Desk : The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shared key details about the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite. This joint India-US project uses S-band and L-band radar technology to monitor the Earth’s surface.
The primary objective of NISAR is to provide accurate and regular assessments of soil moisture. The satellite will deliver high-resolution (100-meter) data covering the entire Indian territory every 12 days. This near real-time information will benefit farmers, scientists, and government agencies by providing detailed insights into soil moisture levels.
Soil moisture data is extremely valuable for agriculture. It helps monitor crop health, determine irrigation requirements, assess drought risks, and plan water resource management. Soil moisture varies across India’s diverse regions—irrigated fields, rain-dependent farms, semi-arid areas, and high-rainfall zones. NISAR’s data will provide consistent and reliable estimates across all these regions. ISRO has developed a physics-based algorithm to enhance the accuracy and reliability of this data.
NISAR’s Goals and Benefits
NISAR will observe the Earth twice every 12 days from different directions, enabling effective tracking of changes in soil moisture. This will allow farmers to plan irrigation efficiently, prepare for droughts, receive weather-based agricultural advice, and manage water resources more effectively.
According to ISRO, this Level-4 soil moisture data at 100-meter resolution will be processed at the National Remote Sensing Centre and made accessible through the Bhoonidhi Portal to farmers, researchers, government departments, and NGOs across India.
Thus, the NISAR satellite is set to become a crucial tool in strengthening India’s agriculture and water resource management.