Spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar: Current Status and Future Directions. A Report to the Committee on Earth Sciences.

Abstract

This report provides a context in which questions put forth by NASA's Office of Mission to Planet Earth (OMPTE) regarding the next steps in spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) science and technology can be addressed. It summarizes the state-of-the-art in theory, experimental design, technology, data analysis, and utilization of SAR data for studies of the Earth, and describes potential new applications. The report is divided into five science chapters and a technology assessment. The chapters summarize the value of existing SAR data and currently planned SAR systems, and identity gaps in observational capabilities needing to be filled to address the scientific questions. Cases where SAR provides complementary data to other (non-SAR) measurement techniques are also described. The chapter on technology assessment outlines SAR technology development which is critical not only to NASA's providing societally relevant geophysical parameters but to maintaining competitiveness in SAR technology, and promoting economic development.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA306719

Entities

People

  • D. L. Evans
  • F. Carsey
  • J. Apel
  • R. Arvidson
  • R. Bindschadler

Organizations

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Climate Change
  • Detectors
  • Earth (Planet)
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Protection
  • Geography
  • Glaciology
  • Habitats
  • High Electron Mobility Transistors
  • Meteorology
  • Oceanography
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Ridges
  • Sea Level Rise
  • Storm Surges
  • Terrain
  • Topography

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Theoretical Analysis.