Satellite-based radar systems (specifically: Synthetic Aperture Radar, SAR) are characterised by their independence from sunlight and all-weather capability. Unlike optical sensors, which are strongly influenced by cloud cover, radar signals are able to penetrate clouds and thus provide reliable information regardless of weather conditions. However, to reach the Earth's surface, radar signals have to pass through the atmosphere twice. This leads to several effects (such as propagation delays that cause inaccuracies in range as well as interferometric phase measurements) that must be taken into account when interpreting radar results. Therefore, atmospheric correction is of crucial importance in the processing chain of radar signals.
Together with ZAMG (project lead), the "Remote Sensing and Geo Information" group at the DIGITAL Institute is investigating the interaction between radar signal propagation and the atmosphere within the ASAP17 project "SAME-AT - SAR Meets Atmosphere". The increasing research activities of recent years show that existing correction approaches do not yet fully represent certain interrelationships. SAME-AT therefore improves atmospheric correction modelling by using information about the uncertainty in the forecast of convection-permitting numerical weather prediction (NWP) ensemble systems. For the first time, an atmospheric correction approach specific to the complex topography of the Alps is developed and tested in Austria.
In order to achieve this main goal, the SAME-AT consortium is working to first improve the quality of the reference data in Austria by building a corner reflector network. On 19 July and 21 July 2022 respectively, the first two corner reflectors have now been set up at the Graz-Thalerhof Airport site. An installation near the Graz-Lustbühel Observatory and on the Schöckel Plateau will follow shortly and complete the establishment of the first corner reflector network.
The SAME-AT project is funded within the Austrian Space Application Programme (ASAP) of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK).
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