Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “radar remote sensing”

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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1997

Analyses of Technology for Solid State Coherent Lidar

Over past few years, considerable advances have been made in the areas of the diode-pumped, eye-safe, solid state lasers and room temperature, wide bandwidth, semiconductor detectors operating in the near-infrared region. These advances have created new possibilities for the development of reliable and compact coherent lidar systems for a wide range of applications. This research effort is aimed at further developing solid state coherent lidar technology for remote sensing of atmospheric processes such as wind, turbulence and aerosol concentration. The work performed by the UAH personnel under this Delivery Order concentrated on design and analyses of laboratory experiments and measurements, and development of advanced lidar optical subsystems in support of solid state laser radar remote sensing systems which are to be designed, deployed, and used to measure atmospheric processes and constituents. Under this delivery order, a lidar breadboard system was designed and analyzed by considering the major aircraft and space operational requirements. The lidar optical system was analyzed in detail using SYNOPSIS and Code V optical design packages. The lidar optical system include a wedge scanner and the compact telescope designed by the UAH personnel. The other major optical components included in the design and analyses were: polarizing beam splitter, routing mirrors, wave plates, signal beam derotator, and lag angle compensator. This lidar system is to be used for demonstrating all the critical technologies for the development of a reliable and low-cost space-based instrument capable of measuring global wind fields. A number of laboratory experiments and measurements were performed at the NASA/MSFC Detector Characterization Facility, previously developed by the UAH personnel. These laboratory measurements include the characterization of a 2-micron InGaAs detectors suitable for use in coherent lidars and characterization of Holographic Optical Element Scanners. UAH personnel actively participated in the development of performance and operational requirements for the development of the high pulse energy transmitter laser and frequency-agile local oscillator laser, that are in-progress at NASA Langley Research Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Amzajerdian, Farzin↗
NASA NTRS2000

Application of Radar Data to Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems

The field of synthetic aperture radar changed dramatically over the past decade with the operational introduction of advance radar techniques such as polarimetry and interferometry. Radar polarimetry became an operational research tool with the introduction of the NASA/JPL AIRSAR system in the early 1980's, and reached a climax with the two SIR-C/X-SAR flights on board the space shuttle Endeavour in April and October 1994. Radar interferometry received a tremendous boost when the airborne TOPSAR system was introduced in 1991 by NASA/JPL, and further when data from the European Space Agency ERS-1 radar satellite became routinely available in 1991. Several airborne interferometric SAR systems are either currently operational, or are about to be introduced. Radar interferometry is a technique that allows one to map the topography of an area automatically under all weather conditions, day or night. The real power of radar interferometry is that the images and digital elevation models are automatically geometrically resampled, and could be imported into GIS systems directly after suitable reformatting. When combined with polarimetry, a technique that uses polarization diversity to gather more information about the geophysical properties of the terrain, a very rich multi-layer data set is available to the remote sensing scientist. This talk will discuss the principles of radar interferometry and polarimetry with specific application to the automatic categorization of land cover. Examples will include images acquired with the NASA/JPL AIRSAR/TOPSAR system in Australia and elsewhere.

vanZyl, Jakob J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Radar Images of the Earth and the World Wide Web

A perspective of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a center of planetary exploration, and its involvement in studying the earth from space is given. Remote sensing, radar maps, land topography, snow cover properties, vegetation type, biomass content, moisture levels, and ocean data are items discussed related to earth orbiting satellite imaging radar. World Wide Web viewing of this content is discussed.

Radar Mapping↗
NASA NTRS2018

Miniaturized P-Band Beamforming Synthetic Aperture Radar Transceiver

The next generation synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments for the study of Earth and planets will employ multiple-input multiple output architectures and advanced beamforming techniques to significantly enhance the capabilities of remote sensing radars. One key component in realizing these instruments is a compact, lightweight and power efficient radar transceiver. To this end a P-band radar transceiver was developed to advance the technical readiness level (TRL) level toward spaceborne SAR instruments at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).

Polarimetry↗
NASA NTRS1983

Improved spatial mapping of rainfall events with spaceborne SAR imagery

The Seasat satellite acquired the first spaceborne synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) images of the earth's surface, in 1978, at a frequency of 1.275 GHz (L-band) in a like-polarization mode at incidence angles of 23 + or - 3 deg. Although this may not be the optimum system configuration for radar remote sensing of soil moisture, interpretation of two Seasat images of Iowa demonstrates the sensitivity of microwave backscatter to soil moisture content. In both scenes, increased image brightness, which represents more radar backscatter, can be related to previous rainfall activity in the two areas. Comparison of these images with ground-based rainfall observations illustrates the increased spatial coverage of the rainfall event that can be obtained from the satellite SAR data. These data can then be color-enhanced by a digital computer to produce aesthetically pleasing output products for the user community.

Ulaby, F. T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Are the Viking Lander sites representative of the surface of Mars?

Global remote sensing data of the Martian surface, collected by earth- and satellite-based instruments, are compared with data from the two Viking Landers to determine if the Lander data are representative of the Martian surface. The landing sites are boulder-strewn and feature abundant fine material and evidence of strong eolian forces. One site (VL-1) is in a plains-covered basin which is associated with volcanic activity; the VL-2 site is in the northern plains. Thermal IR, broadband albedo, color imaging and radar remote sensing has been carried out of the global Martian surface. The VL-1 data do not fit a general correlation observed between increases in 70-cm radar cross-sections and thermal inertia. A better fit is found with 12.5-cm cross sections, implying the presence of a thinner or discontinuous duricrust at the VL-1 site, compared to other higher-inertia regions. A thin dust layer is also present at the VL-2 site, based on the Lander reflectance data. The Lander sites are concluded to be among the three observed regions of anomalous reflectivity, which can be expected in low regions selected for the landings. Recommendations are furnished for landing sites of future surface probes in order to choose sites more typical of the global Martian surface.

Jakosky, B. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Experimental validation of a millimeter wave radar technique to remotely sense atmospheric pressure at the Earth's surface

Experiments with a millimeter wave radar operating on the NASA CV-990 aircraft which validate the technique for remotely sensing atmospheric pressure at the Earth's surface are described. Measurements show that the precise millimeter wave observations needed to deduce pressure from space with an accuracy of 1 mb are possible, that sea surface reflection properties agree with theory and that the measured variation of differential absorption with altitude corresponds to that expected from spectroscopic models.

Flower, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Aircraft radar response to soil moisture

An analysis is presented of aircraft response to soil moisture in the upper surface layer of agricultural fields. Measurements (taken at 1.6 GHz and 4.75 GHz using HH and HV polarizations, and at 13.3 GHz using VV polarization from an experiment conducted in 1978 at Colby, Kansas) are used to derive the radar soil moisture sensitivities and correlations. It is shown that the aircraft response to soil moisture is optimum at C-band frequencies and incidence angles of 10-20 deg. confirming previous truck-radar results. Like-polarization radar response is unaffected by vegetation but is dependent on row-tillage patterns; cross-polarization response also is unaffected by vegetation but is approximately independent of tillage patterns. These results show that remote sensing radars can be used effectively for the detection and estimation of near-surface soil moisture in agricultural fields.

Bradley, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Estimates of surface roughness derived from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data

Radar remote sensing data provide a unique perspective of the earth's crust and the processes that have influenced its evolution. Physically based models are required, however, to relate the geophysical quantities being measured by the radar sensor to useful geologic information. In this study, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data over the Cima volcanic field in the Mojave Desert of California are quantitatively connected with microtopography through inversion of a radar backscatter model. Changes in surface roughness inferred from the derived microtopography are modeled and found to be consistent with aeolian mantling as surfaces age. Estimated rates of aeolian deposition for the Cima area are compared to the Lunar Crater volcanic field in Nevada. Rates of deposition appear to be higher at Cima volcanic field, most likely because of its proximity to Soda Lake, the main source of the aeolian material.

Evans, Diane L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Accomplishments of the NASA Johnson Space Center portion of the soil moisture project in fiscal year 1981

The NASA/JSC ground scatterometer system was used in a row structure and row direction effects experiment to understand these effects on radar remote sensing of soil moisture. Also, a modification of the scatterometer system was begun and is continuing, to allow cross-polarization experiments to be conducted in fiscal years 1982 and 1983. Preprocessing of the 1978 agricultural soil moisture experiment (ASME) data was completed. Preparations for analysis of the ASME data is fiscal year 1982 were completed. A radar image simulation procedure developed by the University of Kansas is being improved. Profile soil moisture model outputs were compared quantitatively for the same soil and climate conditions. A new model was developed and tested to predict the soil moisture characteristic (water tension versus volumetric soil moisture content) from particle-size distribution and bulk density data. Relationships between surface-zone soil moisture, surface flux, and subsurface moisture conditions are being studied as well as the ways in which measured soil moisture (as obtained from remote sensing) can be used for agricultural applications.

Paris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Rock Statistics at the Mars Pathfinder Landing Site, Roughness and Roving on Mars

Several rock counts have been carried out at the Mars Pathfinder landing site producing consistent statistics of rock coverage and size-frequency distributions. These rock statistics provide a primary element of "ground truth" for anchoring remote sensing information used to pick the Pathfinder, and future, landing sites. The observed rock population statistics should also be consistent with the emplacement and alteration processes postulated to govern the landing site landscape. The rock population databases can however be used in ways that go beyond the calculation of cumulative number and cumulative area distributions versus rock diameter and height. Since the spatial parameters measured to characterize each rock are determined with stereo image pairs, the rock database serves as a subset of the full landing site digital terrain model (DTM). Insofar as a rock count can be carried out in a speedier, albeit coarser, manner than the full DTM analysis, rock counting offers several operational and scientific products in the near term. Quantitative rock mapping adds further information to the geomorphic study of the landing site, and can also be used for rover traverse planning. Statistical analysis of the surface roughness using the rock count proxy DTM is sufficiently accurate when compared to the full DTM to compare with radar remote sensing roughness measures, and with rover traverse profiles.

Haldemann, A. F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Radar spectral observations of snow

Radar remote sensing experiments have been conducted at test sites in Kansas, Colorado, and South Dakota over the last six years to examine backscatter coefficient response to snowcovered terrain. Truck-mounted 1-35 GHz scatterometers were employed in conjunction with detailed ground-truth measurements. From these experiments and associated modeling efforts, most of the fundamental questions concerning backscatter behavior in response to important snow parameters have been, at least qualitatively, answered. The optimum angular range seems to be between 20 and 50 deg and, for these angles, the results indicate that the radar backscatter generally: (1) increases with increasing water equivalent, (2) decreases with increasing liquid water, (3) increases with increasing crystal size, (4) is insensitive to surface roughness for dry snow conditions, and (5) can be sensitive to soil state if the snowcover is dry. This paper gives a summary of these results, along with empirical and theoretical models for describing the backscatter from snow.

Stiles, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Evaluation of the New Version of the Laser-Optical Disdrometer, Parsivel

Disdrometer based hydrometeor size distribution measurements have a wide range of application in radar meteorology among other disciplines. The low-cost laser optical disdrometer which became commercially available in 2005 opened a new era to study the variability of the hydrometeor size distribution. The pixel and footprint scale variability of the ground and spaceborne radar remote sensing of precipitation, respectively, has been investigated through a network of Parsivel disdrometers. At the same timE, the cross comparison of impact-type, two-dimensional video and laser-optical disdrometers highlighted the relative strengths and weaknesses of each type of disdrometer. The Parsivel instrument tended to underestimate the number of small drops less than 0.8 mm in diameter quite severely, while the size of drops larger than 2.0 mm in diameter were overestimated at heavy rain quite frequently. Through a close collaboration with the manufacturer, these shortcomings were attributed to the inexpensive laser device. The manufacturer has just released a beta version of Parsivel2. The preliminary comparisons with old and new versions of Parsivel, impact type disdrometer and rain gauges showed a noticeable improvement of the Parsivel at both small and large drop end. This presentation will demonstrate the evaluation of the new unit and its potential impact on radar rainfall relations, including polarimetric and high frequency radar rainfall.

Tokay, Ali↗
NASA NTRS1991

High frequency scattering from corrugated stratified cylinders

Interest in applying radar remote sensing for the study of forested areas led to the development of a model for scattering from corrugated stratified dielectric cylinders. The model is used to investigate the effect of bark and its roughness on scattering from tree trunks and branches. The outer layer of the cylinder (bark) is assumed to be a low-loss dielectric material and to have a regular (periodic) corrugation pattern. The inner layers are treated as lossy dielectrics with smooth boundaries. A hybrid solution based on the moment method and the physical optics approximation is obtained. In the solution, the corrugations are replaced with polarization currents that are identical to those of the local tangential periodic corrugated surface, and the stratified cylinder is replaced with equivalent surface currents. New expressions for the equivalent physical-optics currents are used which are more convenient than the standard ones. It is shown that the bark layer and its roughness both reduce the radar cross-section. It is also demonstrated that the corrugations can be replaced by an equivalent anisotropic layer.

Sarabandi, Kamal↗
NASA NTRS1972

Imaging radar techniques for remote sensing applications.

The basic concepts of fine-resolution, imaging radar systems are reviewed. Both side-looking and hologram (downward-looking) radars are described and compared. Several examples of microwave imagery obtained with these two types of systems are shown.

Zelenka, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Vegetation and soil backscatter over the 4-18 GHz region

Using an FM-CW radar mounted atop a truck-mounted boom, 4-8 GHz backscatter spectral data was gathered during the 1972 growing season at incidence angles of 0-70 deg in 10 deg steps for each of the four linear polarization combinations. The data covers four mature crop types (corn, milo, soybeans and alfalfa) and bare ground taken under a wide range of soil and plant moisture contents. To insure statistical representation of the results, measurements were conducted over 147 fields corresponding to a total of about 50,000 data points. During 1973, a higher frequency version of the above system was used to collect additional data over the 8-18 GHz frequency region. This paper presents a summary of the results and suggests design criteria for future radar remote sensing missions.

Ulaby, F. T.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Effect of precipitation on choice of frequency for SEASAT scatterometer

Precipitation backscatter limits the effectiveness of a remote sensing radar in a satellite. Scatterometer operation on SEASAT is considered in one of the following frequency ranges: 12.5 GHz; 13.4-14.0 GHz; and 14.4-15.35 GHz. The effect of backscatter from precipitation in these frequency ranges is compared.

Dome, G.↗