SAR (RADARSAT) Instrument

Measurements and Applications

All-weather images of ocean, ice and land surfaces. Used for monitoring of coastal zones, polar ice, sea ice, sea state, geological features, vegetation and land surface processes.

Instrument Summary

Full Name
Synthetic Aperture Radar (CSA) C band
Status
No longer operational
Instrument Agencies
CSA
Maturity
High Heritage - Operational
Instrument Type
Imaging microwave radars
Geometry
Side-looking
Instrument Technology
Imaging radar (SAR)
Sampling
Imaging
Data Access
Constrained Access
Data Format
CEOS

Performance Summary

Resolution
Nominal resolutions: Standard: 30 m (4 looks); Wide: 30 m (4 looks); Fine: 8 m (1 look); ScanSAR (N/W): 50 m / 100 m (4/8 looks); Extended (H/L): 18 - 27 m / 30 m (4/4 looks).
[Best Resolution: 8m]
Swath
Standard: 100 km (inc.: 20 - 49 deg); Wide: 150 km (inc.: 20 - 45 deg), Fine: 45 km (inc.: 37 - 47 deg); ScanSAR (N/W): 300/500 km (inc.: 20 - 49 deg); Extended (H/L): 75/170 km (inc.: 52 - 58 / 10 - 22 deg).
[Max Swath: 500 km]
Accuracy
Geometric distortion: < 40 m Relative Radiometric Accuracy (within a 100km scene): <1 dB
Waveband
Microwave: C band 5.3 GHz, HH polarization.
MW (~0.1 cm - ~100 cm)
C-Band (8 - 4 GHz)

Instrument Missions

RADARSAT-1 - RADARSAT-1 (1995 - 2013)

Instrument Measurements