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On the Interpretation of L- and P-Band PolSAR Signatures of Polythermal Glaciers

Parrella, Giuseppe and Hajnsek, Irena and Papathanassiou, Konstantinos (2013) On the Interpretation of L- and P-Band PolSAR Signatures of Polythermal Glaciers. In: Proceedings of ESA POLinSAR Workshop, pp. 1-6. ESA Communications. ESA PolInSAR Workshop, 2013-01-27 - 2013-02-01, Frascati, Italy.

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Abstract

Long-wavelength (e.g. P- and L- band) SAR systems can penetrate tens of meters deep into ice bodies. Hence, they are sensitive to the ice surface as well as to sub-surface (volume) ice structures. Both contributions are present in the SAR signature that has to be interpreted accordingly. For this, significant attention has been given to model-based decomposition techniques of polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) data. In this sense, this paper extends and investigates in detail the modeling of potential scattering contributions with the attempt to explain long-wavelength PolSAR signatures of subpolar glacier ice. The main effort is the development of an extended volume scattering component; different kinds of inclusions typically present in glacier ice (e.g. air bubbles, oriented crystals fabrics, etc.) are modeled by particle clouds with variable particle shape and orientation in a three dimensional space. For the case of oriented particles, the volume anisotropy induces differential propagation effects. The associated differential propagation velocities (phase differences) and losses are accounted for the different polarimetric channels. Second order mechanisms generated from the interaction between adjacent particles or internal ice layers might play a relevant role. For instance, double reflections can cause significant co-polarization phase difference as well as increase in entropy (in the far range), despite their very low scattering amplitude. Finally, a surface scattering contribution from the air/ice interface at the glacier surface must be considered. Covariance matrices of the above mentioned contributions are modeled and incoherently combined. Different possible scenarios are then simulated and analyzed (particle shape and orientation, inclusions nature and volume fraction, distribution of power contributions, etc...). A performance assessment is conducted by comparing modeled PolSAR signature to fully polarimetric SAR data at L- and P-band acquired by DLR’s E-SAR system, over the Austfonna ice-cap, in the Svalbard archipelago, Norway.

Item URL in elib:https://elib.dlr.de/78902/
Document Type:Conference or Workshop Item (Speech)
Title:On the Interpretation of L- and P-Band PolSAR Signatures of Polythermal Glaciers
Authors:
AuthorsInstitution or Email of AuthorsAuthor's ORCID iDORCID Put Code
Parrella, GiuseppeUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Hajnsek, IrenaUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Papathanassiou, KonstantinosUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date:5 March 2013
Journal or Publication Title:Proceedings of ESA POLinSAR Workshop
Refereed publication:Yes
Open Access:Yes
Gold Open Access:No
In SCOPUS:No
In ISI Web of Science:No
Page Range:pp. 1-6
Editors:
EditorsEmailEditor's ORCID iDORCID Put Code
Lacoste-Francis, H.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Publisher:ESA Communications
Status:Published
Keywords:SAR polarimetry, glacier ice, volume scattering
Event Title:ESA PolInSAR Workshop
Event Location:Frascati, Italy
Event Type:international Conference, Workshop
Event Dates:2013-01-27 - 2013-02-01
Organizer:ESA-ESRIN
HGF - Research field:Aeronautics, Space and Transport
HGF - Program:Space
HGF - Program Themes:Earth Observation
DLR - Research area:Raumfahrt
DLR - Program:R EO - Earth Observation
DLR - Research theme (Project):R - Vorhaben Multi-dimensionale SAR-Auswertung (old)
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen
Institutes and Institutions:Microwaves and Radar Institute > Radar Concepts
Deposited By: Parrella, Dr. sc. Giuseppe
Deposited On:26 Nov 2012 11:13
Last Modified:31 Jul 2019 19:38

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