First Assessment of Simulated TanDEM-X Science Products

Abstract

The main focus in this paper is given to the science product exploration of the TanDEM-X mission. After the successful launch of TerraSAR-X (TSX) and the proven good SAR data quality of TSX the data product simulation and performance investigation for TanDEM-X (TDX) are now major issues for further explorations. In forehand already several different simulations of TDX data products have been performed using the DLR’s E-SAR airborne X-band SAR system, especially for the DEM with the specification of HRTI-3 and the secondary objective Radar Data Products, that are defined accordingly to the applied TDX experiments. As a selection of the huge variability of possible scientific experiments in this paper we focus on the estimation of forest height using dual-baseline SAR interferometry and will investigate their performance with regards to the TDX mission parameters [1]. Further the trade-off between fully polarimetric parameter inversion to dual polarimetric inversion and their drawbacks will be discussed. The main application area will be a temperate forest located in Germany.