ROUTINE PRODUCTION OF SAR-DERIVED ICE AND OCEAN PRODUCTS IN THEUNITED STATES

摘要

In the United States, satellite Synthetic Aperture Radarrn(SAR) imagery from the Canadian RADARSAT-1rnsatellite are being used routinely by the National IcernCenter (NIC) in the production of sea ice analysisrncharts. The routine production of other SAR oceanrnproducts is also being demonstrated by the NationalrnOceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)rnNational Environmental Satellite, Data, and InformationrnService (NESDIS). Since 1998, NOAA/NESDIS hasrnsupported the development and demonstration of SARrnoceanographic and hydrologic applications. Inrnparticular, automated algorithms to determine oceanrnsurface wind speed and direction, to detect vesselrnlocation, and to map sea ice have been developed andrnare being evaluated by U.S. Operational agencies. Inrnaddition, SAR images are being analyzed routinely forrnthe detection of polar mesoscale cyclones, oil spills, andrnriver ice breakup and associated ice jams and floodingrnin the spring. Efforts are underway to develop anrninternational consensus on the best tools for operationalrnuse of present and future SAR data streams. Thernapproach includes the selection and/or merging of thernmost suitable algorithms for efficient operationalrnprocessing leading to a robust products system that canrnbe incorporated into national environmental monitoringrnprograms. SAR data streams under considerationrninclude the ENVISAT Advanced SAR (ASAR) as wellrnas the upcoming Advanced Land Observing Satellitern(ALOS) Phased Array L-band SAR (PALSAR) and thernRADARSAT-2 SAR.