The paper is received on December 28, 2018
Abstract. Different scenarios
of the spaceborne radar interferometric observations of Earth covers are
described in a paper. Among them is
single-pass imaging with two antennas interferometer (or with single antenna
radars onboard the two satellites located at close orbits) and repeat-pass
observations with single antenna radar. The limitations and merits of each
scheme are described. Among them are temporal decorrelation of scattered
signals in repeat-pass observations and perturbations of phase difference on
interferogram because of atmosphere turbulence, as well as lower cost of single
satellite repeat-pass interferometry system. Special attention is paid to the
short interval between observations (from tens of minutes till one day) because
of remarkably low temporal decorrelation of scattered signals in two subsequent
observations. An alternative scheme of interferometric observations, which may
be implemented within the prospective Russian constellation “Condor-FKA” with
S-band single-antenna synthetic aperture radar onboard two satellites, is
considered. The constellation is planned to be launched in 2019-2020 to conduct
observations from close orbits with 10-15 minutes – 1 day repeat interval.
Among the preferences of the interferometric observations scheme planned are
potentially lower temporal decorrelation, lower impact of atmospheric
turbulence and slow dynamics of scattering surfaces. SAR operation in S-band is
also preferred because of lower temporal decorrelation compared with X and C
bands. Finally, in addition to a significant simplification of the constellation
control during SAR surveys, in this scheme of observations there is no need for
simultaneous data downlink from satellites. An implementation of plans of
creation such an original orbital constellation promises the solution of the
Earth remote sensing tasks at a qualitatively new level.
Key words: radar interferometry, single-pass and repeat-pass survey,
synthetic aperture radars, digital elevations model, dynamics of surface covers.
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For citation:
A.I.Zakharov, E.A.Kostiuk,
P.V.Denisov, L.A.Badak. Earth
observation with spaceborne radar interferometric systems and its prospects within
the framework of "CONDOR-FKA" project. Zhurnal Radioelektroniki - Journal of Radio Electronics.
2019. No. 1. Available at http://jre.cplire.ru/jre/jan19/2/text.pdf
DOI 10.30898/1684-1719.2019.1.2