MARSAIS (Marine SAR Analysis and Interpretation System) is an integrated information system for processing and information extraction from different types of Earth Observation data. By means of validated algorithms and models, MARSAIS generates a suite of quality controlles coastal zone products with information on sea state, currents and pollution. Products are then delivered through a web based User Interface.

The main components of MARSAIS are the MARSAIS Data Base, the MARSAIS Toolkit, and the MARSAIS User Interface.

MARSAIS system components. © 2003 MARSAIS Consortium

The MARSAIS Data Base contains a collection of satellite images, obtained from SAR and other sensors. The SAR images provide examples of the following phenomena: wind, waves, currents, internal waves and slicks (oil spills). These phenomena are also depicted in a number of visual and IR images, which are used together with the SAR images in synergy studies.

The MARSAIS Toolkit contains a set of SAR algorithms and models for extraction of geophysical and chemical-biological parameters. The Toolkit includes (1) imaging radar ocean currents models, including new algorithms for detection of fronts and internal waves, (2) ENVIWAVE algorithm for sea state retrievals and CMOD-algorithms for wind speed retrieval, (3) oil slick signature analysis, and (4) oil spill model. In addition, an interactive tool for synergy analysis of SAR and other satellite imagery is included.

The MARSAIS User Interface is a web interface providing access to the various MARSAIS products and additional material on the data and tools used to generate them, including information on how the products have been validated. The User Interface also gives links to related web sites, offering e.g. data catalogues or other software tools. In fact, you are looking at the User Interface right now.