Multi-frequency and multi-polarized SAR response to thin vegetation and scattered trees

Abstract

This communication highlights the results of a study carried out to understand the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) response to thin vegetation volume at L, C and X bands as well as cross-polarizations at L and C bands, and the X band at VV polarization. The sensitivity of SAR backscatter to the vegetation volume varies with the frequency, polarization and incidence angle at which the canopy is illuminated. Multifrequency, multi-polarized SAR response of thin linear vegetation along the roadside, small thorny hedges along the boundary of the farmers' fields and scattered cluster of trees was studied for this purpose. It was observed that cross-polarized signals were able to pick up signals better from a very thin vegetation volume among the polarization responses and the L band was the most sensitive among the frequencies.