RADARSAT-simulated and ERS-1 observations of ocean features in the Strait of Georgia

In July, 1993, a joint project between RADARSAT International and Seaconsult Marine Research was initiated to investigate the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for the study of ocean features in the Strait of Georgia. ERS-1 SAR imagery was acquired on July 28, 1993, and near-simultaneous airborne SAR imagery was obtained from the CCRS CV-580 aircraft. During the SAR data acquisition, a SeaSonde coastal radar system provided surface currents. Analysis of the ERS-1 image indicates the presence of internal waves, regions along the shoreline of near-zero backscatter, and a region of variable backscatter that is due to either an ocean thermal-front, or the signature of an atmospheric front. With the pending launch of Canada´s RADARSAT slated for early 1995, the airborne HH SAR data were used in the SARPAC simulation procedure to simulate RADARSAT Standard Mode Imagery. Internal waves, fronts, and regions of reduced backscatter were detected over a range of incidence angles consistent with the incident angle range of RADARSAT Standard Mode. Results indicate that features observed in the RADARSAT-simulated image bode well for the potential application of RADARSAT data to the detection of ocean features at variable incident angles