to light as researchers focus on Lagrangian tracking and fine scale measurements,
which are needed around coral reefs. It is expected that the application of highresolution VHF ocean radars and microwave wave radars will also make a significant contribution to monitoring flow in and around coral reefs.
The next generation of SAR satellites, in particular the Sentinel-1 and RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), will be operated and utilized as fully
operational satellites rather than research/commercial satellites, which is the status
of all current SAR satellites. It is anticipated that future operational, low-cost SAR
imagery, with routine repeat coverage, will enable the applications discussed
above to be fully utilized within the coral reef community. Emerging SAR
applications will certainly include more sophisticated use of multiple polarization
channels (e.g., for vessel detection and high-wind measurement) since newer
satellites increasingly have dual-polarization, cross-polarization, and quad-polarization modes. There should also be increased availability of along-track interferometry for ocean current measurement, beginning with TerraSAR-X, and it is
possible that coordination of SAR orbits and acquisitions may allow some multifrequency applications (such as discrimination between oil spills and natural
biogenic slicks).
Acknowledgments Data were drawn from the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System
(IMOS) archive for some of the HF radar images. RADARSAT-1 SAR imagery was processed by
the Alaska Satellite Facility of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. ENVISAT imagery was
processed by the European Space Agency. The authors wish to thank Frank Monaldo of The
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Xiaofeng Li of GST at NOAA/NESDIS,
and Christopher Jackson of Global Ocean Associates for SAR product development and processing of the figures shown and products discussed. The views, opinions, and findings contained
in this paper are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official NOAA or U.S.
Government position, policy, or decision.
Suggested Reading
Garello R, Romeiser R, Crout RL (2005) Special issue on synthetic aperture radar imaging of the
ocean surface. IEEE J Ocean Eng 30(3):470–569
Harlan J, Terrill E, Keen C, Barrick D, Whelan C, Howden S, Kohut J (2010) The integrated
observing system High-Frequency radar network: Status and local, regional and national
applications. Mar Technol Soc J 44:122–132
Wyatt LR, Heron ML, Garello R (eds) (2006) Special issue on HF/VHF ocean surface radars.
J Ocean Eng 31(4)
Jackson CR, Apel JR (eds) (2004) Synthetic aperture radar marine user’s manual. US National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington
Graber HC, Paduan J (1997) Special issue on high frequency radars for coastal oceanography.
Oceanography 10(2)
366
M. L. Heron et al.
which are needed around coral reefs. It is expected that the application of highresolution VHF ocean radars and microwave wave radars will also make a significant contribution to monitoring flow in and around coral reefs.
The next generation of SAR satellites, in particular the Sentinel-1 and RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), will be operated and utilized as fully
operational satellites rather than research/commercial satellites, which is the status
of all current SAR satellites. It is anticipated that future operational, low-cost SAR
imagery, with routine repeat coverage, will enable the applications discussed
above to be fully utilized within the coral reef community. Emerging SAR
applications will certainly include more sophisticated use of multiple polarization
channels (e.g., for vessel detection and high-wind measurement) since newer
satellites increasingly have dual-polarization, cross-polarization, and quad-polarization modes. There should also be increased availability of along-track interferometry for ocean current measurement, beginning with TerraSAR-X, and it is
possible that coordination of SAR orbits and acquisitions may allow some multifrequency applications (such as discrimination between oil spills and natural
biogenic slicks).
Acknowledgments Data were drawn from the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System
(IMOS) archive for some of the HF radar images. RADARSAT-1 SAR imagery was processed by
the Alaska Satellite Facility of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. ENVISAT imagery was
processed by the European Space Agency. The authors wish to thank Frank Monaldo of The
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Xiaofeng Li of GST at NOAA/NESDIS,
and Christopher Jackson of Global Ocean Associates for SAR product development and processing of the figures shown and products discussed. The views, opinions, and findings contained
in this paper are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official NOAA or U.S.
Government position, policy, or decision.
Suggested Reading
Garello R, Romeiser R, Crout RL (2005) Special issue on synthetic aperture radar imaging of the
ocean surface. IEEE J Ocean Eng 30(3):470–569
Harlan J, Terrill E, Keen C, Barrick D, Whelan C, Howden S, Kohut J (2010) The integrated
observing system High-Frequency radar network: Status and local, regional and national
applications. Mar Technol Soc J 44:122–132
Wyatt LR, Heron ML, Garello R (eds) (2006) Special issue on HF/VHF ocean surface radars.
J Ocean Eng 31(4)
Jackson CR, Apel JR (eds) (2004) Synthetic aperture radar marine user’s manual. US National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington
Graber HC, Paduan J (1997) Special issue on high frequency radars for coastal oceanography.
Oceanography 10(2)
366
M. L. Heron et al.