Hoonyol Lee

Radar Vegetation Index for Estimating the Vegetation Water Content of Rice and Soybean

Vegetation water content (VWC) is an important biophysical parameter and has a significant role in the retrieval of soil moisture using microwave remote sensing. Here, the radar vegetation index (RVI) was evaluated for estimating VWC. Analysis utilized a data set obtained by a ground-based multifrequency polarimetric scatterometer system, with a single incidence angle of 40°, during an entire growth period of rice and soybean. Temporal variations of the backscattering coefficients for the L-, C-, and X-bands, RVI, VWC, leaf area index, and normalized difference vegetation index were analyzed. The L-band RVI was found to be correlated to the different vegetation indices. Prediction equations for the estimation of VWC from the RVI were developed. The results indicated that it was possible to estimate VWC with an accuracy of 0.21 kg·m-2 using L-band RVI observations. These results demonstrate that valuable new information can be extracted from current and future radar satellite systems on the vegetation condition of two globally important crop types. The results are directly applicable to systems such as the proposed NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite.

Analysis of topographic decorrelation in SAR interferometry using ratio coherence imagery

Topographic decorrelation due to the local surface slope has been an obstacle to interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) applications. A modified spatial decorrelation function is derived as a function of the baseline and topography. This function explains the origin of the total topographic decorrelation phenomenon on the slopes directly facing radar illumination and layover, which may mislead InSAR coherence image interpretation. The authors define critical terrain slope (or critical incidence angle) as the angle for which two SAR signals completely decorrelate regardless of surface stability. It is found that the width of the critical terrain slope increases with the increase of the component of the baseline perpendicular to the radar look direction. A new analytical method, the ratio coherence imagery, is then introduced to highlight total topographic decorrelation against the temporal decorrelation features. The applications of this methodology are demonstrated in selected locations in the Sahara Desert, Algeria, and Almer/spl inodot//spl acute/a, Spain, using ERS-1 and ERS-2 SAR data.

Development of a Truck-Mounted Arc-Scanning Synthetic Aperture Radar

This paper presents the development of a ground-based arc-scanning synthetic aperture radar (ArcSAR) system mounted on a truck. ArcSAR formulates synthetic aperture by a horizontal circular motion of antennas attached at the end of an extendable boom. The ArcSAR system is designed to operate in two different imaging modes: the spot mode and the scan mode . The spot mode obtains a high-resolution image by fixing the view angle of antennas toward a target. The scan mode obtains wider image coverage with a reduced resolution by fixing the antennas relative to the boom. Different SAR focusing algorithms were implemented for the accuracy and efficiency of image processing: the time domain algorithm for the spot mode and the range Doppler algorithm for the scan mode. An exemplary X-band ArcSAR spot mode image, obtained with a 180 ° scanning of 4-m boom, has an azimuth resolution of 0.07 ° , which is equivalent to the 12.6-m linear scanning of a conventional ground-based SAR system. An ArcSAR scan mode image was successfully obtained as well, covering a 350 ° image area at an azimuth resolution of 1.07 °, which is 11 times better than that of arc-scanning real aperture radar that would have 11.84 ° azimuth resolution.

Evaluation of SSM/I and AMSR-E Sea Ice Concentrations in the Antarctic Spring Using KOMPSAT-1 EOC Images

To evaluate sea ice concentrations (SICs) from the special sensor microwave/imager (SSM/I) and advanced microwave scanning radiometer-EOS (AMSR-E), we observed sea ice with the 6-m-resolution panchromatic electronic optical camera (EOC) sensor onboard the Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-1 (KOMPSAT-1). A total of 68 cloud-free EOC images were obtained across the Antarctic continental edges from September to November 2005. Sea ice types in the EOC images were classified into white ice (W), gray ice (G), and dark-gray ice (D) and then compared with SSM/I and AMSR-E SICs. Spatiotemporal standard deviation of passive microwave SIC proved useful in selecting temporally stable and spatially homogeneous SICs to overcome the diurnal variation of sea ice in the analysis of data from multiple satellites. In the Antarctic spring, the EOC SIC of W + G showed the best fit to SSM/I SIC calculated by the NASA Team (NT) algorithm (mean difference of -2.3% and rmse of 3.2%), whereas that of W + G + D showed the best fit to AMSR-E SIC calculated by the NT2 algorithm (mean difference of 0.3% and rmse of 1.4%). It is concluded that the SSM/I NT algorithm responds to young ice in addition to the ice types A and B, whereas the AMSR-E NT2 algorithm detects ice type C and thin ice as well. The 4.7% difference of SICs between AMSR-E and SSM/I was attributed to the enhanced detection of ice type C (2.1%) and thin ice (2.6%) of the AMSR-E NT2 algorithm.

Radar Backscattering of Intertidal Mudflats Observed by Radarsat-1 SAR Images and Ground-Based Scatterometer Experiments

This paper presents the variation of the radar backscattering of intertidal mudflats in the west coast of Korea observed by Radarsat-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images and investigates the related factors by an indoor experiment and a field experiment using a ground-based C-band scatterometer. The 15 Radarsat-1 SAR images of the intertidal mudflat near Jebu Island used in this study were all taken at around 6:30 p.m., which is an ideal local time for evaluating the daytime evaporation effects during the 12.4-h tidal cycle. An exposure time map and an evaporation time map of mudflats at the time of each SAR acquisition are calculated based on the tidal records, a digital elevation map generated by the waterline extraction method, and the normalized daily evaporation index. The radar backscattering of the upper intertidal mudflat did not show a monotonic change with evaporation time but a complex pattern. An indoor experiment using a C-band scatterometer on drying mud revealed an M-shaped change (increase-decrease-increase-decrease) of radar backscattering due to various factors that affect dielectric constant and roughness such as the drainage of surface water (increase), evaporation (decrease), mud cracking (increase), and further evaporation (decrease). The variation of backscattering observed from SAR images agreed well with the initial three stages of the indoor experiment (increase-decrease-increase) but did not show the final stage of decrease from continuous evaporation. A field experiment on natural intertidal mudflats showed not only the pattern related to the initial drainage and evaporation but also speckles from biological activity.

Radar Backscattering Measurement of a Paddy Rice Field using Multi-frequency(L, C and X) and Full-polarization

The objective of this study is to measure backscattering coefficients of paddy rice using L, C, X-bands scatterometer system with full polarization and various angles during a rice growth variables. The measurement was conducted at an experimental field located in National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (NIAST), Suwon, Korea. The rice cultivar was Japonica type, called Chuchung. The scatterometer system consists of dual-polarimetric square horn antennas, HP8720D vector netword analyzer (20 MHz ~ 20 GHz), RF cables, and a personal computer that controls frequency, polarization and data storage. The backscattering coefficients were calculated by applying a radar equation for the measured at incidence angles between 20deg and 60deg for full polarization (HH, VV, HV, VH), respectively, and compared with rice growth data such as plant height, stem number, fresh and dry weight and LAI that were collected at time of each scatterometer measurement simultaneously.

Continuous Monitoring of Rice Growth With a Stable Ground-Based Scatterometer System

Ground-based polarimetric scatterometers have been effective tools to monitor the growth of rice crop, with much higher temporal resolution than satellite synthetic aperture radar systems. However, scatterometer data obtained in every few days, as were the case for the previously reported studies, were not enough to address the effects of ever-changing weather conditions. In this letter, we constructed a highly stable X-, C-, and L-bands polarimetric scatterometer system in an air-conditioned shelter. The incidence and azimuth angles of the antenna were fixed to 40° and 0 °, respectively, to avoid uncertainty in repositioning error. Season-long daily backscattering coefficients from transplanting to harvesting were compared with rice growth data. Total fresh weight, leaf area index, and plant height were highly correlated with L-HH (0.97, 0.96, and 0.88, respectively) due to the deeper penetration and the dominance of double bounce in lower frequency. High-quality backscattering data clearly revealed the dual-peaked pattern in X-band, among which X-VV correlated best with grain dry weight and gravimetric grain water content (0.94 and 0.92, respectively) due to the better interaction of grain and rice canopy with microwave of higher frequency. These results will be useful in retrieving crop biophysical properties and determining the optimum microwave frequency and polarization necessary to monitor crop conditions.

Monitoring soybean growth using L-, C-, and X-band scatterometer data

A ground-based fully polarimetric scatterometer operating at multiple frequencies was used to continuously monitor soybean growth over the course of a growing season. Polarimetric backscatter data at L-, C-, and X-bands were acquired every 10 min. We analysed the relationships between L-, C-, and X-band signatures, and biophysical measurements over the entire soybean growth period. Temporal changes in backscattering coefficients for all bands followed the patterns observed in the soybean growth measurements (leaf area index (LAI) and vegetation water content (VWC)). The difference between the backscattering coefficients for horizontally transmitted horizontally received (HH) and vertically transmitted vertically received (VV) polarizations at the L-band was apparent after the R2 stage (DOY 224) due to the double-bounce scattering effect. Results indicated that L-, C-, and X-band radar backscatter data can be used to detect different soybean growth stages. The results of correlation analyses between the backscattering coefficient for specific bands/polarizations and soybean growth data showed that L-band HH-polarization had the highest correlation with the vegetation parameters LAI (r = 0.98) and VWC (r = 0.97). Prediction equations for estimation of soybean growth parameters from the L-HH were developed. The results indicated that L-HH could be used for estimating the vegetation biophysical parameters considered here with high accuracy. These results provide a basis for developing a method to retrieve crop biophysical properties and guidance on the optimum microwave frequency and polarization necessary to monitor crop conditions. The results are directly applicable to systems such as the proposed NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite.

Radargrammetry of opposite-side stereo Magellan synthetic aperture radar on Venus

Radargrammetry of opposite-side stereo SAR is demonstrated using Magellan SAR images of Venus. Large areas of gentle slope can be successfully matched to generate DEM using conventional stereo-match algorithm while high to moderate relief regions need further treatment using shape-from-shading. The initial stereo-match points are classified into three categories; GOOD, BAD, and TOPO, and different methods are applied to different regions to iteratively improve DEM.

Detection of rapid erosion in SE Spain using ERS SAR interferometric coherence imagery

Soil erosion is a widespread problem in Mediterranean countries. Irregular and often intense rainfalls in this semi- arid region can result in rapid erosion in areas where the slope is steep, the lithology is soft and the vegetation is sparse. The erosion process randomly changes micro-topography of slope surface and thus results in reducing coherence of the radar signals between the initial and the eroded state. This paper reports a case study of rapid erosion using ERS SAR coherence imagery. Three ERS SAR scenes of Almeria Province, Spain with 70, 140 and 210 days separation were processed to produce three coherence images. The coherence images were analyzed in conjunction with Landsat TM images, topographic and geological maps. This study reveals hard evidence of rapid erosion on steep slopes along a motorway cut through strata of soft marls. The slopes subject to rapid erosion appear in intermediate level of coherence in 70 days and gradually lose coherence in 140 and 210 days. In contrast, the dense vegetation in the valley lost coherence almost completely in 70 days and afterwards while more resistant rocks (gypsum and limestone) above and beneath the marls show high to intermediate coherence in the three coherence images.