Radar images of Puch in X, C, S and L bands

The Puch test region in Bavaria can be seen here in X, C, S and L bands (left to right) from a flight on 11 May 2025. Radar interacts differently with surface features depending on the wavelength (3 to 24 centimetres). Lower-frequency L and S bands offer better penetration through vegetation, revealing information about the structure of the vegetation and soil beneath, while higher-frequency C and X bands provide higher resolution for detailed mapping and short-range applications but are more susceptible to attenuation, for example by rain.

Read full story: Measuring soil from the sky for ROSE-L and CHIME