| Abstract | In order to promote the unique polarimetric capability of RADARSAT-2, CCRS has investigated the potential of fully polarimetric C-band SAR for forest type discrimination. Six forest types in Eastern
Ontario (Mer Bleu) were considered in this study: mixed forest, poplar, red pine, white pine, a mixed forest of red and white pines, and white spruce. In addition to the conventional linear polarizations HH, HV, and VV, various polarimetric
discriminators, which were synthesized from the scattering matrix measurements, were investigated. It is shown that the radiometric of the conventional C-band SAR polarizations HH, HV and VV can only perform a limited discrimination of various trees,
and cannot separate deciduous from coniferous trees in spring and summer conditions. The polarimetric information provided by the polarimetric (co- and cross-polarized) signatures, the circular polarizations, and the Cloude's parameters
H/A/α/β, did not improve significantly forest type discrimination. The best results were obtained with the extrema of the completely polarized component of the scattered wave. These parameters permit even the separation of deciduous from
coniferous |