A First Assessment of the Asar Wave Mode Properties and Its Complex Imagette Product Characteristics

With its ASAR wave mode, the ENVISAT mission provides a continuity of the ERS-1/2 wave mode, but with more flexible measurement capabilities and an enhanced product variety offered to the user community. Wave vignettes can be taken at 100 km spacing in flight direction either in VV or HH polarization using any of the seven ASAR standard beams. Furthermore, two beams can be used alternatively providing a set of two imaging parameter constellations during one over-flight. Single-look phase-preserving complex imagettes and cross spectra as well as SAR ocean wave spectra are offered as standard products. The complex imagettes WVI product will be radiometrically calibrated using mainly the same methods and calibration sites as for complex image mode products (ESA transponders, rain forest).