3.3.1 Introduction

This section provides information on the RADARSAT-1 data collected during the project. All RADARSAT-1 data for this project was acquired at the Canadian Ice Service (CIS) via the satellite reception facility at Gatineau, Quebec. This raw CEOS data was ingested at CIS and processed into the native georeferenced ERDAS Imagine format (IMG). The raw CEOS data was then 2x2 block-averaged and is stored on CD-ROM in the CIS Image Archive.

3.3.2 Sensor Description

RADARSAT-1 Satellite*

RADARSAT-1 was developed by Canada to monitor environmental change and to support resource sustainability. The satellite was launched on November 4th 1995 armed with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The SAR is a powerful microwave instrument that can transmit and receive signals to "see" through clouds, haze, smoke, and darkness, and obtain high quality images of the Earth in all weather at any time. This provides significant advantages in viewing under conditions that preclude observation by aircraft and optical satellites. These SAR characteristics are listed in Table 3.3.1.

The satellite can acquire imagery in a number of different resolutions and swath widths. Refer to Table 3.3.2 for a summary of the sensor's imaging modes and other swath information. It should be noted that data for this project was only acquired in ScanSAR Wide Imaging mode.

RADARSAT Swaths*

3.3.3 Orbit Characteristics

The satellite's near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit ensure near-complete global coverage and similar illumination conditions for data collected at the same latitude and the same time of year. The satellite crosses the equator at dawn and dusk and is rarely in eclipse, and is therefore able to acquire data at any time. RADARSAT-1's orbit coupled with the Earth's rotation about its axis sees data collected in two directions: north-to-south (descending pass) and south-to-north (ascending pass). Table 3.3.3 provides more orbital information.

3.3.4 Data Format

Data files are available in three formats:

• 2x2 Block-averaged RAW CEOS. Data in this block-averaged format is 8-bit data. The 2x2 block averaging process which reduces pixel size to 100m.
• Erdas Imagine native format (IMG)
• Quicklook JPEG (JPG)

Data collected for this project is listed in Table 3.3.4.

• Executive Summary
• Acknowledgements
• Sections
  • Introduction
  • Location
  • Remotely Sensed Data
    • ENVISAT Data
    • CONVAIR-580 Data
    • RADARSAT-1 Data
    • NOAA-AVHRR-17 Data
    • MODIS Data
    • Quikscat Data
    • SSM/I Data
    • OLS Data
    • SLAR Data
  • Ice Chart Data
    • Daily Ice Analysis Charts
    • Image Analysis Charts
    • Aircraft CFR Charts
    • CCG Icebreaking Vessel Helicopter Ice Charts
    • Estimated Ice Thickness Charts
  • Meteorological Data
    • Meteorological Data
  • Surface-Helicopter Validation Data
    • Surface-Helicopter Data
    • Digital Photography
  • Bedford Institute of Oceanography Data
    • Ice Probe-Ice Pic
• Appendices
  • Detailed Flight Logs
    • Flight 03A03
    • Flight 03B03
    • Flight 03C03
  • Sites Log Spreadsheet
  • Flight Path Maps
  • Bedford Institute of Oceanography Report
  • Daily Data Acquisitions