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EO·Atlas / Sensors / NISAR L-band SAR
Sensor · Spaceborne

NISAR L-band SAR

Missions → NISAR (Operational)

NASA/JPL L-band synthetic aperture radar payload for NISAR.

Sensor

NISAR L-band SAR is the L-band SweepSAR instrument on NISAR, using active microwave imaging and a wide-swath synthetic aperture radar architecture.[1][2] The instrument operates in L-band around 1.250-1.260 GHz, within a 1.215-1.3 GHz range for the L-band radar context.[1][2] Its SweepSAR mode supports about 242 km swath and 3 m range resolution, with single, dual, compact and quad-polarisation modes recorded for L-band operation.[1][2] SAR backscatter, InSAR surface deformation and polarimetric SAR decomposition are demonstrated through NISAR, so buyers should read those as demonstrated uses rather than inferred capabilities.[1][2] NISAR launched on 2025-07-30, and SAR-L utilization is recorded from October 2025 with end of life at or after 2029.[3][2]

Operator pricing

Pricing not publicly listed by operator

Supply chain position

carried by NISAR
Methods this sensor implements
Demonstrated
Capable, undemonstrated

None on record.

Topics this relates to
Geology and geohazardsInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Permafrost and ground iceInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Pipeline integrityInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
SubsidenceInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Terrain elevationInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Transport infrastructure monitoringInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Coastal erosionInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)adequate
Groundwater and terrestrial water storageInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)adequate
Snow water equivalentInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)adequate
FloodingInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)marginal
Glacier and ice-sheet massInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)marginal
Forest structure and biomassPolarimetric SAR - target decomposition(demonstrated)well suited
Biodiversity and habitatPolarimetric SAR - target decomposition(demonstrated)adequate
Illegal and unregulated fishingPolarimetric SAR - target decomposition(demonstrated)adequate
Sea icePolarimetric SAR - target decomposition(demonstrated)adequate
Soil moisturePolarimetric SAR - target decomposition(demonstrated)adequate
Urban changePolarimetric SAR - target decomposition(demonstrated)adequate
Vessel trackingPolarimetric SAR - target decomposition(demonstrated)adequate
Crop-type mappingPolarimetric SAR - target decomposition(demonstrated)marginal
Ocean surface windsSAR backscatter imaging(demonstrated)well suited
Sea stateSAR backscatter imaging(demonstrated)well suited
Wind energy sitingSAR backscatter imaging(demonstrated)well suited
Economic activity intelligenceSAR backscatter imaging(demonstrated)adequate
Snow coverSAR backscatter imaging(demonstrated)adequate
Ocean currentsSAR backscatter imaging(demonstrated)marginal
Sources
Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/nisar-l-band-sar Markdown twin → Field definitions → Suggest a correction →
How to cite this page

Plain text

NISAR L-band SAR. EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V. https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/nisar-l-band-sar (CC BY 4.0)

BibTeX

@misc{eoatlas:products:sensor:nisar-l-band-sar,
  title = {NISAR L-band SAR},
  author = {{EO-Atlas}},
  publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
  url = {https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/nisar-l-band-sar}
}