NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are preparing to launch a satellite equipped with synthetic aperture radar on July 30. The instrument will scan nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces by sending radar pulses twice every 12 days. It will measure ground movements as small as one centimeter, helping scientists capture detailed images of Earth's changing surface features.

The satellite's radar technology will cover environments such as forests, wetlands, mountain glaciers, and sea ice. Researchers expect the data will improve understanding of land surface changes and provide insights into issues related to the global climate crisis.

Rowena Lohman, professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Cornell Engineering, is part of the project team. Lohman will oversee the collection of soil moisture data and is experienced with interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). This technique, which compares two images of the same area to detect topography and ground movement, was used early in her career to study earthquake-related subsurface shifts. She has since applied InSAR to study changes in groundwater and the impacts of its extraction.

The upcoming satellite mission is expected to deliver the most comprehensive views yet of Earth's dynamic surface.

Source: Cornell University

Source Type: College

Source Location: Ithaca

Ithaca, NY

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