.c.Saudi Arabia

A. Dabbagh
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

	The investigations for the Saudi Arabian test site will use SIR-C/X-SAR imagery to detail the geological formation boundaries and distinctive lithologies within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both from each other and where they are often covered by shallow sand or soil.  This will be applied to the major sedimentary basins of Saudi Arabia in the north, east, and southwest of the country, which form the most important prospective areas for reserves of oil, gas, and water.  For these investigations, dual frequency L-band (23 cm) and C-band (6 cm), multipolarization, SIR-C radar imagery, together with dual band X-SAR images offers the most potential.
	In addition, large areas of chemical sediments, especially gypsum and halite, will be distinguished by their different surface roughness using multiple polarization capabilities so that large areas of sabhka within the Kingdom can be mapped and their sediments distinguished.