The Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) on board the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) scheduled for launch in June 2003 will be the Japanese second-generation spaceborne SAR following the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 (JERS-1) SAR. The PALSAR is designed to achieve high performance and flexibility and the L-band data continuity of JERS-1. Active phased array antenna equipment provides variable incidence angle ranging from 8 to 50 degrees and allows ScanSAR operation. Especially, a full polarimetric function is the most challenging development. The JERS-1 SAR has demonstrated the advantage of L-band signals on SAR interferometry in vegetated areas. Based on the results from the JERS-1 SAR, applications of the PALSAR such as an environment monitoring, Earth science research will be enhanced. System characteristics and operational modes of the PALSAR and its expected applications are presented.

Date Published: 21 December 2000
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 4152, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment II, (21 December 2000); doi: 10.1117/12.410588

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4152:
Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment II
Thomas T. Wilheit; Harunobu Masuko; Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, Editor(s)