Mapping Land Cover
Land cover is associated with natural cover and man-made objects which differ in geometric structure, roughness, and moisture content. Radar is sensitive to differences in these parameters which potentially result in contrasting backscatter.

RADARSAT beam mode - Land cover information can be acquired using Standard or Wide beam modes.

RADARSAT incidence angle - The main parameters differentiating land cover types is geometric structure and surface roughness; shallow incidence angles maximize contrast in backscatter resulting from differences in these parameters.

Look direction - N/A

When to acquire RADARSAT data - Acquire data when differences in the geometric structure and roughness associated with land cover types are maximized. Mapping land use and land cover significantly improves through the use of temporal radar data.