Atmospheric Front over the Caspian Sea Studied with SAR and Optical Images and Meteorological Data

Abstract

An analysis of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image from the Radarsat-2 satellite acquired at the end of September 2013 has been carried out. A manifestation of the atmospheric front passing over the Northern Caspian Sea is found on the image. An analysis of SAR image using the data of the NOAA, Terra, and Aqua satellites; sub-satellite data; meteorological measurements; and reanalysis allows us to obtain not only qualitative but also quantitative information about the phenomenon displayed in the SAR data. The front had a characteristic set of radar signatures and was identified as a cold front; it had a narrow zone of frontal squalls and moved in the southeastern direction. Estimates of the front motion speed, wind speed in the regions before and after the front, and other characteristics have been obtained.