Title :
X-SAR radiometric calibration and data quality
Author :
Zink, Manfred ; Bamler, Richard
Author_Institution :
German Aerosp. Res. Establ., Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
fDate :
7/1/1995 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
In April and October, 1994 the X-SAR was flown as part of the SIR-C/X-SAR space radar laboratory missions (SRL-1/2) on the Space Shuttle. Amongst other activities DLR is responsible for the calibration of all X-SAR data products and is running the German Processing and Archiving Facility (D-PAF). Calibration activities included three major parts. Before the first mission, the authors performed a detailed analysis of the overall system to localize the main error sources and developed algorithms and procedures to correct these errors. During the missions they concentrated their efforts on calibration campaigns at the Oberpfaffenhofen super test site. Post mission activities included the determination of the antenna pattern and the absolute calibration factor as well as detailed performance analyses. This paper describes the overall approach to radiometrically calibrate the X-SAR and provides information on system performance and data quality to users in the different application fields
Keywords :
calibration; geophysical techniques; radar applications; radar imaging; radar polarimetry; remote sensing by radar; spaceborne radar; synthetic aperture radar; D-PAF; German Processing and Archiving Facility; SIR-C; Space Shuttle; X-SAR; X-band SHF microwave; calibration; data quality; error correction algorithm; geophysical measurement technique; land surface; radar imaging; radiometrically calibrate; satellite remote sensing; spaceborne radar; synthetic aperture radar; terrain mapping; Algorithm design and analysis; Calibration; Error correction; Performance analysis; Radiometry; Space missions; Space shuttles; Spaceborne radar; System performance; Testing;
Journal_Title :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on