CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - SAR (RCM) -
Full Name Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) C band
aka RCM
Status Operational
Instrument Agencies CSA, NRCAN, DND, DFO, AAFC, ECCC, PSC 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 Image Products in a format that uses GeoTIFF for imagery and XML for metadata, or NITF for imagery and metadata.
Measurements and Applications All-weather, C-band data to support ecosystem monitoring, maritime surveillance and disaster management.
Resolution Summary Low Resolution 100 m and Low Noise: 100 x 100 m (8 looks); Medium Resolution 50 m: 50 x 50 m (4 looks); Medium Resolution 30 m: 30 x 30 m (4 looks); Medium Resolution 16 m: 16 x 16 m (4 looks); High-Resolution 5 m: 5 x 5 m (1 look); Very High Resolution 3 m: 3 x 3 m @35deg (1 look); Spotlight: 1 x 3 m @35deg (1 look); Quad-Pol: 9 x 9 m (1 look).
[Best Resolution: 1m]
Swath Summary Low Resolution 100 m: 500 km; Medium Resolution 50 m: 350 km; Low Noise: 350 km; Ship Detection: 350 km; Medium Resolution 30 m: 125 km; Medium Resolution 16 m: 30 km; High-Resolution 5 m: 30 km; Very High Resolution 3 m: 20 km; Spotlight: 20 km [5 km along-track]; Quad-Pol: 20 km.
[Max Swath: 500 km]
Accuracy Summary Absolute Radiometric Accuracy: +/- 1.0 dB
Waveband Summary Microwave: C band 5.405 GHz: HH, VV, HV, VH polarization - includes Quad polarization imaging mode and compact polarimetry.
MW (~0.1 cm - ~100 cm)
C-Band (8 - 4 GHz)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Albedo and reflectanceEarth surface albedo
Atmospheric WindsOil spill cover
Ice sheet topographySea-ice sheet topography
Landscape topographyLand surface topography
Multi-purpose imagery (land)Glacier topography
Fire fractional cover
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)
Ocean topography/currentsOcean surface currents (vector)
Bathymetry
Ocean dynamic topography
Ocean wave height and spectrumSignificant wave height
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 water equivalent
Surface temperature (land)Permafrost
VegetationVegetation type
Land cover
Soil 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
Glaciers click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Land cover 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
Sea Level 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
Surface Currents click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
RCM-1 - RADARSAT CONSTELLATION MISSION-1 (2019 - 2026)
RCM-2 - RADARSAT CONSTELLATION MISSION-2 (2019 - 2026)
RCM-3 - RADARSAT CONSTELLATION MISSION-3 (2019 - 2026)