DIX Planetary Science Seminar

In satellite remote sensing, the longer wavelengths of the microwave versus the optical parts of the electromagnetic spectrum lends itself to penetration through clouds and the use of signal phase for creating unique and reliable measurements, whether it is of the surface of venus, mars, or right here at home. For active systems such as radar, microwaves can be used for the creation of synthetic antenna apertures that are many times larger than the constituent system, thus having the capacity for high resolution images. Such images are sensitive to the structural and dielectric properties of the regions being observed, something that is strongly driven by the presence of water and the water cycle. When repeat observations are made, characteristics such as topography, deformation, and volume scattering can be explored.

In this talk, a brief overview of SAR, InSAR and its applications to environmental remote sensing from an Ecosystems and Hydrology point of view will be given by Prof. Paul Siqueira. Prof. Siqueira is visiting GPS while on sabbatical from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.