Exploring the Polimetric Modes of TerraSAR-X for Quantitative Parameter Estimation

Abstract

In this paper the polarimetric modes of TerraSAR-X are explored for quantitative parameter estimation. The main focus is given to the different polarimetric SAR modes and their performance in terms of radiometric accuracy, relative phase, polarimetric coherences and relative phase differences. In addition second order statistics are adapted from fully polarimetric to dual polarimetric SAR data and their performance and interpretation is presented related to agricultural areas [1]. In addition a quasi full polarimetric mode is explored using the interferometric repeat pas time for the collection of corresponding dual polarimetric data. The effect of temporal decorrelation occurring within 11 days repeat pass time is investigated. After the polarimetric investigation the potential for parameter inversion is investigated respectively for agricultural applications. The main focus is here laid to the volume vegetation characterisation as well as to the surface roughness description. Surface roughness becomes an important feature in high resolution X-band features, as there impact in high frequency is high and is disturbing in the estimation of soil moisture estimation [2], [3]. High frequency band are perfectly for dense volume description, as it is the case for agricultural vegetation and will be used here for their description in term of height, density, vertical structure and differential extinction.