Description:

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)-derived high resolution wind products are calculated from high resolution SAR images of normalized radar cross section (NRCS) of the Earth's surface. Backscattered microwave radar returns from the ocean surface are strongly dependent on wind speed and direction. When no wind is present, the surface of the water is smooth, almost glass-like. Radar energy will largely be reflected away and the radar cross section will be low. As the wind begins to blow, the surface roughens and surface waves begin to develop. As the wind continues to blow more strongly, the amplitude of the wave increases, thus, roughening the surface more. As the surface roughness increases, more energy is backscattered and NRCS increases. Moreover, careful examination of the wind-generated waves reveals that these surface wave crests are generally aligned perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction, suggesting a dependence of backscatter on the relative direction between the incident radar energy and the wind direction. This data set consists of high resolution sea surface winds data derived from SAR on-board RADARSAT-2 satellite. The basic archive file is a NetCDF4 file containing SAR wind, a land mask, and time and earth location information. Also archived are the maps of the SAR wind in GeoTiFF format. The product utilizes the CoastWatch product format and covers the geographic extent of the SAR image frame from which it was derived.

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Temporal Extent:

Start: 2014-05-02T00:00:00.000Z

Spatial Extent:

Minimum Bounding Rectangle: -90 -180 90 180

NOAA_NCEI Short Name: 10.7289/v5m906ns Version ID: Not Applicable Unique ID: C2089393298-NOAA_NCEI

Description:

"RADARSAT-1&2 full archive and new tasking products are available in several different beam modes. RADARSAT-1 PRODUCTS The Standard beam mode operates with any one of seven beam positions, referred to as S1 to S7. The nominal incidence angle range covered by the full set of Standard beams is from 20 degrees (at the inner edge of S1) to 49 degrees (at the outer edge of S7). Each individual beam covers a minimum ground swath of 100 km within the total 500 km accessibility swath of the full set of Standard beams. The nominal spatial resolution in the range direction is 26 m for S1 at near range to 20 m for S7 at far range. The nominal azimuth resolution is the same, 27 m, for all beam positions. The Wide beam modes are similar to the Standard beams except that the swath width achieved by this beam is 150 km rather than 100 km. As a result, only three Wide beams, W1, W2 and W3 are necessary to provide coverage of almost all of the 500 km swath range. They provide comparable resolution to the standard beam mode, though the increased ground swath coverage is obtained at the expense of a slight reduction in overall image quality. In the Fine beam mode the nominal azimuth resolution is 8.4 m, with range resolution 9.1 m to 7.8 m from F1 to F5. Since the radar operates with a higher sampling rate in this mode than in any of the other beam mode, the ground swath coverage has to be reduced to approximately 50 km in order to keep the downlink signal within its allocated bandwidth. Originally, five Fine beam positions, F1 to F5, were available to cover the far range of the swath with an incidence angle range from 37 to 47 degrees. By modifying timing parameters, 10 new positions have been added with offset ground coverage. Each original Fine beam position can either be shifted closer to or further away from Nadir. In Extended High beam mode six positions, EH1 to EH6, are available for collection of data in the 49 to 60 degree incidence angle range. Since this beam mode operates outside the optimum scan angle range of the SAR antenna, some minor degradation of image quality can be expected when compared with the Standard beam mode. Swath widths are restricted to a nominal 80 km for the inner three positions, and 70 km for the outer three positions. In Extended Low beam mode one position, EL1, is provided for imaging in the incidence angle range 10 to 23 degrees with nominal ground swath coverage of 170 km. As with the Extended High beam mode, some minor degradation of image quality can be expected due to operation of the antenna beyond its optimum elevation angle range. In ScanSAR mode, combinations of two, three or four single beams are used during data collection. Each beam is selected sequentially so that data is collected from a wider swath than possible with a single beam. The beam switching rates are chosen to ensure at least one "look" at the Earth's surface for each beam within the along track illumination time or dwell time of the antenna beam. In practice, the radar beam switching is adjusted to provide two looks per beam. The beam multiplexing inherent in ScanSAR operation reduces the effective sampling rate within each of the component beams; hence the increased swath coverage is obtained at the expense of spatial resolution. The ScanSAR Narrow mode combines two beams (incidence angle range of 20 to 39 degrees) or three beams (incidence angle from 31 to 46 degrees) and provides coverage of a nominal 300 km ground swath, with spatial resolution of 50 m. The ScanSAR Wide mode combines four beams, provides coverage of either 500 km (with incidence angle range of 20 to 49 degrees) or 450 km (incidence angle range from 20 to 46 degrees) nominal ground swaths depending on the beam combination. Beam Mode| Product| Ground coverage (km2)| Nominal resolution (m)| Polarisation| ScanSAR wide| SCW, SCF, SCS| 500 x 500| 100| Single and dual| ScanSAR narrow| SCN, SCF, SCS| 300 x 300| 60| Single and dual| Wide| SGF, SGX, SLC, SSG, SPG| 150 x 150| 24| Single and dual| Standard| SGF, SGX, SLC, SSG, SPG| 100 x 100| 24| Single| Extended low| SGF, SGX, SLC, SSG, SPG| 170 x 170| 24| Single| Extended high| SGF, SGX, SLC, SSG, SPG| 75 x 75| 24| Single| Fine| SGF, SGX, SLC, SSG, SPG| 50 x 50| 8| Single| RADARSAT-2 PRODUCTS The Standard Beam Mode allows imaging over a wide range of incidence angles with a set of image quality characteristics which provides a balance between fine resolution and wide coverage, and between spatial and radiometric resolutions. Standard Beam Mode operates with any one of eight beams, referred to as S1 to S8. The nominal incidence angle range covered by the full set of beams is 20 degrees (at the inner edge of S1) to 52 degrees (at the outer edge of S8). Each individual beam covers a nominal ground swath of 100 km within the total standard beam accessibility swath of more than 500 km. The Wide Swath Beam Mode allows imaging of wider swaths than Standard Beam Mode, but at the expense of slightly coarser spatial resolution. The three Wide Swath beams, W1, W2 and W3, provide coverage of swaths of approximately 170 km, 150 km and 130 km in width respectively, and collectively span a total incidence angle range from 20 degrees to 45 degrees. The Fine Resolution Beam Mode is intended for applications which require finer spatial resolution. Products from this beam mode have a nominal ground swath of 50 km. Nine Fine Resolution physical beams, F23 to F21, and F1 to F6 are available to cover the incidence angle range from 30 to 50 degrees. For each of these beams, the swath can optionally be centred with respect to the physical beam or it can be shifted slightly to the near or far range side. Thanks to these additional swath positioning choices, overlaps of more than 50% are provided between adjacent swaths. In the Extended Low Incidence Beam Mode, a single Extended Low Incidence Beam, EL1, is provided for imaging in the incidence angle range from 10 to 23 degrees with a nominal ground swath coverage of 170 km. Some minor degradation of image quality can be expected due to operation of the antenna beyond its optimum scan angle range. In the Extended High Incidence Beam Mode, six Extended High Incidence Beams, EH1 to EH6, are available for imaging in the 49 to 60 degree incidence angle range. Since these beams operate outside the optimum scan angle range of the SAR antenna, some degradation of image quality, becoming progressively more severe with increasing incidence angle, can be expected when compared with the Standard Beams. Swath widths are restricted to a nominal 80 km for the inner three beams, and 70 km for the outer beams. ScanSAR Narrow Beam Mode provides coverage of a ground swath approximately double the width of the Wide Swath Beam Mode swaths. Two swath positions with different combinations of physical beams can be used: SCNA, which uses physical beams W1 and W2, and SCNB, which uses physical beams W2, S5, and S6. Both options provide coverage of swath widths of about 300 km. The SCNA combination provides coverage over the incidence angle range from 20 to 39 degrees. The SCNB combination provides coverage over the incidence angle range 31 to 47 degrees. ScanSAR Wide Beam Mode provides coverage of a ground swath approximately triple the width of the Wide Swath Beam Mode swaths. Two swath positions with different combinations of physical beams can be used: SCWA, which uses physical beams W1, W2, W3, and S7, and SCWB, which uses physical beams W1, W2, S5 and S6. The SCWA combination allows imaging of a swath of more than 500 km covering an incidence angle range of 20 to 49 degrees. The SCWB combination allows imaging of a swath of more than 450 km covering the incidence angle. In the Standard Quad Polarization Beam Mode, the radar transmits pulses alternately in horizontal (H) and vertical (V) polarisations, and receives the return signals from each pulse in both H and V polarisations separately but simultaneously. This beam mode therefore enables full polarimetric (HH+VV+HV+VH) image products to be generated. The Standard Quad Polarization Beam Mode operates with the same pulse bandwidths as the Standard Beam Mode. Products with swath widths of approximately 25 km can be obtained covering any area within the region from an incidence angle of 18 degrees to at least 49 degrees. The Wide Standard Quad Polarization Beam Mode operates the same way as the Standard Quad Polarization Beam Mode but with higher data acquisition rates, and offers wider swaths of approximately 50 km at equivalent spatial resolution. 21 beams are available covering any area from 18 degrees to 42 degrees, ensuring overlaps of about 50% between adjacent swaths. The Fine Quad Polarization Beam Mode provides full polarimetric imaging with the same spatial resolution as the Fine Resolution Beam Mode. Fine Quad Polarization Beam Mode products with swath widths of approximately 25 km can be obtained covering any area within the region from an incidence angle of 18 degrees to at least 49 degrees. The Wide Fine Quad Polarization Beam Mode operates the same way as the Fine Quad Polarization Beam Mode but with higher data acquisition rates, and offers a wider swath of approximately 50 km at equivalent spatial resolution. 21 beams are available covering any area from 18 degrees to 42 degrees, ensuring overlaps of about 50% between adjacent swaths. The Multi-Look Fine Resolution Beam Mode covers the same swaths as the Fine Resolution Beam Mode. Products with multiple looks in range and azimuth are generated at approximately the same spatial resolution as Fine Resolution Beam mode products, but with multiple looks and therefore improved radiometric resolution. Single look products are generated at finer spatial resolutions than Fine Resolution Beam Mode products. In order to obtain the multiple looks without a reduction in swath width, this beam mode operates with higher data acquisition rates and noise levels than Fine Resolution Beam Mode. As with the Fine Resolution Beam Mode, nine physical beams are available to cover the incidence angle range from 30 to 50 degrees, and additional near and/or far range swath positioning choices are available to provide additional overlap. The Wide Multi-Look Fine Resolution Beam Mode offers a wider coverage alternative to the regular Multi-Look Fine Beam Mode, while preserving the same spatial and radiometric resolution, but at the expense of higher data compression ratios (which leads to higher signal-dependent noise levels). The nominal swath width is 90 km compared to 50 km for the Multi-Look Fine Beam Mode. The nine physical beams are the same as in the Multi-Look Fine Beam Mode, covering incidence angles from approximately 30 to 50 degrees, but the additional near and far range swath positioning choices available in the Multi-Look Fine Beam Mode are not needed because the beam centered swaths are wide enough to overlap by more than 50%. The Ultra-Fine Resolution Beam Mode is intended for applications which require very high spatial resolution. The set of Ultra-Fine Resolution Beams cover any area within the incidence angle range from 20 to 50 degrees (soon to be extended to 54 degrees). Each beam within the set images a swath width of at least 20 km. The Wide Ultra-Fine Resolution Beam Mode provides the same spatial resolution as the Ultra-Fine mode as well as wider coverage, but at the expense of higher data compression ratios (which leads to higher signal-dependent noise levels). The set of Wide Ultra-Fine Resolution Beams cover any area within the incidence angle range from 30 to 50 degrees. Each beam within the set images a swath width of approximately 50 km. The Wide Fine Resolution Beam Mode is intended for applications which require both a finer spatial resolution and a wide swath. Products from this beam mode have a nominal ground swath equivalent to the ones offered by the Wide Swath Beam Mode (170 km, 150 km and 120 km) and a spatial resolution equivalent to the ones offered by the Fine Resolution Beam Mode, at the expense of somewhat higher noise levels. Three Wide Fine Resolution beam positions, F0W1 to F0W3 are available to cover the incidence angle range from 20 to 45 degrees. The Extra-Fine Resolution Beam Mode nominally provides similar swath width and incidence angle coverage as the Wide Fine Beam Mode, at even finer resolutions, but with higher data compression ratios and noise levels. The four Extra-Fine beams provide coverage of swaths of approximately 160 km, 124 km, 120 km and 108 km in width respectively, and collectively span a total incidence angle range from 22 to 49 degrees. This beam mode also offers additional optional processing parameter selections that allow for reduced-bandwidth single-look products, 4-look, and 28-look products. In Spotlight Beam Mode, the beam is steered electronically in order to dwell on the area of interest over longer aperture times, which allows products to be processed to finer azimuth resolution than in other modes. Unlike in other modes, Spotlight images are of fixed size in the along track direction. The set of Spotlight beams cover any area within the incidence angle range from 20 to 50 degrees (soon to be extended to 54 degrees). Each beam within the set images a swath width of at least 18 km. Beam Mode| Product| Nominal Pixel Spacing [Range x Azimuth](metres)| Nominal Resolution (metres)| Resolution [Range x Azimuth](metres)| Nominal Scene Size [Range x Azimuth](kilometres)| Range of Angle of Incidence [Range](degrees)| Number of Looks [Range x Azimuth]| Polarisations Options| Spotlight| SLC |1.3 x 0.4| <1| 1.6 x 0.8| 18 x 8| 20 to 54| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Spotlight| SGX |1 or 0.8 x 1/3| <1|4.6 - 2.0 x 0.8|18 x 8| 20 to 54| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Spotlight| SGF |0.5 x 0.5| <1|4.6 - 2.0 x 0.8|18 x 8| 20 to 54| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Spotlight| SSG, SPG|0.5 x 0.5| <1|4.6 - 2.0 x 0.8|18 x 8| 20 to 54| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Ultra-fine| SLC| 1.3 x 2.1| 3| 1.6 x 2.8| 20 x 20| 20 to 54| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Ultra-fine| SGX| 1 x 1 or 0.8 x 0.8| 3| 3.3 – 2.1 x 2.8| 20 x 20| 20 to 54| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Ultra-fine| SGF| 1.56 x 1.56| 3| 3.3 – 2.1 x 2.8| 20 x 20| 20 to 54| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Ultra-fine| SSG, SPG| 1.56 x 1.56| 3| 3.3 – 2.1 x 2.8| 20 x 20| 20 to 54| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Wide Ultra-fine| SLC| 1.3 x 2.1| 3| 3.1 x 4.6| 50 x 50 29 to 50 1 x 1 Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Wide Ultra-fine| SGX| 1 x 1| 3| 3.3 - 2.1 x 2.8| 50 x 50 29 to 50 1 x 1 Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Wide Ultra-fine| SGF| 1.56 x 1.56| 3| 3.3 - 2.1 x 2.8| 50 x 50 29 to 50 1 x 1 Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Wide Ultra-fine| SSG, SPG| 1.56 x 1.56| 3| 3.3 - 2.1 x 2.8| 50 x 50 29 to 50 1 x 1 Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Multi-look fine| SLC| 2.7 x 2.9| 8| 3.1 x 4.6| 50 x 50| 30 to 50| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Multi-look fine| SGX| 3.13 x 3.13| 8| 10.4 - 6.8 x 7.6| 50 x 50| 30 to 50| 2 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Multi-look fine| SGF| 6.25 x 6.25| 8| 10.4 - 6.8 x 7.6| 50 x 50| 30 to 50| 2 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Multi-look fine| SSG, SPG| 6.25 x 6.25| 8| 10.4 - 6.8 x 7.6| 50 x 50| 30 to 50| 2 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Wide Multi-look fine| SLC| 2.7 x 2.9| 8| 3.1 x 4.6| 90 x 50| 29 to 50| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Wide Multi-look fine| SGX| 3.13 x 3.13| 8| 10.8 - 6.8 x 7.6| 90 x 50| 29 to 50| 2 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Wide Multi-look fine| SGF| 6.25 x 6.25| 8| 10.8 - 6.8 x 7.6| 90 x 50| 29 to 50| 2 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Wide Multi-look fine| SSG, SPG| 6.25 x 6.25| 8| 10.8 - 6.8 x 7.6| 90 x 50| 29 to 50| 2 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SLC| (Full resolution)| 2.7 x 2.9| 5| 3.1 x 4.6| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SLC| (fine resolution)| 4.3 x 5.8| 5| 5.2 x 7.6| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SLC| (standard resolution)| 7.1 x 5.8| 5| 8.9 x 7.6| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SLC| (wide resolution)| 10.6 x 5.8| 5| 13.3 x 7.6| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SGX| (1 look)| 2.0 x 2.0| 5| 8.4 – 4.1 x 4.6| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SGX| (4 looks)| 3.13 x 3.13| 5| 14 – 6.9 x 7.6| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 2 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SGX| (28 looks)| 5.0 x 5.0| 5| 24 - 12 x 23.5| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 4 x 7| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SGF| (1 look)| 3.13 x 3.13| 5| 8.4 - 4.1 x 4.6| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SGF| (4 looks)| 6.25 x 6.25| 5| 14 - 6.9 x 7.6| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 2 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SGF| (28 looks)| 8.0 x 8.0| 5| 24 - 12 x 23.5| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 4 x 7| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Extra-fine| SSG, SPG| 3.13 x 3.13| 5| 8.4 - 4.1 x 4.6| 125 x 125| 22 to 49| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH)| Fine| SLC| 4.7 x 5.1| 8| 5.2 x 7.7| 50 x 50| 30 to 50| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Fine| SGX| 3.13 x 3.13| 8| 10.4 – 6.8 x 7.7| 50 x 50| 30 to 50| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Fine| SGF| 6.25 x 6.25| 8| 10.4 – 6.8 x 7.7| 50 x 50| 30 to 50| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Fine| SSG, SPG| 6.25 x 6.25| 8| 10.4 – 6.8 x 7.7| 50 x 50| 30 to 50| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Wide Fine| SLC| 4.7 x 5.1| 8| 5.2 x 7.7| 150 x 150| 20 to 45| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Wide Fine| SGX| 3.13 x 3.13| 8| 14.9 - 7.3 x 7.7| 150 x 150| 20 to 45| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Wide Fine| SGF| 6.25 x 6.25| 8| 14.9 - 7.3 x 7.7| 150 x 150| 20 to 45| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Wide Fine| SSG, SPG| 6.25 x 6.25| 8| 14.9 - 7.3 x 7.7| 150 x 150| 20 to 45| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Standard| SLC| 8.0 or 11.8 x 5.1| 25| 9.0 or 13.5 x 7.7| 100 x 100| 20 - 52| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Standard| SGX| 8 x 8| 25| 26.8 - 17.3 x 24.7| 100 x 100| 20 - 52| 1 x 4| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Standard| SGF| 12.5 x 12.5| 25| 26.8 - 17.3 x 24.7| 100 x 100| 20 - 52| 1 x 4| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Standard| SSG, SPG| 12.5 x 12.5| 25| 26.8 - 17.3 x 24.7| 100 x 100| 20 - 52| 1 x 4| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Wide| SLC| 11.8 x 5.1| 30| 13.5 x 7.7| 150 x 150| 20 - 45| 1 x 1| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Wide| SGX| 10 x 10| 30| 40.0 - 19.2 x 24.7| 150 x 150| 20 - 45| 1 x 4| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Wide| SGF| 12.5 x 12.5| 30| 40.0 - 19.2 x 24.7| 150 x 150| 20 - 45| 1 x 4| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Wide| SSG, SPG| 12.5 x 12.5| 30| 40.0 - 19.2 x 24.7| 150 x 150| 20 - 45| 1 x 4| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| Extended High| SLC| 11.8 x 5.1| 25| 13.5 x 7.7| 75 x 75| 49 - 60| 1 x 1| Single (HH only)| Extended High| SGX| 8 x 8| 25| 18.2 - 15.9 x 24.7| 75 x 75| 49 - 60| 1 x 4| Single (HH only)| Extended High| SGF| 12.5 x 12.5| 25| 18.2 - 15.9 x 24.7| 75 x 75| 49 - 60| 1 x 4| Single (HH only)| Extended High| SSG, SPG| 12.5 x 12.5| 25| 18.2 - 15.9 x 24.7| 75 x 75| 49 - 60| 1 x 4| Single (HH only)| Extended Low| SLC| 8.0 x 5.1| 25| 9.0 x 7.7| 170 x 170| 10 - 23| 1 x 1| Single (HH only)| Extended Low| SGX| 10 x 10| 25| 52.7 – 23.3 x 24.7| 170 x 170| 10 - 23| 1 x 4| Single (HH only)| Extended Low| SGF| 12.5 x 12.5| 25| 52.7 – 23.3 x 24.7| 170 x 170| 10 - 23| 1 x 4| Single (HH only)| Extended Low| SSG, SPG| 12.5 x 12.5| 25| 52.7 – 23.3 x 24.7| 170 x 170| 10 - 23| 1 x 4| Single (HH only)| Fine Quad-Pol| SLC| 4.7 x 5.1| 8| 5.2 x 7.6| 25 x 25| 18 - 49| 1 x 1| Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Fine Quad-Pol| SGX| 3.13 x 3.13| 8| 16.5 – 6.8 x 7.6| 25 x 25| 18 - 49| 1 x 1| Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Fine Quad-Pol| SSG, SPG| 3.13 x 3.13| 8| 16.5 – 6.8 x 7.6| 25 x 25| 18 - 49| 1 x 1| Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Wide Fine Quad-Pol| SLC| 4.7 x 5.1| 8| 5.2 x 7.6| 50 x 25| 18 - 42| 1 x 1 Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Wide Fine Quad-Pol| SGX| 3.13 x 3.13| 8| 17.3–7.8 x 7.6| 50 x 25| 18 - 42| 1 x 1 Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Wide Fine Quad-Pol| SSG, SPG| 3.13 x 3.13| 8| 17.3–7.8 x 7.6| 50 x 25| 18 - 42| 1 x 1 Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Standard Quad-Pol| SLC| 8 or 11.8 x 5.1| 25| 9.0 or 13.5 x 7.6| 25 x 25| 18 - 49| 1 x 1| Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Standard Quad-Pol| SGX| 8 x 3.13| 25| 28.6 – 17.7 x 7.6| 25 x 25| 18 - 49| 1 x 1| Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Standard Quad-Pol| SSG, SPG| 8 x 3.13| 25| 28.6 – 17.7 x 7.6| 25 x 25| 18 - 49| 1 x 1| Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Wide Standard Quad-Pol| SLC| 8 or 11.8 x 5.1| 25| 9.0 or 13.5 x 7.6| 50 x 25| 18 - 42| 1 x 1| Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Wide Standard Quad-Pol| SGX| 8 x 3.13| 25| 30.0 –16.7 x 7.6| 50 x 25| 18 - 42| 1 x 1| Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| Wide Standard Quad-Pol| SSG, SPG| 8 x 3.13| 25| 30.0 –16.7 x 7.6| 50 x 25| 18 - 42| 1 x 1| Quad (HH+VV+HV+VH)| ScanSAR Narrow| SCN, SCF, SCS| 25 x 25| 50| 81–38 x 40-70| 300 x 300| 20 to 46| 2 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| ScanSAR Wide| SCW, SCF, SCS| 50 x 50| 100| 163-73 x 78-106| 500 x 500| 20 to 49| 4 x 2| Single Co or Cross (HH or VV or HV or VH) or Dual (HH+HV or VV+VH)| These are the different products : SLC (Single Look Complex): Amplitude and phase information is preserved. Data is in slant range. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track SGF (Path Image): Data is converted to ground range and may be multi-look processed. Scene is oriented in direction of orbit path. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track. SGX (Path Image Plus): Same as SGF except processed with refined pixel spacing as needed to fully encompass the image data bandwidths. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track SSG(Map Image): Image is geocorrected to a map projection. SPG (Precision Map Image): Image is geocorrected to a map projection. Ground control points (GCP) are used to improve positional accuracy. SCN(ScanSAR Narrow)/SCF(ScanSAR Wide) : ScanSAR Narrow/Wide beam mode product with original processing options and metadata fields (for backwards compatibility only). Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track SCF (ScanSAR Fine): ScanSAR product equivalent to SGF with additional processing options and metadata fields. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track SCS(ScanSAR Sampled) : Same as SCF except with finer sampling. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track The products are available as part of the MDA provision from RADARSAT missions with worldwide coverage: the EODMS catalogue (https://www.eodms-sgdot.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/index_en.jsp) can be accessed (registration required only for ordering) to discover and check the data readiness. All details about the data provision, data access conditions and quota assignment procedure are described into the Terms of Applicability available in Resources section.

Links:

• Data link
• Data link
• RADARSAT.SAR.F

Temporal Extent:

Start: 1995-12-01T00:00:00.000Z

Spatial Extent:

Minimum Bounding Rectangle: -90 -180 90 180

ESA Short Name: RADARSAT.SAR.F Version ID: NA Unique ID: C1965336935-ESA

Description:

Metadata record for data from AAS (ASAC) Project 3024. Public The proposed research will derive improved estimates of East Antarctic fast-ice extent and thickness, and their variability, from satellite data. These will be used to explicitly test relationships between fast ice/other environmental parameters and Emperor penguin population dynamics. We shall also combine observations with a wave-ice shelf-sea ice interaction model to test the hypothesis that catastrophic ice shelf break-up events on the E. Antarctic Peninsula are linked to increased ocean wave energy associated with sea-ice extent anomalies (driven by atmospheric anomalies), and/or long-period swell from far-remote storms. This work will aid comprehension of processes responsible for recent rapid ice-shelf demise. Project objectives: 1. To measure and monitor East Antarctic fast ice areal extent and thickness, and their spatio-temporal variability, using satellite remote sensing. 2) To analyse the impact of fast ice variability on the breeding success of Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri). 3) To investigate the potential impact of sea ice on recent ice shelf break-up breakup on the Antarctic Peninsula. Taken from the 2008-2009 Progress Report: This project has shown a strong correlation between interannual fast ice variability and Emperor penguin breeding success at Dumont d'Urville, and has produced satellite-based maps of East Antarctic fast ice (radar snapshot mosaics from November 1997/98 and 20-day composite images for 2005-2008, extending back to 2000). Secondly, significant progress was made towards implicating an atmospherically-driven anomalous lack of sea ice in recent Antarctic ice-shelf disintegrations. Finally, new research highlights a previously-overlooked mechanical coupling between the floating Mertz Glacier tongue and very thick (greater than 25m) and old (greater than 20yrs) fast ice attached to it, with important implications for ice-sheet margin stability. Taken from the 2009-2010 Progress Report: Progress against objectives: 1) To measure and monitor East Antarctic fast ice areal extent and thickness, and their spatio-temporal variability, using satellite remote sensing. Considerable progress has been made against this objective, building on last year's publication of the first detailed "snapshot" maps of landfast sea ice (fast ice) extent around the East Antarctic coast from 75 degrees E-170 degrees E for the Novembers of 1997 and 1999 using RADARSAT satellite ScanSAR images (see Giles et al., 2008). The main achievements are: * The development of an improved semi-automated method to successfully derive fast ice extent (and pack ice motion) from time series of Envisat Advanced SAR images (Giles et al., in prep.), via a project with the European Space Agency and the International Space Science Institute (Berne, Switzerland). Fast ice is identified as regions of zero motion in the cross-correlation analysis of carefully co-registered pairs of satellite SAR images. * Significant progress in the PhD project (Alex Fraser) aimed at deriving longer and near-continuous time series of fast ice extent from time series of NASA MODIS visible and thermal IR imagery at 1 km resolution. A major challenge has been to address the problem of effectively 'removing' persistent cloud cover from the images. This has been achieved by compositing many thousands of MODIS images to create 20-day composite images of the entire East Antarctic coastal zone from 10W to 170E. This technique was showcased at the prestigious International Geoscience and Remote Sensing 2009 conference in South Africa in July 2009 (Fraser et al., 2009a), with subsequent publication by Fraser et al. (2009b). During the year, this work resulted in an important new time series of fast ice extent that runs from 2000 to 2008 inclusive (Fraser et al., in prep.), with techniques being described in Fraser et al. (in press). This unique dataset represents by far the most detailed estimate of East Antarctic fast ice and its spatio-temporal variability to date. It furthermore represents an important new baseline against which to gauge change, given that Antarctic fast ice is a key yet poorly understood component of the global cryosphere (and ocean freshwater budget), is of immense ecological significance (see 2 below), and is a sensitive indicator of climate change/variability. This baseline is directly comparable to the more familiar overall sea ice (pack ice) extent product. Work is underway to determine why large regional differences occur in fast ice distribution and behaviour, including analysis of the role of bathymetry, grounded icebergs and changes in wind patterns. This work also provides crucial regional-scale fast ice information in support of detailed localised fast ice measurements carried out within the Antarctic Fast Ice network at Casey and Davis (AAS 3032). * A collaborative project has been established with Drs Fricker (USA) and Legresy (France) to estimate the thickness of a large region of perennial fast ice adjacent and attached to the Mertz Glacier Tongue. This has been achieved by combining satellite imagery with surface elevation data from the NASA's ICESat laser altimeter satellite, although current unknowns include the thickness and density of the overlying snowcover. The results suggest that this fast ice is extraordinarily thick i.e. greater than 25 m, and may be at least 20 years old (Massom et al., subm., a). Work examining the glaciological significance of this extremely thick fast ice is described in 3 (below). Work is also underway to evaluate the impact on this and regional fast ice of the major calving of the Mertz Glacier in February 2010. 2) To analyse the impact of fast ice variability on the breeding success of Emperor penguins The first element of this multi-disciplinary, international study was completed last year i.e. a case study showing strong links between Emperor penguin breeding success at Dumont d'Urville and fast ice distribution along the Adelie Land coast of East Antarctica and its variability due to variability in the regional wind field. Results were published in Marine Ecology Progress Series (Massom et al., 2009a), and were also presented in a keynote address to the Xth SCAR International Biology Symposium in September 2009. Work is underway to extend this study both temporally and to other species and regions, using the new MODIS-derived time series of 20-day composite maps of fast ice extent (see 1 above). This work will include a comparison of the fast ice information with new data from French penguin scientists (Drs Barbraud, Ancel and LeMayo) on Emperor penguin mortality and other demographic parameters, with a view to discovering links between the penguin demographics and fast ice variability due to changing weather patterns. Further work is in its initial stages to study the impact of fast ice variability on i) Weddell seal foraging behaviour (with Dr Hindell's group at the Univ. of Tasmania), ii) Adelie penguin breeding success and foraging behaviour (with Drs Southwell and Emmerson, AAD), and iii) other Emperor penguin colonies in East Antarctica (with Dr Wienecke, AAD). Ongoing/future work will also evaluate the impact of abrupt change on the seals and penguins at Dumont d'Urville following the Mertz Glacier calving in February 2010.

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• ASAC_3024

Temporal Extent:

Start: 2008-09-30T00:00:00.000Z

End: 2011-03-31T23:59:59.999Z

Spatial Extent:

Minimum Bounding Rectangle: -70 -180 -63 180

AU_AADC Short Name: ASAC_3024 Version ID: 1 Unique ID: C1214306555-AU_AADC

Description:

This data set consists of land cover classification data derived from satellite imagery as part of the Soil Moisture Active Passive Validation Experiment 2012 (SMAPVEX12). Images from the RADARSAT-2, Système Pour l'Observation de la Terre (SPOT-4), and DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii) of the study area were retrieved for the summer of 2012. The land use classification image provides information about vegetation present in the study area at a resolution of 20 meters.

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Temporal Extent:

Start: 2012-06-07T00:00:00.000Z

End: 2012-07-19T23:59:59.999Z

Spatial Extent:

Minimum Bounding Rectangle: 49.31 -98.97 50.21 -98.27

NSIDC_ECS Short Name: SV12LC Version ID: 1 Unique ID: C1000000480-NSIDC_ECS

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Description:

This data set, part of the French National Research Agency’s project on Survey and Modelling of East Antarctica (SUMER), consists of high-resolution information about ice-shelf buttressing for the whole of Antarctica. Buttressing is inferred from known ice geometry and ice motion with the Elmer/Ice ice flow model. Input sources are Bedmap2, MEaSUREs surface ice velocities, and the MEaSUREs grounding-line positions.

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Temporal Extent:

Start: 1996-09-01T00:00:00.000Z

End: 2009-09-01T23:59:59.999Z

Spatial Extent:

Minimum Bounding Rectangle: -90 -180 -60 180

NSIDCV0 Short Name: NSIDC-0664 Version ID: 1 Unique ID: C1386205711-NSIDCV0