Oil Spill Cover Measurement Instruments

Measurement Definition: Fraction of an ocean area polluted by hydrocarbons released from ships, accidental or deliberate. Impacting on ocean-atmosphere exchanges. Requested in both open ocean and coastal zone - Physical unit: [ % ] - Accuracy unit: [ % ].
InstrumentStatus/
Accuracy
Instrument DescriptionMeasurement TechnologyTimeline
CSG SAROperationalAll-weather images of ocean, land and ice for monitoring of land surface processes, ice, environmental monitoring, risk management, environmental resources, maritime management, Earth topographic mapping.Imaging radar (SAR)
PALSAR-2OperationalDisaster monitoring, land monitoring, agricultural monitoring, natural resource exploration, global forest monitoring, potential use and interferometry.Imaging radar (SAR)
Paz SAR-XOperationalHigh resolution X-band radar for security, land use, urban management, environmental monitoring, risk management. Different acquisition modes: Spotlight (5 x 5-10 km SSD =<1 m), Scansar (100 x 100 km, SSD <=15 m); Stripmode (strips of 30 x 30 km with SSD 3 m).Imaging radar (SAR)
SAR (RADARSAT-2)OperationalAll-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.Imaging radar (SAR)
SAR (RCM)OperationalAll-weather, C-band data to support ecosystem monitoring, maritime surveillance and disaster management.Imaging radar (SAR)
SAR-LOperationalLand, ocean, emergencies, soil moisture, interferometry, others.Imaging radar (SAR)
S-band SAROperationalSAR imagery for a range of applications including agriculture, maritime and forestryImaging radar (SAR)
L-band SARBeing developedL-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.Imaging radar (SAR)
PALSAR-3Being developedDisaster monitoring, land monitoring, agricultural monitoring, natural resource exploration, global forest monitoring, potential use and interferometry.Imaging radar (SAR)
Advanced SARProposedHigh resolution microwave radar images for ice watch.Imaging radar (SAR)