Anthony Freeman

A three-component scattering model for polarimetric SAR data

An approach has been developed that involves the fit of a combination of three simple scattering mechanisms to polarimetric SAR observations. The mechanisms are canopy scatter from a cloud of randomly oriented dipoles, evenor double-bounce scatter from a pair of orthogonal surfaces with different dielectric constants and Bragg scatter from a moderately rough surface. This composite scattering model is used to describe the polarimetric backscatter from naturally occurring scatterers. The model is shown to describe the behavior of polarimetric backscatter from tropical rain forests quite well by applying it to data from NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratorys (JPLs) airborne polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (AIRSAR) system. The model fit allows clear discrimination between flooded and nonflooded forest and between forested and deforested areas, for example. The model is also shown to be usable as a predictive tool to estimate the effects of forest inundation and disturbance on the fully polarimetric radar signature. An advantage of this model fit approach is that the scattering contributions from the three basic scattering mechanisms can be estimated for clusters of pixels in polarimetric SAR images. Furthermore, it is shown that the contributions of the three scattering mechanisms to the HH, HV, and VV backscatter can be calculated from the model fit. Finally, this model fit approach is justified as a simplification of more complicated scattering models, which require many inputs to solve the forward scattering problem.

SAR calibration: an overview

Progress in synthetic-aperture radar, (SAR) calibration is reviewed. The difficulties of calibrating both airborne and spaceborne SAR image data are addressed. The quantities measured by a SAR, i.e. radar backscatter, are defined and mathematical formulations for the three basic types of SAR image are developed. The difficulties in establishing science requirements for calibration are discussed. The measurement of SAR image quality is briefly addressed. The problem of radiometric calibration is introduced via the SAR form of the radar equation, with both internal and external calibration approaches considered. The development of algorithms for polarimetric radar calibration is reviewed and the problems involved in phase calibration of interferometric SAR are discussed. Future challenges in the field of SAR calibration are considered. >

Calibration of linearly polarized polarimetric SAR data subject to Faraday rotation

A model for linearly polarized fully polarimetric backscatter measurements is used, incorporating the effects of system noise, channel amplitude, phase imbalance, crosstalk, and Faraday rotation. A step-by-step procedure is outlined for correction (or calibration) of fully polarimetric data subject to Faraday rotation, to recover the true scattering matrix. The procedure identifies steps for crosstalk removal and correction of channel imbalances that are robust in the presence of Faraday rotation. The final steps in the procedure involve a novel strategy for estimation and correction of Faraday rotation. Three approaches to estimate the (one-way) Faraday rotation angle /spl Omega/ directly from linear (quad-) polarized synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter data obtained by a spaceborne SAR system are described. Each approach can initially be applied to the signature of any scatterer within the scene. Sensitivity analyses are presented that show that at least one of the measures can be used to estimate /spl Omega/ to within /spl plusmn/3/spl deg/ to 5/spl deg/, with reasonable levels of residual crosstalk, noise floor, channel amplitude, and phase imbalance. Ambiguities may be present in the estimates of /spl Omega/ of /spl plusmn/n/spl pi//2 - the impact of this is discussed, and several approaches are suggested to deal with this possibility. The approach described in this paper is relevant for future L-band spaceborne SARs and removes one key obstacle to the deployment of even longer wavelength SARs (e.g., an ultrahigh frequency or P-band SAR) in Earth orbit.

Fitting a Two-Component Scattering Model to Polarimetric SAR Data From Forests

Two simple scattering mechanisms are fitted to polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations of forests. The mechanisms are canopy scatter from a reciprocal medium with azimuthal symmetry and a ground scatter term that can represent double-bounce scatter from a pair of orthogonal surfaces with different dielectric constants or Bragg scatter from a moderately rough surface, which is seen through a layer of vertically oriented scatterers. The model is shown to represent the behavior of polarimetric backscatter from a tropical forest and two temperate forest sites by applying it to data from the National Aeronautic and Space Agency/Jet Propulsion Laboratorys Airborne SAR (AIRSAR) system. Scattering contributions from the two basic scattering mechanisms are estimated for clusters of pixels in polarimetric SAR images. The solution involves the estimation of four parameters from four separate equations. This model fit approach is justified as a simplification of more complicated scattering models, which require many inputs to solve the forward scattering problem. The model is used to develop an understanding of the ground-trunk double-bounce scattering that is present in the data, which is seen to vary considerably as a function of incidence angle. Two parameters in the model fit appear to exhibit sensitivity to vegetation canopy structure, which is worth further exploration. Results from the model fit for the ground scattering term are compared with estimates from a forward model and shown to be in good agreement. The behavior of the scattering from the ground-trunk interaction is consistent with the presence of a pseudo-Brewster angle effect for the air-trunk scattering interface. If the Brewster angle is known, it is possible to directly estimate the real part of the dielectric constant of the trunks, a key variable in forward modeling of backscatter from forests. It is also shown how, with a priori knowledge of the forest height, an estimate for the attenuation coefficient of the canopy can be obtained directly from the multi-incidence-angle polarimetric observations. This attenuation coefficient is another key variable in forward models and is generally related to the canopy density.

On the detection of Faraday rotation in linearly polarized L-band SAR backscatter signatures

The potentially measurable effects of Faraday rotation on linearly polarized backscatter measurements from space are addressed. Single-polarized, dual-polarized, and quad-polarized backscatter measurements subject to Faraday rotation are first modeled. Then, the impacts are assessed using L-band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. Due to Faraday rotation, the received signal will include other polarization characteristics of the surface, which may be detectable under certain conditions. Model results are used to suggest data characteristics that will reveal the presence of Faraday rotation in a given single-polarized, dual-polarized, or quad-polarized L-band SAR dataset, provided the user can identify scatterers within the scene whose general behavior is known or can compare the data to another, similar dataset with zero Faraday rotation. The data characteristics found to be most sensitive to a small amount of Faraday rotation (i.e., a one-way rotation <20/spl deg/) are the cross-pol backscatter [/spl sigma//spl deg/(HV)] and the like-to-cross-pol correlation [e.g., /spl rho/(HHHV/sup */)]. For a diverse, but representative, set of natural terrain, the level of distortion across a range of backscatter measures is shown to be acceptable (i.e., minimal) for one-way Faraday rotations of less than 5/spl deg/, and 3/spl deg/ if the radiometric uncertainty in the HV backscatter is specified to be less than 0.5 dB.

SIR-C data quality and calibration results

The SIR-C/X-SAR imaging radar took its first flight on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in April 1994 and flew for a second time in October 1994. This multifrequency radar has fully polarimetric capability at L- and C-band, and a single polarization at X-band (X-SAR). The Endeavour missions were designated the Space Radar Laboratory-1 (SRL-1) and -2 (SRL-2). Calibration of polarimetric L- and C-band data for all the different modes SIR-C offers is an especially complicated problem. The solution involves extensive analysis of pre-flight test data to come up with a model of the system, analysis of in-flight test data to determine the antenna pattern and gains of the system during operation, and analysis of data from over fourteen calibration sites distributed around the SIR-C/X-SAR orbit track. The SRL missions were the first time a multifrequency polarimetric imaging radar employing a phased array antenna has been flown in space. Calibration of SIR-C data products involved some unique technical problems given the complexity of the radar system. In this paper, the approach adopted for calibration of SIR-C data is described and the calibration performance of the data products is presented. >

Polarimetric SAR calibration experiment using active radar calibrators

Active radar calibrators are used to derive both the amplitude and phase characteristics of a multichannel polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) from the complex image data. Results are presented from an experiment carried out using the NASA/JPL DC-8 aircraft SAR over a calibration site at Goldstone, California. As part of the experiment, polarimetric active radar calibrators (PARCs) with adjustable polarization signatures were deployed. Experimental results demonstrate that the PARCs can be used to calibrate polarimetric SAR images successfully. Restrictions on the application of the PARC calibration procedure are discussed. >

The "Myth" of the minimum SAR antenna area constraint

A design constraint traceable to the early days of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is known as the minimum antenna area constraint for SAR. In this paper, it is confirmed that this constraint strictly applies only to the case in which both the best possible resolution and the widest possible swath are the design goals. SAR antennas with area smaller than the constraint allows are shown to be possible, have been used on spaceborne SAR missions in the past, and should permit further, lower-cost SAR missions in the future.

SweepSAR: Beam-forming on receive using a reflector-phased array feed combination for spaceborne SAR

We have seen in the above that the SweepSAR technique offers the potential for significant reductions in the transmit peak and average power required for a SAR system. This is achieved by making full use of the areal extent of a reflector antenna on receive. The SweepSAR rate is not as big a problem as it might appear initially: note that in the 30 years since Seasat launched downlink rates for LEO satellites have increased significantly — from ∼85Mbps up to ∼640 Mbps. In addition, analog-todigital converters (ADCs) have increased in bandwidth from ∼ 20 MHz to several GHz.

Ionospheric effects on SAR imaging: a numerical study

There has been an increasing interest in the use of spaceborne very high frequency ultra high frequency (VHF-UHF) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for measuring forest biomass and for detecting underground facilities. The propagation characteristics of the low-frequency electromagnetic wave are severely affected by the ionosphere. Recently, Faraday rotation effects and SAR image degradation have been studied using an analytical model and a homogeneous ionosphere. In this paper, a numerical model is developed to investigate the SAR image degradation caused by an inhomogeneous ionosphere. Both horizontal and vertical structures of the ionosphere are considered in this model. Three different cases are studied. The first is a vertically homogenous ionosphere, where the simulation condition is the same as in the analytical study by Ishimaru and others. The second is a vertical profile, which is introduced using the Chapman formula. The ray-bending effect is added for the ionosphere with a layered structure. Finally, both the vertical profile in electron density and the horizontal gradient in total electron content are considered in the simulation. Simulation results show good agreement with the theoretical analysis under the same conditions of the ionosphere. When both horizontal and vertical structures and the inhomogeneity of the ionosphere are considered in the model, the simulation result shows further image degradation and shift caused by the ray-bending effect. The simulation results also show the strong frequency dependence of the SAR image resolution.