e. Discussion 



The preference for VV polarization by Renewable Land 

 Resources is weak and HH polarization is fully acceptable. 

 The advantages to be gained with the HV, 30° channel 

 discussed by Nonrenewable Land Resources are not 

 significant enough to alter the overall preference for HH 

 polarization. 



3. Swath Width, Area Cover, and Revisit Interval 



Swath width, area cover, and the revisit interval are 

 interdependent; i.e., as swath width increases, so does the area 

 covered within a specified time period, and the revisit time 

 interval decreases. These parameters will therefore be discussed 

 together. Requirements stated by applications teams are 

 summarized as follows: 



a. Renewable Land Resources 



Renewable Land Resources has a wide variety of area cover 

 requirements and shows revisit cycles ranging from 1 to 

 180 days. Hydrological requirements are the most 

 demanding. Prime areas of interest require, in most 

 cases, revisit cycles of 10 days or less with 15 days 

 acceptable. 



b. Nonrenewable Land Resources 



A swath width of 150 km will meet Nonrenewable Land 

 Resources requirements. The twice yearly coverage at each 

 of two look directions (from ascending and descending 

 orbits), of the entire Canadian landmass is easily 

 accomplished. 



c. Ice 



The operational requirement for the Ice Team is to cover 

 all ice infested/covered waters as frequently as possible, 

 with particular emphasis on at least daily coverage of the 

 proposed northern tanker routes. Tanker routes down the 

 east coast, at latitudes lower than 72° N, are difficult 

 to cover on a daily basis regardless of the type of orbit 

 planned. Scientific and certain types of operational 

 requirements need global coverage, with a revisit period 

 of from 1 to 5 days in specific areas. 



5-10 



