Snow Properties Retrieval Using TerraSAR-X Dual-Polarization Data

Abstract

The interest in using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to study snow properties has increased in the last years. Snow properties and snow cover change monitoring on global scale are needed for a better understanding of the role of the cryosphere in the climate system . Snow plays also an important role in biogeochemical cycles since it is a basic water resource for many densely populated areas of the planet. Consequently, Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) has been selected as a primary parameter to be retrieved in this kind of investigations. The Cold Regions Hydrology High-resolution Observatory (CoReH2O) satellite mission, selected by the ESA for feasibility studies within the Earth Explorer Programme, is expected to satisfy this need. In this work, the capabilities of the proposed CoReH2O models and algorithms for SWE (and snowflakes size) retrieval are investigated using TerraSAR-X dual-pol data. Experimental airborne SAR data (SnowSAR) are also employed for comparison, while ground measurements from the NoSREx campaign are used for validation.