Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “radar interferometry”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12

Ice flow dynamics of the Greenland ice sheet from SAR interferometry

Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) interferograms produced from ESA's ERS-1 satellite, provide the first synoptic view of ice flow dynamics of the western sector of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Glacial motion is detected in the radar ranging direction at millimetric scales, across a complete sequence of snow accumulation and melting regimes, despite significant varations in their radar scattering properties. Ice flow evolves from a slow, regular motion at the higher elevations. At lower elevations, motion is strongly convoluted by meter-scale undulations in surface topography, which have a unique interferometric signature that enables a novel approach for retrieving flow direction. Inferred flow directions, combined with surface displacements in the radar ranging direction, yield ice velocity estimates that are within 6% of in-situ measurements gathered along a 40 km survey line. Application of repeat-pass SAR interferometry to the entire Greenland Ice Sheet should enable precise mapping of its ice flow dynamics at an unprecedented level of spatial detail.

Rignot, E.↗

Overview of SAR Polarimetry and Interferometry

This paper summarizes the recent work in the fields of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) polarimetry and Interferometry. These fields have seen very significant development during the last five years, and these fields are now well understood.

SAR↗

The 1999 (Mw 7.1) Hector Mine, California, Earthquake: Near-Field Postseismic Deformation from ERS Interferometry

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data over the area of the Hector Mine earthquake (Mw 7.1, 16 October 1999) reveal postseismic deformation of several centimeters over a spatial scale of 0.5 to 50 km. We analyzed seven SAR acquisitions to form interferograms over four time periods after the event. The main deformations seen in the line-of-sight (LOS) displacement maps are a region of subsidence (60 mm LOS increase) on the northern end of the fault, a region of uplift (45 mm LOS decrease) located to the northeast of the primary fault bend, and a linear trough running along the main rupture having a depth of up to 15 mm and a width of about 2 km. We correlate these features with a double left-bending, rightlateral, strike-slip fault that exhibits contraction on the restraining side and extension along the releasing side of the fault bends. The temporal variations in the near-fault postseismic deformation are consistent with a characteristic time scale of 135 + 42 or - 25 days, which is similar to the relaxation times following the 1992 Landers earthquake. High gradients in the LOS displacements occur on the fault trace, consistent with afterslip on the earthquake rupture. We derive an afterslip model by inverting the LOS data from both the ascending and descending orbits. Our model indicates that much of the afterslip occurs at depths of less than 3 to 4 km.

Jacobs, Allison↗

An efficient sampling technique for sums of bandpass functions

A well known sampling theorem states that a bandlimited function can be completely determined by its values at a uniformly placed set of points whose density is at least twice the highest frequency component of the function (Nyquist rate). A less familiar but important sampling theorem states that a bandlimited narrowband function can be completely determined by its values at a properly chosen, nonuniformly placed set of points whose density is at least twice the passband width. This allows for efficient digital demodulation of narrowband signals, which are common in sonar, radar and radio interferometry, without the side effect of signal group delay from an analog demodulator. This theorem was extended by developing a technique which allows a finite sum of bandlimited narrowband functions to be determined by its values at a properly chosen, nonuniformly placed set of points whose density can be made arbitrarily close to the sum of the passband widths.

Lawton, W. M.↗

RTO Technical Publications: A Quarterly Listing

A quarterly listing of RTO technical publications is presented. The topics include: Handbook on the Analysis of Smaller-Scale Contingency Operations in Long Term Defence Planning; 2) Radar Polarimetry and Interferometry; 3) Combat Casualty Care in Ground-Based Tactical Situations: Trauma Technology and Emergency Medical Procedures; and 4) RTO Technical Publications: A Quarterly Listing

Source record↗

Analytical evaluation of ILM sensors

Functional requirements and operating environment constraints for an Independent Landing Monitor for aircraft landings in Cat. 2/3 weather conditions are identified and translated into specific sensing requirements. State-of-the-art capabilities of radar, TV, FLIR, multilateration, microwave radiometry, interferometry, redundant MLS and nuclear sensing concepts are evaluated and compared to the requirements. Concepts showing the best ILM potential are identified elsewhere in this series. Three specific concepts are identified: bistatic radar, complex interferometry, and circular synthetic aperture.

Kirk, R. J.↗

The Design of the Reference Orbit for NISAR, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission

The NISAR mission plans to use a 12-day-repeating sun-synchronous orbit for repeat-pass interferometry at multiple time scales using SAR data. For the interferometry to work the radar measurements must be made from within a critical baseline, which happens if all of the orbits are maintained to be within a fixed tube around a reference orbit. This paper describes the choice of dynamical models used in defining such a reference orbit, the perturbative effects of dynamics not considered in the repeat orbit, and the process of designing the orbit to repeat. We also describe our method for sharing the repeat orbit among multiple mission participants who use different models and software.

Hatch, Sara J.↗

The Design of the Reference Orbit for NISAR, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission

The NISAR mission plans to use a 12-day-repeating sun-synchronous orbit for repeat-pass interferometry at multiple time scales using SAR data. For the interferometry to work the radar measurements must be made from within a critical baseline, which happens if all of the orbits are maintained to be within a fixed tube around a reference orbit. This paper describes the choice of dynamical models used in defining such a reference orbit, the perturbative effects of dynamics not considered in the repeat orbit, and the process of designing the orbit to repeat. We also describe our method for sharing the repeat orbit among multiple mission participants who use different models and software.

Hatch, Sara J.↗

Modeling the Meteoroid Input Function at Mid-Latitude Using Meteor Observations by the MU Radar

The Meteoroid Input Function (MIF) model has been developed with the purpose of understanding the temporal and spatial variability of the meteoroid impact in the atmosphere. This model includes the assessment of potential observational biases, namely through the use of empirical measurements to characterize the minimum detectable radar cross-section (RCS) for the particular High Power Large Aperture (HPLA) radar utilized. This RCS sensitivity threshold allows for the characterization of the radar system s ability to detect particles at a given mass and velocity. The MIF has been shown to accurately predict the meteor detection rate of several HPLA radar systems, including the Arecibo Observatory (AO) and the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR), as well as the seasonal and diurnal variations of the meteor flux at various geographic locations. In this paper, the MIF model is used to predict several properties of the meteors observed by the Middle and Upper atmosphere (MU) radar, including the distributions of meteor areal density, speed, and radiant location. This study offers new insight into the accuracy of the MIF, as it addresses the ability of the model to predict meteor observations at middle geographic latitudes and for a radar operating frequency in the low VHF band. Furthermore, the interferometry capability of the MU radar allows for the assessment of the model s ability to capture information about the fundamental input parameters of meteoroid source and speed. This paper demonstrates that the MIF is applicable to a wide range of HPLA radar instruments and increases the confidence of using the MIF as a global model, and it shows that the model accurately considers the speed and sporadic source distributions for the portion of the meteoroid population observable by MU.

Pifko, Steven↗

Error Analysis for High Resolution Topography with Bi-Static Single-Pass SAR Interferometry

We present a flow down error analysis from the radar system to topographic height errors for bi-static single pass SAR interferometry for a satellite tandem pair. Because of orbital dynamics the baseline length and baseline orientation evolve spatially and temporally, the height accuracy of the system is modeled as a function of the spacecraft position and ground location. Vector sensitivity equations of height and the planar error components due to metrology, media effects, and radar system errors are derived and evaluated globally for a baseline mission. Included in the model are terrain effects that contribute to layover and shadow and slope effects on height errors. The analysis also accounts for nonoverlapping spectra and the non-overlapping bandwidth due to differences between the two platforms' viewing geometries. The model is applied to a 514 km altitude 97.4 degree inclination tandem satellite mission with a 300 m baseline separation and X-band SAR. Results from our model indicate that global DTED level 3 can be achieved.

synthetic aperture radar (SAR)↗

Using geodetic data in geothermal areas

Geodetic observations, often in conjunction with other data, provide a cost-effective means for identifying and characterizing geothermal resources. Here, a review of the various methods reveals how the technology for measuring deformation has advanced considerably in the past few decades. Currently, interferometric synthetic aperture radar is the method of choice for monitoring deformation at a geothermal field. A discussion of geodetic monitoring at The Geysers geothermal field, California, illustrates some of the progress made and the challenges that remain.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Repeat-Orbit Interferometric Precision Measurement of Mercury Obliquity

Repeat-orbit or time-delayed interferometry has been widely used for SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar)-based observations of such terrestrial phenomena as flow of glaciers and post-seismic displacements from radar on Earth-orbiting satellites and spacecraft. Repeat-orbit interferometry has also obtained fringes while investigating the measurement of topography of the Moon from Arecibo radar observations. Because of the unique spin-orbit resonance of Mercury, the locus of the sub-radar point on Mercury crosses over itself many times per year. Moreover, the locus of the sub-radar track repeats these crossings from year to year over many years. Given the proper geometry, these subradar point crossings offer the opportunity for interplanetary repeat-orbit interferometry via Earth-based radar observations. The ephemerides of Mercury and Earth, and the orientation of the Earth, are all known to sufficiently high-precision with respect to 'inertial space' to enable this kind of interferometry. This capability would merely be a curiosity, since Earth-based radar lacks the signal-to-noise to measure planetary-scale topography, except that the technique can be used to measure Mercury's obliquity (and possibly the forced libration in longitude). Combining very accurate measurements of the obliquity and the forced libration in longitude with Mercury-orbiter-based measurements of the low-order and degree Mercury gravity field can place constraints on the size and state of Mercury's fluid core. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Slade, M. A.↗