Potential of L- and C- Bands Polarimetric SAR Data for Monitoring Soil Moisture over Forested Sites
This study investigates the potential of L- and C- bands Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) data to monitor soil moisture over the forested sites of SMAP Validation Experiment 2012 (SMAPVEX12). The optimal backscattering coefficients and polarimetric parameters to characterize the soil m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/21/5317 |
| _version_ | 1797466571338153984 |
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| author | Ramata Magagi Safa Jammali Kalifa Goïta Hongquan Wang Andreas Colliander |
| author_facet | Ramata Magagi Safa Jammali Kalifa Goïta Hongquan Wang Andreas Colliander |
| author_sort | Ramata Magagi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the potential of L- and C- bands Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) data to monitor soil moisture over the forested sites of SMAP Validation Experiment 2012 (SMAPVEX12). The optimal backscattering coefficients and polarimetric parameters to characterize the soil moisture were determined based on L-band Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR), C-band RADARSAT-2, and ground measurements composed of soil and vegetation parameters collected during SMAPVEX12. Linear and circular backscattering coefficients (σ<sup>0</sup>) and polarimetric parameters such as correlation coefficients (ρ<sub>HHVV</sub>) and phase difference (φ<sub>HHVV</sub>) between HH and VV, pedestal height (PH), entropy (H), anisotropy (A), α angle, surface (Ps), and double bounce (Pd) powers were used to develop the relationships with soil moisture. The analysis of these relationships shows that over the forested sites of SMAPVEX12: (a) at L-band several optimal backscattering coefficients and polarimetric parameters allow the monitoring of soil moisture, particularly the linear and circular σ<sup>0</sup> (r = 0.60–0.96), Ps (r = 0.59–0.84), Pd (r = 0.60–0.82), ρ<sub>HHHV</sub>_30°, ρ<sub>VVHV</sub>_30°, φ<sub>HHHV</sub>_30° and φ<sub>HHVV</sub>_30° (r = 0.56–0.81). However, compared to the results obtained with σ<sup>0</sup>, there is no added value of the polarimetric parameters for soil moisture retrievals. (b) at C-band, only a few polarimetric parameters φ<sub>HHHV</sub>, φ<sub>VVHV</sub>, and φ<sub>HHVV</sub> are correlated with soil moisture (r = ~0.90). They can contribute to soil moisture retrievals over forested sites when L-band data are not available. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:41:41Z |
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| id | doaj.art-05a4d5f7b4c541208a694ef1b3f30e55 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:41:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-05a4d5f7b4c541208a694ef1b3f30e552023-11-24T06:37:05ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-10-011421531710.3390/rs14215317Potential of L- and C- Bands Polarimetric SAR Data for Monitoring Soil Moisture over Forested SitesRamata Magagi0Safa Jammali1Kalifa Goïta2Hongquan Wang3Andreas Colliander4Centre d’Applications et de Recherches en Télédétection (CARTEL), Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boul. de l’Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K2R1, CanadaDépartement d’Informatique, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boul. de l’Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K2R1, CanadaCentre d’Applications et de Recherches en Télédétection (CARTEL), Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boul. de l’Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K2R1, CanadaCentre d’Applications et de Recherches en Télédétection (CARTEL), Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boul. de l’Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K2R1, CanadaJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USAThis study investigates the potential of L- and C- bands Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) data to monitor soil moisture over the forested sites of SMAP Validation Experiment 2012 (SMAPVEX12). The optimal backscattering coefficients and polarimetric parameters to characterize the soil moisture were determined based on L-band Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR), C-band RADARSAT-2, and ground measurements composed of soil and vegetation parameters collected during SMAPVEX12. Linear and circular backscattering coefficients (σ<sup>0</sup>) and polarimetric parameters such as correlation coefficients (ρ<sub>HHVV</sub>) and phase difference (φ<sub>HHVV</sub>) between HH and VV, pedestal height (PH), entropy (H), anisotropy (A), α angle, surface (Ps), and double bounce (Pd) powers were used to develop the relationships with soil moisture. The analysis of these relationships shows that over the forested sites of SMAPVEX12: (a) at L-band several optimal backscattering coefficients and polarimetric parameters allow the monitoring of soil moisture, particularly the linear and circular σ<sup>0</sup> (r = 0.60–0.96), Ps (r = 0.59–0.84), Pd (r = 0.60–0.82), ρ<sub>HHHV</sub>_30°, ρ<sub>VVHV</sub>_30°, φ<sub>HHHV</sub>_30° and φ<sub>HHVV</sub>_30° (r = 0.56–0.81). However, compared to the results obtained with σ<sup>0</sup>, there is no added value of the polarimetric parameters for soil moisture retrievals. (b) at C-band, only a few polarimetric parameters φ<sub>HHHV</sub>, φ<sub>VVHV</sub>, and φ<sub>HHVV</sub> are correlated with soil moisture (r = ~0.90). They can contribute to soil moisture retrievals over forested sites when L-band data are not available.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/21/5317SARL-bandC-bandpolarimetrysoil moistureforested sites |
| spellingShingle | Ramata Magagi Safa Jammali Kalifa Goïta Hongquan Wang Andreas Colliander Potential of L- and C- Bands Polarimetric SAR Data for Monitoring Soil Moisture over Forested Sites Remote Sensing SAR L-band C-band polarimetry soil moisture forested sites |
| title | Potential of L- and C- Bands Polarimetric SAR Data for Monitoring Soil Moisture over Forested Sites |
| title_full | Potential of L- and C- Bands Polarimetric SAR Data for Monitoring Soil Moisture over Forested Sites |
| title_fullStr | Potential of L- and C- Bands Polarimetric SAR Data for Monitoring Soil Moisture over Forested Sites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential of L- and C- Bands Polarimetric SAR Data for Monitoring Soil Moisture over Forested Sites |
| title_short | Potential of L- and C- Bands Polarimetric SAR Data for Monitoring Soil Moisture over Forested Sites |
| title_sort | potential of l and c bands polarimetric sar data for monitoring soil moisture over forested sites |
| topic | SAR L-band C-band polarimetry soil moisture forested sites |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/21/5317 |
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