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News - Infographics
Showcasing Fundamental Data Records for Altimetry
ESA has developed a comprehensive suite of Earth system data records as part of the Fundamental Data Records for Altimetry (FDR4ALT) project.
Data - EO Sign In Authentication (Open)
Sea Ice Thematic Data Product [ALT_TDP_SI]
This is the Sea Ice Thematic Data Product (TDP) V1 resulting from the ESA FDR4ALT project and containing the sea ice related geophysical parameters, along with associated uncertainties: snow depth, radar and sea-ice freeboard, sea ice thickness and concentration. The collection covers data for the ERS-1, ERS-2 and Envisat missions, and bases on Level 1 data coming from previous reprocessing (ERS REAPER and the Envisat V3.0) but taking into account the improvements made at Level 0/Level 1 in the frame of FDR4ALT (ALT FDR). The Sea Ice TDP provides data from the northern or southern hemisphere in two files corresponding to the Arctic and Antarctic regions respectively for the winter periods only, i.e., October to June for the Arctic, and May to November for the Antarctic. For many aspects, the Sea Ice TDP is very innovative: First time series of sea-ice thickness estimates for ERS Homogeneous calibration, allowing the first Arctic radar freeboard time series from ERS-1 (1991) to CryoSat-2 (2021) Uncertainties estimated along-track with a bottom-up approach based on dominant sources ERS pulse blurring error corrected using literature procedure [Peacock, 2004] The FDR4ALT products are available in NetCDF format. Free standard tools for reading NetCDF data can be used. Information for expert altimetry users is also available in a dedicated NetCDF group within the products. Please consult the FDR4ALT Product User Guide before using the data. The FDR4ALT datasets represent the new reference data for the ERS/Envisat altimetry missions, superseding any previous mission data. Users are strongly encouraged to make use of these datasets for optimal results.
News - Success Stories
Long-term satellite data show wind farms can affect local air currents
Decades of satellite data have allowed for the first long-term study of the impact of offshore wind farms on downstream wind flow in coastal areas.
News - Infographics
The COSMO-SkyMed series - Two generations of SAR satellites
Learn about the COSMO-SkyMed (Constellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation) series in our latest infographic.
News - Success Stories
Decades of satellite data reveal the risks of climate tipping points
Decades-long time series that draw on ESA’s Earth observation archives are enabling scientists to uncover the threat of sudden and potentially irreversible changes to the icy parts of the planet.
News - Data Release news
New CryoVEx campaign datasets released
Two new datasets have been released for the CryoVEx campaign, covering activities in Spring and Summer 2019.
News - Thematic area articles
Transforming space data into climate action
ESA’s Earth observation activities are playing a key role in the revitalised global drive to combat climate change.
News - Thematic area articles
Satellite data central to ocean monitoring
Over 95% of Earth’s water is found in our oceans, and yet sadly, oceans are under stress from climate change and pollution. Monitoring our oceans is vital for Earth’s survival and satellites are the primary means of long-term and independent observation of our vast ocean bodies and their associated coastal zones.
News - Spotlight on EO community
Introducing Mirko Albani
In this short introduction, ESA's Heritage Missions Programme Manager describes what he likes most about ESA's long term archive of satellite mission data and his role in the programme.
Event - Workshop
Fringe 2003 Workshop
The third ESA International Workshop on ERS SAR Interferometry and its first Workshop on ASAR interferometry: Advances in SAR interferometry from ERS and Envisat missions.
Event - Workshop
Coastal and Marine Applications of SAR Workshop 2003
The second in the Coastal and Marine Applications of SAR Workshop series covered a range of topics on applications of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in coastal and marine environments.
Event - Workshop
SEASAR 2008
The "Advances in SAR Oceanography from Envisat and ERS missions" was a thematic workshop on SAR remote sensing techniques for oceanography.
Event - Training
2nd Advanced Training Course on Ocean Remote Sensing 2009
This advanced training course focused on ocean remote sensing theory and applications.
Tools - Apps
Heritage Missions app for iOS
Download the Heritage Missions application to discover what the missions were about, how it worked and what the elements of the space and ground segment that make these missions unique.
Tools - Apps
Heritage Missions app for Android
Download the Heritage Missions application to discover what the missions were about, how it worked and what the elements of the space and ground segment that make these missions unique.
News - Data Release news
ICEYE data familiarization phase for the Earthnet TPM programme continues with new ICEYE-X2 data
The ICEYE data familiarization phase freely offers ICEYE imagery over several demonstration sites
Tools - Other
Polar TEP
The Polar Thematic Exploitation Platform (TEP) enables access, processing, uploading, visualisation, manipulation and comparison of data over the polar regions.
Data - Fast Registration with approval (Restrained)
RADARSAT-2 ESA archive
The RADARSAT-2 ESA archive collection consists of RADARSAT-2 products requested by ESA supported projects over their areas of interest around the world. The dataset regularly grows as ESA collects new products over the years. Following Beam modes are available: Standard, Wide Swath, Fine Resolution, Extended Low Incidence, Extended High Incidence, ScanSAR Narrow and ScanSAR Wide. Standard Beam Mode allows imaging over a wide range of incidence angles with a set of image quality characteristics which provides a balance between fine resolution and wide coverage, and between spatial and radiometric resolutions. Standard Beam Mode operates with any one of eight beams, referred to as S1 to S8, in single and dual polarisation . The nominal incidence angle range covered by the full set of beams is 20 degrees (at the inner edge of S1) to 52 degrees (at the outer edge of S8). Each individual beam covers a nominal ground swath of 100 km within the total standard beam accessibility swath of more than 500 km. Beam Mode Product Nominal Resolution (metres) Nominal Pixel Spacing Range x Azimuth (metres) Resolution Range x Azimuth (metres) Nominal Scene Size Range x Azimuth (kilometres) Range of Angle of Incidence (degrees) Number of Looks Range x Azimuth Polarisations Options Standard SLC 25 8.0 or 11.8 x 5.1 9.0 or 13.5 x 7.7 100 x 100 20 - 52 1 x 1 Single Pol HH or VV or HV or VH - or - Dual HH + HV or VV + VH SGX 8.0 x 8.0 26.8 - 17.3 x 24.7 1 x 4 SGF 12.5 x 12.5 SSG, SPG Wide Swath Beam Mode allows imaging of wider swaths than Standard Beam Mode, but at the expense of slightly coarser spatial resolution. The three Wide Swath beams, W1, W2 and W3, provide coverage of swaths of approximately 170 km, 150 km and 130 km in width respectively, and collectively span a total incidence angle range from 20 degrees to 45 degrees. Polarisation can be single and dual. Beam Mode Product Nominal Resolution (metres) Nominal Pixel Spacing Range x Azimuth (metres) Resolution Range x Azimuth (metres) Nominal Scene Size Range x Azimuth (kilometres) Range of Angle of Incidence (degrees) Number of Looks Range x Azimuth Polarisations Options Wide SLC 30 11.8 x 5.1 13.5 x 7.7 150 x 150 20 - 45 1 x 1 Single: Pol HH or VV or HV or VH - or - Dual: HH + HV or VV + VH SGX 10 x 10 40.0 - 19.2 x 24.7 1 x 4 SGF 12.5 x 12.5 SSG, SPG Fine Resolution Beam Mode is intended for applications which require finer spatial resolution. Products from this beam mode have a nominal ground swath of 50 km. Nine Fine Resolution physical beams, F23 to F21, and F1 to F6 are available to cover the incidence angle range from 30 to 50 degrees. For each of these beams, the swath can optionally be centred with respect to the physical beam or it can be shifted slightly to the near or far range side. Thanks to these additional swath positioning choices, overlaps of more than 50% are provided between adjacent swaths. RADARSAT-2 can operate in single and dual polarisation for this beam mode. Beam Mode Product Nominal resolution (metres) Nominal Pixel Spacing Range x Azimuth (metres) Resolution Range x Azimuth (metres) Nominal Scene Size Range x Azimuth (kilometres) Range of Angle of Incidence (degrees) Number of Looks Range x Azimuth Polarisations Options Fine SLC 8 4.7 x 5.1 5.2 x 7.7 50 x 50 30 - 50 1 x 1 Single: Pol HH or VV or HV or VH - or - Dual: HH + HV or VV + VH SGX 3.13 x 3.13 10.4 - 6.8 x 7.7 1 x 1 SGF 6.25 x 6.25 SSG, SPG In the Extended Low Incidence Beam Mode, a single Extended Low Incidence Beam, EL1, is provided for imaging in the incidence angle range from 10 to 23 degrees with a nominal ground swath coverage of 170 km. Some minor degradation of image quality can be expected due to operation of the antenna beyond its optimum scan angle range. Only single polarisation is available. Beam Mode Product Nominal resolution (metres) Nominal Pixel Spacing Range x Azimuth (metres) Resolution Range x Azimuth (metres) Nominal Scene Size Range x Azimuth (kilometres) Range of Angle of Incidence (degrees) Number of Looks Range x Azimuth Polarisations Options Extended Low SLC 25 8.0 x 5.1 9.0 x 7.7 170 x 170 10 - 23 1 x 1 Single: HH SGX 10.0 x 10.0 52.7 - 23.3 x 24.7 1 x 4 SGF 12.5 x 12.5 SSG, SPG In the Extended High Incidence Beam Mode, six Extended High Incidence Beams, EH1 to EH6, are available for imaging in the 49 to 60 degree incidence angle range. Since these beams operate outside the optimum scan angle range of the SAR antenna, some degradation of image quality, becoming progressively more severe with increasing incidence angle, can be expected when compared with the Standard Beams. Swath widths are restricted to a nominal 80 km for the inner three beams, and 70 km for the outer beams. Only single polarisation available. Beam Mode Product Nominal resolution (metres) Nominal Pixel Spacing Range x Azimuth (metres) Resolution Range x Azimuth (metres) Nominal Scene Size Range x Azimuth (kilometres) Range of Angle of Incidence (degrees) Number of Looks Range x Azimuth Polarisations Options Extended High SLC 25 11.8 x 5.1 13.5 x 7.7 75 x 75 49 - 60 1 x 1 Single Pol HH SGX 8.0 x 8.0 18.2 - 15.9 x 24.7 1 x 4 SGF 12.5 x 12.5 SSG, SPG ScanSAR Narrow Beam Mode provides coverage of a ground swath approximately double the width of the Wide Swath Beam Mode swaths. Two swath positions with different combinations of physical beams can be used: SCNA, which uses physical beams W1 and W2, and SCNB, which uses physical beams W2, S5, and S6. Both options provide coverage of swath widths of about 300 km. The SCNA combination provides coverage over the incidence angle range from 20 to 39 degrees. The SCNB combination provides coverage over the incidence angle range 31 to 47 degrees. RADARSAT-2 can operate in single and dual polarisation for this beam mode. Beam Mode Product Nominal resolution (metres) Nominal Pixel Spacing Range x Azimuth (metres) Resolution Range x Azimuth (metres) Nominal Scene Size Range x Azimuth (kilometres) Range of Angle of Incidence (degrees) Number of Looks Range x Azimuth Polarisations Options ScanSAR Narrow SCN, SCF, SCS 20 25 x 25 81 - 38 x 40 - 70 300 x 300 20 - 46 2 x 2 Single Co or Cross: HH or VV or HV or VH - or - Dual: HH + HV or VV + VH ScanSAR Wide Beam Mode provides coverage of a ground swath approximately triple the width of the Wide Swath Beam Mode swaths. Two swath positions with different combinations of physical beams can be used: SCWA, which uses physical beams W1, W2, W3, and S7, and SCWB, which uses physical beams W1, W2, S5 and S6. The SCWA combination allows imaging of a swath of more than 500 km covering an incidence angle range of 20 to 49 degrees. The SCWB combination allows imaging of a swath of more than 450 km covering the incidence angle. Polarisation can be single and dual. Beam Mode Product Nominal resolution (metres) Nominal Pixel Spacing Range x Azimuth (metres) Resolution Range x Azimuth (metres) Nominal Scene Size Range x Azimuth (kilometres) Range of Angle of Incidence (degrees) Number of Looks Range x Azimuth Polarisations Options ScanSAR Wide SCW, SCF, SCS 100 50 x 50 163 - 73 x 78 - 106 500 x 500 20 - 49 4 x 2 Single Co or Cross: HH or VV or HV or VH - or - Dual: HH + HV or VV + VH These are the different products : SLC (Single Look Complex): Amplitude and phase information is preserved. Data is in slant range. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track SGF (Path Image): Data is converted to ground range and may be multi-look processed. Scene is oriented in direction of orbit path. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track. SGX (Path Image Plus): Same as SGF except processed with refined pixel spacing as needed to fully encompass the image data bandwidths. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track SSG(Map Image): Image is geocorrected to a map projection. SPG (Precision Map Image): Image is geocorrected to a map projection. Ground control points (GCP) are used to improve positional accuracy. SCN(ScanSAR Narrow)/SCF(ScanSAR Wide) : ScanSAR Narrow/Wide beam mode product with original processing options and metadata fields (for backwards compatibility only). Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track SCF (ScanSAR Fine): ScanSAR product equivalent to SGF with additional processing options and metadata fields. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track SCS(ScanSAR Sampled) : Same as SCF except with finer sampling. Georeferenced and aligned with the satellite track. Spatial coverage: Check the spatial coverage of the collection on a map available on the Third Party Missions Dissemination Service.
Event - Workshop
SEASAR 2012
The European Space Agency and the Norwegian Space Centre jointly organised the fourth SAR oceanography workshop, 'SEASAR 2012', entitled 'Advances in SAR Oceanography'.
Data - EO Sign In Authentication (Open)
SeaSat ESA archive
This collection gives access to the complete SEASAT dataset acquired by ESA and mainly covers Europe. The dataset comprises some of the first ever SAR data recorded for scientific purposes, reprocessed with the most recent processor. The Level-1 products are available as: SAR Precision Image [SEA_PRI_1P] SAR Single Look Complex Image [SEA_SLC_1P] SAR Ellipsoid Geocoded Precision Image [SEA_GEC_1P] Spatial coverage: Check the spatial coverage of the collection on a map available on the Third Party Missions Dissemination Service.