Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) is a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) that actively emits microwave signals and receives the reflection from the ground to acquire information. Since it does not need other sources of light such as the Sun, SAR has the advantage of providing satellite images regardless day or night. The L-band frequency's long wavelength (15-30 cm) is less affected by clouds and rain, which makes L-band extremely flexible for use in a broad range of science disciplines. Some of the many applications of PALSAR data include tree species classification and forest canopy estimation, geologic structure interpretation, land surface and soil moisture analysis, topographical change detection, and oil slick assessment.
