Surface Coherent Change Detection
Measurement Instruments
Measurement Definition: Techniques that exploit the changes between two or several radar images of the same scene, in conditions where there is measurable coherence between at least a fraction of a pair of images, to detect subtle differences in the surface condition that can be related to sub-wavelength motions, surface properties changes or sub-pixel disturbances.
| Instrument | Status/
Accuracy | Instrument Description | Measurement Technology | Timeline |
| SAR (RADARSAT-2) | Operational | 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. | n/a |  |
| SAR (RCM) | Operational | All-weather, C-band data to support ecosystem monitoring, maritime surveillance and disaster management. | n/a | |
| SAR-L | Operational | Land, ocean, emergencies, soil moisture, interferometry, others. | n/a | |
| L-band SAR | Being developed | 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. | n/a | |
| L-band SAR (NISAR) | Approved | 3-year mission to study solid earth deformation (earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides), changes in ice (glaciers, sea ice) and changes in vegetation biomass | n/a | |