurementsCrustal Motion
Landscape topographyLand surface topography
Multi-purpose imagery (land)Surface Coherent Change Detection
Ocean surface windsWind speed over sea surface (horizontal)
Ocean topography/currentsOcean surface currents (vector)
Ocean wave height and spectrumSignificant wave height
Dominant wave period
Dominant wave direction
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Sea-ice type
Iceberg fractional cover
Glacier motion
Snow cover, edge and depthSnow water equivalent
Soil moistureSoil moisture at the surface
Surface inundation
VegetationLand 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
Land cover click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea Ice click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea State 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
Sentinel ROSE-L A - Radar Observing System for Europe in L-band A (2029 - 2037)
Sentinel ROSE-L B - Radar Observing System for Europe in L-band A (2031 - 2039)