NASA

 

The extremely high resolution of Synthetic Aperture Radar is ideal for creating superaccurate maps of the Earth’s surface—including the bottom of the ocean. NASA and other research organizations like the U.S. Geological Survey have been using satellites to map the Earth for decades.

Highly detailed maps with accurate elevations and surface contours have obvious military applications, but they are also of great scientific value. Because of maps created using SAR satellites, we have a much deeper understanding of how mountain ranges grow and the subtleties of continental drift.