The ENVISAT-1 Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar processor and data products

An Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar operating at C-band (5.331 GHz) has been selected for the Envisat-1 payload ensuring continuity of ERS SAR and featuring enhanced capability in terms of coverage, range of incidence angles, polarisations, modes of operation. This paper presents the key features of the Envisat ASAR system. The ASAR instrument modes of operation are discussed. The ASAR Ground Processor is presented highlighting the concepts for its development and the performance achieved versus the ESA specifications. The selection of processing algorithm for each product is discussed based on the image quality requirements and the throughput requirements. Finally the newly developed ENVISAT ASAR wave mode product is introduced.