Imaging With Radar

  • By Rick Groleau
  • Posted 01.07.03
  • NOVA

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) uses radio waves to "see" in complete darkness and through rain, clouds, and snow. It is becoming a regular component of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, like those flown over Afghanistan. The following picture shows what Washington, D.C. would look like if it were imaged by a SAR-equipped spy plane flying overhead on a snowy winter day.

Launch Interactive

See what synthetic aperture radar, like that used by spy planes, can reveal in this picture of Washington, D.C.

This feature originally appeared on the site for the NOVA program Spies That Fly.

Credits

Photo
© Sandia National Laboratories

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