Calibration and Validation Results for Biomass Operational Phase

Abstract

The Biomass satellite is the first fully polarimetric SAR sensor working at P band currently in space and the calibration and validation of the performance parameters are challenging due to its long wavelength. After a successful in-orbit commissioning (IOC) phase, the satellite is currently fully operational and the assessment of the calibration parameters is being performed with a dedicated polarimetric Biomass Calibration Transponder (BCT), as well as with targets of opportunity (ToO) selected around the globe. This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the calibration and validation parameters for the Biomass operational phase, such as: IRF analysis, noise equivalent sigma naught (NESN), equivalent number of looks (ENL) and radiometric resolution. The calibration results are obtained from data takes processed with ESA’s Biomass Processor Suite (BPS). This paper also evaluates the polarimetric calibration results obtained with the channel imbalance system monitoring (CISM) algorithm. For this specific analysis, the results are obtained from data takes processed with the Ground Processor Prototype (GPP) developed by DLR under ADS’ contract. It is shown that the overall calibration results obtained from the operational phase of the Biomass mission continue to be compliant with the system requirements.