Skip to main content

Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) is a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) that actively emits microwave signals and receives the reflection from the ground to acquire information. Since it does not need other sources of light such as the Sun, SAR has the advantage of providing satellite images regardless day or night. The L-band frequency's long wavelength (15-30 cm) is less affected by clouds and rain, which makes L-band extremely flexible for use in a broad range of science disciplines. Some of the many applications of PALSAR data include tree species classification and forest canopy estimation, geologic structure interpretation, land surface and soil moisture analysis, topographical change detection, and oil slick assessment.

Instrument Type

Imaging Radar

Specifications

Resolution

Spatial
  • Fine mode: Has a spatial resolution of 10 meters
  • Polarimetric mode: Has a spatial resolution of 100 meters
  • ScanSAR mode: Has a spatial resolution of 250–350 kilometers, depending on the number of scans
Spectral

None

Platforms

Get Help

QUESTIONS & SUPPORT

Have a question?

Get help with NASA Earth science data, datasets, tools, services, and metadata on the Earthdata Forum. Experienced staff in the data user community review and answer questions.

Get help on Earthdata Forum
Earthdata
Forum