Sentinel-1 Wave mode is similar to ERS and Evnisat wave mode imaging but with improved spatial resolution, larger vignettes and a 'leap frog' acquisition pattern as illustrated in the figure below. WV acquisitions consist of several vignettes exclusively in either VV or HH polarisation, with each vignette processed as a separate image. WV mode products can contain any number of vignettes, potentially amounting to an entire data-take. Each vignette is contained in an independent image within the product.
Wave mode acquires data in 20 km by 20 km vignettes, at 5 m by 5 m spatial resolution, every 100 km along the orbit, acquired alternately on two different incidence angles. Vignettes on the same incidence angle are separated by 200 km. Swaths alternate incident angles between near range and far range (approximately 23° and 36° respectively).
Alternating WV Mode Acquisitions
The Wave mode at VV polarisation is the default mode for acquiring data over open ocean. WV mode is acquired at the same bit rate as SM however, due to the small vignettes, single polarisation and sensing at 100 km intervals, the data volume is much lower. The table below shows the main characteristics of the Wave mode.
| Characteristic | Value |
| Vignette ground coverage | 20 km x 20 km |
| Along track distance between vignettes | 100 km |
| Incidence angle ranges | 21.6° - 25.1° 34.8° - 38.0° |
| Elevation beams | 2 |
| Polarisation options | Single HH, VV |
| Maximum Noise Equivalent Sigma Zero (NESZ) | -22 dB |
The table below shows the incidence and off-nadir angles for Wave mode beams.
| Beam | WV1 | WV2 |
| Off-nadir angles at min orbit altitude [°] | 21.03-22.40 | 32.56-33.62 |
| Incident angles at min orbit altitude [°] | 23.47-25.03 | 36.67-37.92 |
| Off-nadir angles at max orbit altitude [°] | 19.43-20.79 | 30.96-32.02 |
| Incident angles at max orbit altitude [°] | 21.68-23.22 | 34.88-36.13 |