PolSAR imaging of wetlands: New insights into backscatter physics

F. J. Ahern; B. Brisco; K. Murnaghan; L. White; Shimon Wdowinski; S. H. Hong; D. Atwood

doi:10.1109/IGARSS.2014.6946639

PolSAR imaging of wetlands: New insights into backscatter physics

F. J. Ahern, B. Brisco, K. Murnaghan, L. White, Shimon Wdowinski, S. H. Hong, D. Atwood

Marine Geology and Geophysics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

It is commonly-accepted that the enhanced backscatter from wetlands that consist of many emergent stems over open water (swamps and marshes) is dominated by double-bounce backscatter. Recent observations with fully polarimetric data from Radarsat-2 over the extensive wetlands of the Everglades and numerous small wetlands in Ontario are not consistent with this interpretation of the backscatter physics. In this paper we use several forms of polarimetric analysis and decomposition. All of these indicate that the backscatter from small marshes and swamps in Ontario has polarimetric characteristics normally attributed to the odd-bounce mechanism. A recently-proposed form of Bragg scattering provides a conceptual model to explain these observations. However, detailed electromagnetic backscatter modelling is still needed to provide a new and reliable understanding of backscattering from wetlands with emergent vegetation.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	1171-1174
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Print)	9781479957750
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS.2014.6946639
State	Published - Nov 4 2014
Event	Joint 2014 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2014 and the 35th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, CSRS 2014 - Quebec City, Canada Duration: Jul 13 2014 → Jul 18 2014

Other

Other	Joint 2014 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2014 and the 35th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, CSRS 2014
Country	Canada
City	Quebec City
Period	7/13/14 → 7/18/14

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Keywords

polarimetry
Radar
SAR
wetlands

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
Computer Science Applications

Cite this

Ahern, F. J., Brisco, B., Murnaghan, K., White, L., Wdowinski, S., Hong, S. H., & Atwood, D. (2014). PolSAR imaging of wetlands: New insights into backscatter physics. In International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) (pp. 1171-1174). [6946639] Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS.2014.6946639

PolSAR imaging of wetlands : New insights into backscatter physics. / Ahern, F. J.; Brisco, B.; Murnaghan, K.; White, L.; Wdowinski, Shimon; Hong, S. H.; Atwood, D.

International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2014. p. 1171-1174 6946639.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Ahern, FJ, Brisco, B, Murnaghan, K, White, L, Wdowinski, S, Hong, SH & Atwood, D 2014, PolSAR imaging of wetlands: New insights into backscatter physics. in International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)., 6946639, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 1171-1174, Joint 2014 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2014 and the 35th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, CSRS 2014, Quebec City, Canada, 7/13/14. https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS.2014.6946639

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Access to Document

10.1109/IGARSS.2014.6946639