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TEC and Ionospheric Height Estimation by Means of Azimuth Subaperture Analysis in Quad-Polarimetric Spaceborne SAR Data

Kim, Jun Su and Papathanassiou, Konstantinos (2021) TEC and Ionospheric Height Estimation by Means of Azimuth Subaperture Analysis in Quad-Polarimetric Spaceborne SAR Data. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 14, pp. 6279-6290. IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/JSTARS.2021.3085130. ISSN 1939-1404.

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Abstract

The total electron content (TEC) is probably the most important single parameter to characterize the ionospheric state and its impact on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. Its accurate estimation is therefore essential when it comes to the correction and calibration of SAR data distorted by the ionosphere. In recent years, the estimation of Faraday rotation (FR), i.e., the rotation of the polarimetric plane of the transmitted and scattered EM pulses as they propagate through the ionosphere, has become a key element of TEC estimation. FR is proportional to TEC and to the line-of-sight (LOS) component of the geomagnetic field. The availability of quad-polarimetric SAR data allows the precise estimation of FR, and thus TEC. However, an accurate TEC estimation requires knowledge of the geomagnetic field that varies with height. In this sense, the knowledge of the ionospheric height becomes an important issue for a correct FR to TEC conversion. While the estimation performance of FR is well understood, our understanding of the ionospheric height estimation by means of SAR is yet not established. In this article, a new estimator that allows the simultaneous estimation of TEC and ionospheric height from FR measurement is proposed. It exploits the variation of the parallel-to-LOS component of the geomagnetic field across azimuth sublooks. The performance of the proposed estimator is demonstrated using ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 data. The achieved estimation accuracy, precision, and the prerequisite for an accurate estimation are discussed.

Item URL in elib:https://elib.dlr.de/145933/
Document Type:Article
Title:TEC and Ionospheric Height Estimation by Means of Azimuth Subaperture Analysis in Quad-Polarimetric Spaceborne SAR Data
Authors:
AuthorsInstitution or Email of AuthorsAuthor's ORCID iDORCID Put Code
Kim, Jun SuUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Papathanassiou, KonstantinosUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date:31 May 2021
Journal or Publication Title:IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
Refereed publication:Yes
Open Access:Yes
Gold Open Access:Yes
In SCOPUS:Yes
In ISI Web of Science:Yes
Volume:14
DOI:10.1109/JSTARS.2021.3085130
Page Range:pp. 6279-6290
Publisher:IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
ISSN:1939-1404
Status:Published
Keywords:Earth ionosphere, Faraday rotation (FR), radar polarimetry, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), total electron content (TEC)
HGF - Research field:Aeronautics, Space and Transport
HGF - Program:Space
HGF - Program Themes:Communication, Navigation, Quantum Technology
DLR - Research area:Raumfahrt
DLR - Program:R KNQ - Communication, Navigation, Quantum Technology
DLR - Research theme (Project):R - Ionosphere, R - SAR methods
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen
Institutes and Institutions:Microwaves and Radar Institute > Radar Concepts
Deposited By: Kim, Junsu
Deposited On:22 Nov 2021 13:02
Last Modified:24 May 2022 23:47

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