English: (P-43930)

This false-color composite image of the Oberpfaffenhofen area, southwest of Munich, Germany, was acquired by SIR-C/X-SAR on April 13, 1994, during the 62nd orbit of the space shuttle Endeavour (STS-59). The image is centered at about 48 degrees north latitude and 11 degrees east longitude; north is at the top right corner. The area shown is approximately 27 by 36 kilometers (17 by 22 miles). Oberpfaffenhofen is the major test site for X-SAR calibration and for scientific investigations in ecology, hydrology, and geology.

SIR-C/X-SAR acquired this image shortly after a heavy storm covered the Oberpfaffenhofen area with 20 centimeters (8 inches) of snow. The large dark area at bottom center is Lake Ammersee; the two smaller lakes above the Ammersee are the Worthsee and the Pilsensee. At center right in this view is the tip of Lake Starnbergersee. The outskirts of the city of Munich can be seen at the top of the image.

Colors in the image highlight the differences in what SIR-C/X-SAR's three radar bands can "see" on the ground: L-band is red, C-band is green, and X-band is blue. If the three frequencies were all "seeing" the same thing, the image would appear in black and white. Instead, red represents forested areas; green indicates marshy areas such as those at the southern tips of the Ammersee and Pilsensee; and blue corresponds to areas of clear cuts or shorter vegetation.