Introducing the Azimuth Cutoff as an Independent Measure for Characterizing Sea-State Dynamics in SAR Altimetry

This study presents the first azimuth cutoff analysis in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) altimetry, aiming to assess its applicability in characterizing sea-state dynamics. In SAR imaging, the azimuth cutoff serves as a proxy for the shortest waves, in terms of wavelength, that can be detected by the satellite under certain wind and wave...

Optimal Configuration of Omega-Kappa FF-SAR Processing for Specular and Non-Specular Targets in Altimetric Data: The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Study Case

In this study, the full-focusing (FF) algorithm is reviewed with the objective of optimizing it for processing data from different types of surfaces probed in altimetry. In particular, this work aims to provide a set of optimal FF processing parameters for the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (S6-MF) mission. The S6-MF satellite carries an advanced...

SAR altimetry data as a new source for swell monitoring

This article shows the first spectral analysis of fully-focused Synthetic Aperture Radar (FFSAR) altimetry data with the objective of studying backscatter modulations caused by swells. Swell waves distort the backscatter in altimetry radargrams by means of velocity and range bunching. These swell signatures are visible in the tail of the...

The Aresys FF-SAR Service for Cryosat-2 at ESA GPOD

The Fully-Focused SAR (FF-SAR) processing, introduced in Egido and Smith (2016) allows obtaining a maximum resolution of 0.5 m in the along-track direction. It provides significant benefits for inland water altimetry investigations allowing the successful investigation of very small rivers and canals (Kleinherenbrink, 2020) that are typically...

A New Fully-Focused SAR Altimetry Processor in the ESA G-POD SARvatore Family: Validation and Applications on Inland Waters

Satellite altimetry has successfully been applied to derive water level time series over lakes and rivers for many years. In the last decade major advancement within the field have been achieved. The SAR altimetry era, initiated with the launch of CryoSat-2, has made it possible to measure much smaller targets more accurately. The standard 20 Hz...