On the use of rigorous microwave interaction models to support remote sensing of natural surfaces

A study has been undertaken which objective is to contribute to the investigation of the validity of microwave surface scattering models used in remote sensing applications, particularly when applied to realistic representations of natural surfaces. These investigations are based on recent implementations of rigorous methods (MoM and FDTD) and cover a wide range of configurations of observation (mono- and bi-static). Both land (bare soils) and sea surfaces are being investigated

Fundamental remote sensing science research program. Part 1: Scene radiation and atmospheric effects characterization project

Brief articles summarizing the status of research in the scene radiation and atmospheric effect characterization (SRAEC) project are presented. Research conducted within the SRAEC program is focused on the development of empirical characterizations and mathematical process models which relate the electromagnetic energy reflected or emitted from a scene to the biophysical parameters of interest

Optimization of microwave radiometric systems for earth resource surveys Final report

Optimization of passive microwave radiometric systems for earth resource surveys from ground and aircraft based measurement

Analysis of geologic terrain models for determination of optimum SAR sensor configuration and optimum information extraction for exploration of global non-renewable resources. Pilot study: Arkansas Remote Sensing Laboratory, part 1, part 2, and part 3

Computer-generated radar simulations and mathematical geologic terrain models were used to establish the optimum radar sensor operating parameters for geologic research. An initial set of mathematical geologic terrain models was created for three basic landforms and families of simulated radar images were prepared from these models for numerous interacting sensor, platform, and terrain variables. The tradeoffs between the various sensor parameters and the quantity and quality of the extractable geologic data were investigated as well as the development of automated techniques of digital SAR image analysis. Initial work on a texture analysis of SEASAT SAR imagery is reported. Computer-generated radar simulations are shown for combinations of two geologic models and three SAR angles of incidence

Forward electromagnetic scattering models for sea ice

Journal ArticleRecent advances in forward modeling of the electromagnetic scattering properties of sea ice are presented. In particular, the principal results include the following: 1) approximate calculations of electromagnetic scattering from multilayer random media with rough interfaces, based on the distorted Born approximation and radiative transfer (RT) theory; 2) comprehensive theory of the effective complex permittivity of sea ice based on rigorous bounds in the quasi-static case and strong fluctuation theory in the weakly scattering regime; 3) rigorous analysis of the Helmholtz equation and its solutions for idealized sea ice models, which has led in the one dimensional (1-D) case to nonlinear generalizations of classical theorems in Fourier analysis

Microwave emissions from snow

The radiation emitted from dry and wet snowpack in the microwave region (1 to 100 GHz) is discussed and related to ground observations. Results from theoretical model calculations match the brightness temperatures obtained by truck mounted, airborne and spaceborne microwave sensor systems. Snow wetness and internal layer structure complicate the snow parameter retrieval algorithm. Further understanding of electromagnetic interaction with snowpack may eventually provide a technique to probe the internal snow propertie

A microwave systems approach to measuring root zone soil moisture

Computer microwave satellite simulation models were developed and the program was used to test the ability of a coarse resolution passive microwave sensor to measure soil moisture over large areas, and to evaluate the effect of heterogeneous ground covers with the resolution cell on the accuracy of the soil moisture estimate. The use of realistic scenes containing only 10% to 15% bare soil and significant vegetation made it possible to observe a 60% K decrease in brightness temperature from a 5% soil moisture to a 35% soil moisture at a 21 cm microwave wavelength, providing a 1.5 K to 2 K per percent soil moisture sensitivity to soil moisture. It was shown that resolution does not affect the basic ability to measure soil moisture with a microwave radiometer system. Experimental microwave and ground field data were acquired for developing and testing a root zone soil moisture prediction algorithm. The experimental measurements demonstrated that the depth of penetration at a 21 cm microwave wavelength is not greater than 5 cm

Earth Observing System. Volume 1, Part 2: Science and Mission Requirements. Working Group Report Appendix

Areas of global hydrologic cycles, global biogeochemical cycles geophysical processes are addressed including biological oceanography, inland aquatic resources, land biology, tropospheric chemistry, oceanic transport, polar glaciology, sea ice and atmospheric chemistry