How does imaging radar work?

Imaging radar works by bouncing a radar signal off the ground, then measuring the strength of the signal that comes back and how long it takes. From this information, we can answer questions like:

• Is the terrain high or low?
• Is it wet or dry?
• Is it rough or smooth?
• Are the surfaces straight up and down (like walls) or slanted (like hills)?
• Is the surface covered with grass or concrete?