ALOS Sensors

PRISM
PALSAR PRISM consists of three panchromatic telescopes for forward, nadir, and backwards viewing. The stereoscopic views will be used to create highly accurate digital elevation models, while the 2.5-m resolution will permit the production of orthorectified imagery.

Characteristics

[ Click to enlarge diagram ]
No. of Bands 1 (Panchromatic)
Wavelength 0.52 ~ 0.77 micrometers
No. of Optics 3 (Nadir/Forward/Backward)
Base to Height Ratio 1.0 (Forward to Backward)
Spatial Resolution 2.5 m
Swath Width 35 km (Triplet mode)
70 km (Nadir only, wide swath mode)
S/N >70
MTF >0.2
No. of Detectors 28000/band (70- km swath w)
14000/band (35- km swath w)
Pointing Angle -1.5 to +1.5 deg (triplet mode, cross track)
Bit Length 8 bits
PALSAR
PALSAR PALSAR is an L-band SAR with 10- and 100- m resolutions that are capable of detailed, all-weather, day and night observations, and repeat-pass interferometry. PALSAR has a ScanSAR observation mode, with a swath (250-350 km) that is three to five times wider than conventional SAR images. ScanSAR mode will be useful for monitoring sea ice and rain forest extent.

Characteristics
Mode Fine ScanSAR Polarimetric
Center Frequency 1270 MHz (L-band)
Chirp Bandwidth 28 MHz 14 MHz 14 MHz, 28 MHz 14 MHz
Polarization HH HH+HV HH HH+HV+VH+VV
Incident Angle 8 ~ 60 deg 8 ~ 60 deg 18 ~ 43 deg 8 ~ 60 deg
Range Resolution 7 ~ 44 m 14 ~ 88m 100m (multi look) 24 ~ 89m
Observation Swath 40 ~ 70 km 40 ~ 70 km 250 ~ 350 km 20 ~ 65 km
Bit Length 5 bits 5 bits 5 bits 3 or 5 bits
Data Rate 240 Mbps 240 Mbps 240 Mbps 240 Mbps
AVNIR-2 AVNIR-2 is a four-band (visible-and near-infrared) radiometer with a resolution of 10 m, designed for observing land and coastal zones. The images will provide the basis for land coverage and land-use classification maps for monitoring regional environments. In addition, the instrument has a cross-track pointing capability useful for quick response applications, including disaster monitoring. AVNIR-2
Characteristics

[ Click to enlarge diagram ]
No. of Bands 4
Wavelength 1: 0.42-0.50 microns
2: 0.52-0.60 microns
3: 0.61-0.69 microns
4: 0.76-0.89 microns
Spatial Resolution 10 m (at NADIR)
Swath Width 70 km (at NADIR)
S/N > 200
MTF Band 1 ~ 3: >0.25
Band 4: >0.20
No. of Detectors 7000 / band
Pointing Angle + or −44˚
Bit Length 8 bits