| Title | Local Incidence Angle Effects on X- and C-Band Radar Backscatter of Boreal Forest Communities |
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| Author | Warner, T; Bell, R; Singhroy, V |
| Source | Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing 22, 3, 1996., https://doi.org/10.1080/07038992.1996.10855182 |
| Year | 1996 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20042292 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Released | 2014 07 31 |
| Abstract | Three flightlines of X (9.25 Ghz) and C (5.30 Ghz) HH band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery collected by the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) Convair 580 provide extensive coverage of a 24-
by 19-km test site in Quentico Provincial Park, Ontario (48°20'N, 91°10'W). The combination of rugged topography and radar depression angles that vary from 16° to 90° results in a wide variety of local incidence angles throughout the scene. A digital
elevation model was used to calculate a local radar incidence angle for every radar pixel. Each radar image line was normalized to a uniform relationship between radar backscatter and the local incidence angle. This is found to be preferable to
standard row or column normalization approaches. Co-registered Thematic Mapper data were transformed into the nPDF Deciduous Forest Index, a measure of the dominance of deciduous species in this mixed deciduous and coniferous forest. The combination
of nPDF Deciduous Forest Index, local incidence angle data, and the three flightlines of X- and C-band radar imagery allows a comprehensive characterization of backscatter from mixed forests. The X- and C-band radar imagery allows a comprehensive
characterization of backscatter from mixed forests. The X- and C-band data are very similar, except for the coniferous dominated forests, especially when observed with small local incidence angles. Incidence angle effects were more important that
forest composition in determining backscatter, except at small incidence angles, where there is a distinct association of lower backscatter measured from forests dominated by conifers. These results indicate that multispectral X- and C-bank radar
data with small look angles provide optimum identification of forest composition. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 219094 |
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