OVERVIEW OF RESULTS OF SPACEBORNE IMAGING RADAR-C, X-BAND SYNTHETIC-APERTURE RADAR (SIR-C X-SAR)/

The Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C, X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C /X-SAR) was launched on the Space Shuttle Endeavour for two ten day mi ssions in the spring and fall of 1994. Radar data from these missions are being used to better understand the dynamic global environment, Du ring each mission, radar images of over 300 sites around the Earth wer e obtained, returning over a terabit of data, SIR-C/X-SAR science inve stigations were focused on quantifying radar's ability to estimate sur face properties of importance to understanding global change; and focu sed studies in geology, ecology, hydrology and oceanography, as well a s radar calibration and electromagnetic theory studies, In addition, t he second flight featured an interferometry experiment, where digital elevation maps were obtained by interfering data from the first and se cond shuttle flight, and from successive days on the second flight, SI R-C/X-SAR data have been used to validate algorithms which produce map s of vegetation type and biomass; snow, soil and vegetation moisture; and the distribution of wetlands, developed with earlier aircraft data .