Comparison of L and C band polarimetric SAR data for the retrieval of soil moisture in the Alps

L. Pasolli; C. Notarnicola; L. Bruzzone; G. Bertoldi; G. Niedrist; U. Tappeiner; M. Zebisch; F. Del Frate; G. Vaglio Laurin

doi:10.1117/12.898877

26 October 2011 Comparison of L and C band polarimetric SAR data for the retrieval of soil moisture in the Alps

L. Pasolli, C. Notarnicola, L. Bruzzone, G. Bertoldi, G. Niedrist, U. Tappeiner, M. Zebisch, F. Del Frate, G. Vaglio Laurin

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8179, SAR Image Analysis, Modeling, and Techniques XI; 817903 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.898877
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2011, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

This work is developed in the framework of the SOFIA project (ESA AO-6280) which aims at estimating important biophysical variables in the Alpine area by using advanced state of the art retrieval methods in combination with new generation satellite polarimetric SAR data. As a first analysis in this direction, in a previous contribution we investigated the effectiveness of fully polarimetric RADARSAT2 C-band SAR data and proposed the use of the Support Vector Regression technique and the integration of additional information on the investigated area obtained from ancillary data. In this paper we move the attention on the exploitation of L-band SAR data. In more detail, our analysis aims at: 1) assessing the effectiveness of the proposed retrieval algorithm with different satellite SAR data, namely the L-band data; 2) comparing the estimates obtained with the use of C- and L-band SAR imagery, in order to understand common patterns and eventually discrepances due to the different penetration capability of the signals; and 3) understanding the feasibility of a synergic use of L and C band SAR data (when both available) for improving the retrieval of soil moisture in Alpine areas. The experimental analysis is carried out with the use of polarimetric RADARSAT2 (C-band) and ALOS PalSAR (L-band) SAR data. The achieved results indicate the potential of the synergic use of C and L band SAR imagery for the retrieval of soil moisture also in the challenging alpine environment. This feature is properly exploited by the proposed retrieval algorithm, thus pointing out its effectiveness in handling data with different spatial and radiometric characteristics.

Citation Download Citation

L. Pasolli, L. Pasolli, C. Notarnicola, C. Notarnicola, L. Bruzzone, L. Bruzzone, G. Bertoldi, G. Bertoldi, G. Niedrist, G. Niedrist, U. Tappeiner, U. Tappeiner, M. Zebisch, M. Zebisch, F. Del Frate, F. Del Frate, G. Vaglio Laurin, G. Vaglio Laurin, "Comparison of L and C band polarimetric SAR data for the retrieval of soil moisture in the Alps", Proc. SPIE 8179, SAR Image Analysis, Modeling, and Techniques XI, 817903 (26 October 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.898877; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.898877

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

PERSONAL SIGN IN
Full access may be available with your subscription

Email or Username Forgot your username?

Password Forgot your password?

Show

Remember Email/Username on this computer

Remember Password

No SPIE account? Create an account
or Institutional Sign In via Shibboleth

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $14.40

Non-members: $18.00 ADD TO CART

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years