2004 AIRSAR Deployment

AIRSAR Data Acquisition and Processing plan for Central and South America, and the Antarctic Peninsula, 2004

AIRSAR collects multi-frequency and multi-polarization radar data for a variety of science applications. It also acquires data in interferometric modes, providing topographic information (cross-track mode) or ocean current information (along-track interferometry). A deployment has been planned for March 2004 to :

• Study the extent and distribution of archeological Mayan civilization (using foliage-penetrating radar)
• Study the glaciers of Patagonia and the Antarctic peninsula
• Investigate new techniques for the measurement of the forest structure of dense tropical forests
• Fill in the largest "void" in the SRTM-derived map of South American topography
• Collect additional data for various research initiatives

During the deployment data will be collected over Central and South America and Antarctica. During the approximately 100 flight hours, AIRSAR is expected to acquire polarimetric and/or interferometric data along a 20,000 km track, or about 200,000 sq. km of data over 40 sites for 30 scientists. AIRSAR will collect data related to the following NASA Code YS science programs:

• Cryospheric Science
• Land Cover/Land Use Change
• Natural Hazards
• Physical Oceanography
• Terrestrial Ecology
• Hydrology