Project Title

NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)

Summary

Event Number:
X-498-M
NSF / NASA Agreement

Program Director:
(Other)

ASC POC/Implementer:
Ryan Steiner / Jenny Cunningham

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Ian Joughin
irj@uw.edu
University of Washington
Department of Earth and Space Sciences
Seattle, Washington

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station
Research Locations: Ross Ice Shelf, Transantarctic Mountains

Description

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) launched in July 2025. The radar is acquiring L-band data that will be used to measure ice velocity for much of the Antarctic ice sheet, with routine coverage extending to near the South Pole and campaign coverage to the pole. This season’s calibration/validation mission will validate these data using a network of six global navigation satellite system receivers primarily on the Ross Ice Shelf. These instruments were deployed using United States Antarctic Program logistics support provided through the National Science Foundation and by EarthScope Geodetic Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (GAGE) support personnel stationed at McMurdo Station.

Field Season Overview

In 2026-27, two EarthScope participants will support the X-498-M project to visit, raise, and perform maintenance on five NISAR sites via Twin Otter aircraft as scheduling allows.

Deploying Team Members