SAR-L Instrument

Identifiersar-l-saocomNamesL-Band Synthetic Aperture RadarSAR-L About identifiers

Measurements and Applications

Land, ocean, emergencies, soil moisture, interferometry, others.

Instrument Summary

Full Name
L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar
Status
Operational
Instrument Agencies
CONAE
Maturity
Instrument Type
Imaging microwave radars
Geometry
Side-looking
Instrument Technology
Imaging radar (SAR)
Sampling
Imaging
Data Access
Data Format
XML + binary HDF5

Performance Summary

Resolution
10 x 10 m – 100 x 100 m
[Best Resolution: 10m]
Swath
20 – 350 km
[Max Swath: 350 km]
Accuracy
Absolute radiometric accuracy: 0.5 dB (QP), 1.0 dB (SP, DP); Polarimetric accuracy: 0.3 dB; Phase accuracy between polarimetric channels: 15°; Geolocation accuracy: on-line: 90 m, off-line: 25 m (with precise orbit).
Waveband
L-band (1.275 GHz)
L-Band (2 - 1 GHz)

SAR Parameters

Compiled from the 2026 Extended Parameters Survey, agency-nominated technical contacts and published user guides; not yet collected through the annual CEOS MIM survey.
Band
L-Band
Centre Frequency
1.275 GHz
Max Bandwidth
50 MHz
Polarisation Channels
HH · HV · VV · VH
Polarisation Modes
single · dual · quad · compact
Look Direction
Both (nominal Right)
Antenna
ActivePhase Array antenna — 10 × 3.5 m
Source
ESA TPM SAOCOM information: https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/saocom

Imaging Modes

Compiled from the 2026 Extended Parameters Survey, agency-nominated technical contacts and published user guides; not yet collected through the annual CEOS MIM survey.
ModeResolution az × rg (m)Swath (km)Incidence (°)
Stripmap Single/Dual Pol - S1 SM SP/DP - S15 × 1049.7 (74.1 along-track)20.7–25
Stripmap Single/Dual Pol - S2 SM SP/DP - S25 × 1052.3 (74.1 along-track)24.9–29.2
Stripmap Single/Dual Pol - S3 SM SP/DP - S35 × 1061.4 (74.1 along-track)29.1–33.8
Stripmap Single/Dual Pol - S4 SM SP/DP - S45 × 1065.7 (74.1 along-track)33.7–38.3
Stripmap Single/Dual Pol - S5 SM SP/DP - S55 × 1049.1 (74.1 along-track)38.2–41.3
Stripmap Single/Dual Pol - S6 SM SP/DP - S65 × 1055.6 (74.1 along-track)41.3–44.5
Stripmap Single/Dual Pol - S7 SM SP/DP - S75 × 1048 (74.1 along-track)44.6–47.1
Stripmap Single/Dual Pol - S8 SM SP/DP - S85 × 1031.9 (74.1 along-track)47.2–48.7
Stripmap Single/Dual Pol - S9 SM SP/DP - S95 × 1031.1 (74.1 along-track)48.8–50.2
Stripmap Quad Pol - S1 SM QP - S16 × 1021.9 (74.1 along-track)17.6–19.5
Stripmap Quad Pol - S2 SM QP - S26 × 1022 (74.1 along-track)19.5–21.5
Stripmap Quad Pol - S3 SM QP - S36 × 1021 (74.1 along-track)21.4–23.3
Stripmap Quad Pol - S4 SM QP - S46 × 1025.4 (74.1 along-track)23.2–25.4
Stripmap Quad Pol - S5 SM QP - S56 × 1023.4 (74.1 along-track)25.3–27.3
Stripmap Quad Pol - S6 SM QP - S66 × 1029.4 (74.1 along-track)27.2–29.6
Stripmap Quad Pol - S7 SM QP - S76 × 1020.9 (74.1 along-track)29.6–31.2
Stripmap Quad Pol - S8 SM QP - S86 × 1025.1 (74.1 along-track)31.2–33
Stripmap Quad Pol - S9 SM QP - S96 × 1022.1 (74.1 along-track)33–34.6
TOPSAR Narrow Single/Dual Pol - A TNA SP/DP30 × 10176.3 (222.3 along-track)24.9–38.3
TOPSAR Narrow Single/Dual Pol - B TNB SP/DP30 × 10150.2 (222.3 along-track)38.2–47.1
TOPSAR Narrow Quad Pol - A TNA QP50 × 10109.9 (222.3 along-track)17.6–27.2
TOPSAR Narrow Quad Pol - B TNB QP50 × 10108.8 (222.3 along-track)27.3–35.5
Stripmap Quad Pol - S10 SM QP - S106 × 1014.2 (74.1 along-track)34.6–36.5
TOPSAR Wide Single/Dual Pol TW SP/DP50 × 10353.7 (444.6 along-track)24.9–48.7
TOPSAR Wide Quad Pol TW QP100 × 10218.1 (444.6 along-track)17.6–35.5

Instrument Missions

SAOCOM 1A - Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas 1A (2018 - 2026) saocom-1a_sar-l-saocom
SAOCOM 1B - Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas 1B (2020 - 2026) saocom-1b_sar-l-saocom
SAOCOM-2B - Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas 2B (2030 - 2035) saocom-2b_sar-l-saocom
SAOCOM-2 - Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas 2A (2031 - 2038) saocom-2_sar-l-saocom

Instrument Measurements

CategoryParameter
Atmospheric WindsOil spill cover
Ice sheet topographySea-ice sheet topography
Landscape topographyLand surface topography
Multi-purpose imagery (land)Land surface imagery
Surface Coherent Change Detection
Multi-purpose imagery (ocean)Ocean imagery and water leaving spectral radiance
Ocean surface windsWind speed over sea surface (horizontal)
Wind vector over sea surface (horizontal)
Ocean topography/currentsOcean surface currents (vector)
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Sea-ice type
Glacier cover
Glacier motion
Sea-ice thickness
Snow cover, edge and depthSnow cover
Snow detection (mask)
Soil moistureSoil moisture at the surface
VegetationVegetation type
Land cover
Vegetation Canopy (cover)
Vegetation Canopy (height)
Above Ground Biomass (AGB)
Copyright © CEOS 2026 · Data licence: CC BY 4.0