A geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar; for tectonic mapping, disaster management and measurements of vegetation and soil moisture

Abstract

A geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with an orbit inclination of 50-65/spl deg/ can provide daily coverage of all of North and South America. Longitudinally, the width of the mapped area would be on the order of /spl plusmn/50/spl deg/ at the Equator, somewhat more at the most northern/southern latitudes. Within the area mapped, very good temporal coverage can be obtained-up to several mappings during the 12 hours per day where the satellite is in the "right" hemisphere. This would be a key capability in relation to disaster management, tectonic mapping and modeling, vegetation and soil moisture mapping, and for operational and semi-operational requirements. A constellation of geosynchronous satellites could provide global coverage.