Pereslegin S.V., Karpov I.O., Khalikov Z.A., Ermakov R.V., Mussiniants T.G.
The principles of radar image creation, which directly show surface velocity field, are considered. The main variable determined radar images quality is velocity fluctuation sensitivity defined for given an surface area. Intensity images determined by intensity fluctuation sensitivity of are created at once. The creating concept and achievable features of images are different for stationary, airborne and spaceborne platforms, consequently, were seen progressively with estimation of attainable parameters. For shipborne radar of around survey with wideband signal and different-phase processing, velocity fluctuation sensitivity may be about ~10 cm/s on the symmetry area about ~30m with small range. Airborne ATISAR (interference synthetic aperture radar with along-track antenna base) is capable to provide the better velocity sensitivity on the small areas and significant range, that’s answer to many oceanology propositions. It notes that special algorithm is necessary for creating velocity images by the side-looking SAR without the azimuth shift of moving areas. Spaceborne ATISAR, with the same processing technology, needs the essential increase of antenna base dimension and radiation power – that’s attained in Germany space system Tandem TerraSAR-X. Applicability and development perspectives of given methods are also considered.
