RADARSAT-1 Antarctic Mapping Project (RAMP)

The RADARSAT-1 Antarctic Mapping Project (RAMP) was composed of two main missions, the first Antarctic Mapping Mission (AMM-1) and the Modified Antarctic Mapping Mission (MAMM). Both missions utilized RADARSAT-1, a satellite developed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and launched by NASA from Vandenburg Air Force Base on November 4, 1995. Derived data acquired 1997 and 2000 from two RADARSAT-1 satellite missions (AMM-1 and MAMM) was used to map features of Antarctica and measure ice sheet dynamics. Datasets are available as image tiles and mosaics, and velocity maps. Also available are ice velocity maps from mini-MAMM missions in 2004 and 2007. ©CSA 1997; Mosaic ©Ohio State University, 1997 About the missionRADARSAT-1 was equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which enabled the satellite to capture high-resolution Earth imagery day and night regardless of weather conditions. The satellite covered the Earth every 24 days which allowed interferometric analysis. Functioning at C-band (5.3 GHz frequency), RADARSAT-1 was able to direct its radar beam at different angles in the right-side direction. Additional maneuvering of the satellite itself resulted in its invaluable ability to look left, increasing the number of available target locations. These features made RADARSAT-1 a well-matched satellite for the Antarctic Mapping missions. AMM-1 started on September 9, 1997 and was completed on October 20, 1997. Its goals were to acquire a complete map of Antarctica and better understand the relationships between the southernmost continent’s environmental elements. As Antarctica’s inhospitable environment had limited the success of previous mapping endeavors, this mission’s data and imagery would prove to be a vital baseline to contrast against the data of future missions.Using the right- and left-looking abilities of RADARSAT-1, a mosaic map of Antarctica at 25 m resolution was created. The map displayed Antarctica’s geological features through variations in radar brightness and texture, including ice streams. Ice velocity vectors were compiled using AMM-1 data to measure ice sheet movement over ice streams. MAMM began three years after AMM-1 ended, starting on September 3, 2000 and ending on November 17, 2000. It planned to remap Antarctica and measure ice velocity data using interferometric analysis and data from AMM-1. In the three years’ difference between the two main Antarctic Mapping Missions, ice sheet advance and retreat could be observed and better evaluated as episodic change or regional climate change.The Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF) processed AMM-1 and MAMM data into images, which The Ohio State University converted into maps and velocity fields using Vexcel Corporation software. Additional participants include the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) and other scientific advisors.

雷达卫星-1南极测绘计划（RAMP）由两项主要任务组成，即首次南极测绘任务（AMM-1）和改进型南极测绘任务（MAMM）。两项任务均利用了加拿大航天局（CSA）开发并由美国国家航空航天局（NASA）从范登堡空军基地于1995年11月4日发射的雷达卫星-1。从1997年和2000年的两次雷达卫星-1任务（AMM-1和MAMM）中获取的衍生数据被用于绘制南极特征并测量冰盖动力学。数据集以图像瓦片、镶嵌图和速度图的形式提供。此外，还包括了2004年和2007年mini-MAMM任务中的冰速度图。版权©CSA 1997；镶嵌图版权©俄亥俄州立大学，1997。
关于任务：雷达卫星-1配备了合成孔径雷达（SAR），这使得卫星能够无论昼夜、无论天气条件如何，都能捕捉到高分辨率的地球影像。卫星每24天覆盖地球一次，从而允许进行干涉测量分析。在C波段（5.3 GHz频率）下工作的雷达卫星-1能够在其右侧方向上以不同角度发射雷达波束。卫星自身的额外机动性使其具备了向左侧观察的宝贵能力，从而增加了可用的目标位置数量。这些特性使得雷达卫星-1成为南极测绘任务的理想选择。
AMM-1于1997年9月9日开始，并于1997年10月20日完成。其目标是为南极绘制完整地图，并更好地理解地球上最南端大陆的环境要素之间的关系。由于南极恶劣的环境限制了以往测绘活动的成功，此次任务的数据和影像将成为对比未来任务数据的关键基础。利用雷达卫星-1的左右观察能力，创建了一张25米分辨率的南极镶嵌地图。该地图通过雷达亮度和纹理的变化展示了南极的地质特征，包括冰川流。通过AMM-1数据编制了冰速度矢量，以测量冰川流上的冰盖运动。
MAMM在AMM-1结束后三年启动，始于2000年9月3日，结束于2000年11月17日。其计划重新绘制南极地图并使用干涉测量分析和AMM-1的数据来测量冰速度数据。在这两次主要南极测绘任务之间的三年时间里，冰盖的进退变化可以被观察到并更好地评估为间歇性变化或区域性气候变化。阿拉斯加卫星设施（ASF）处理了AMM-1和MAMM数据生成图像，俄亥俄州立大学利用Vexcel公司软件将这些图像转换为地图和速度场。其他参与者包括喷气推进实验室（JPL）和其他科学顾问。