Surface feature visibility in ERS-1 SAR images of the west coast of Canada

Because of their “all-weather” capability SAR images have the potential to greatly increase the number of days on which features indicating patterns of ocean and coastal circulation and mixing can be mapped from space. Under ESA and NASDA-approved projects, SAR images from ERS-1 and to a lesser extent from JERS-1, together with surface data from buoys, ships and surface stations, are being used to study the varying visibility of surfactant slicks, internal waves and coastal fronts on the continental shelf and in inlets of the west coast of Canada. Results show that SAR adds useful information, limited by the available image coverage, but that features can be successfully imaged only under rather restricted wind speed conditions