Lecture on Synthetic Aperture Radar

A collection of flashcards that cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to synthetic aperture radar and remote sensing.

Active Remote Sensing

A system that provides its own source of energy, transmitting and receiving signals for observations regardless of light availability.

Passive Remote Sensing

Systems that detect available energy which is reflected or radiated from the terrain, limited by light conditions.

Wavelength

The distance between consecutive crests of a wave, usually measured in nanometers (nm) or micrometers (µm).

Frequency

The number of crests passing a given point in one second, typically measured in Hertz (Hz).

Polarization

The orientation of a wave's oscillations, typically characterized as vertical or horizontal.

Speckle

The ‘salt and pepper’ appearance in radar images caused by interference within the scattered field; it generates chaotic measurements.

Backscatter

The return signal of radar, which indicates the level of energy reflected back to the system from a surface.

Scattering Mechanisms

Different ways in which waves can scatter off surfaces, including surface backscattering, volume backscattering, and double-bounce backscattering.

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

A type of radar used in remote sensing that utilizes a small antenna to create a synthetic aperture, improving resolution.

Spatial Resolution

The ability of an imaging system to resolve features in the image, controlled by range and azimuth resolution.