The Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) is an active microwave sensor using L-band frequency to achieve cloud-free and day-and-night land observation. It provides higher performance than theJERS-1's synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Fine resolution in a conventional mode, but PALSAR will have another advantageous observation mode. ScanSAR, which will enable us to acquire a 250 to 350km width of SAR images (depending on the number of scans) at the expense of spatial resolution. This swath is three to five times wider than conventional SAR images. The development of the PALSAR is a joint project between JAXA and the Japan Resources Observation System Organization (JAROS).PALSAR Characteristics
| Mode | Fine | ScanSAR | Polarimetric (Experimental mode)*1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center Frequency | 1270 MHz(L-band) | |||
| Chirp Bandwidth | 28MHz | 14MHz | 14MHz,28MHz | 14MHz |
| Polarization | HH or VV | HH+HV or VV+VH | HH or VV | HH+HV+VH+VV |
| Incident angle | 8 to 60deg. | 8 to 60deg. | 18 to 43deg. | 8 to 30deg. |
| Range Resolution | 7 to 44m | 14 to 88m | 100m (multi look) | 24 to 89m |
| Observation Swath | 40 to 70km | 40 to 70km | 250 to 350km | 20 to 65km |
| Bit Length | 5 bits | 5 bits | 5 bits | 3 or 5bits |
| Data rate | 240Mbps | 240Mbps | 120Mbps,240Mbps | 240Mbps |
| NE sigma zero *2 | < -23dB (Swath Width 70km) < -25dB (Swath Width 60km) | < -25dB | < -29dB | |
| S/A *2,*3 | > 16dB (Swath Width 70km) > 21dB (Swath Width 60km) | > 21dB | > 19dB | |
| Radiometric accuracy | scene: 1dB / orbit: 1.5 d | |||
Note: PALSAR cannot observe the areas beyond 87.8 deg. north latitude and 75.9 deg. south latitude when the off-nadir angle is 41.5 deg.
* 1 Due to power consumption, the operation time will be limited.
* 2 Valid for off-nadir angle 34.3 deg. (Fine mode),
34.1 deg. (ScanSAR mode),
21.5 deg. (Polarimetric mode)
* 3 S/A level may deteriorate due to engineering changes in PALSAR.
References:
- Daichi, Advance Land Observing Satellite.
