Soil moisture estimation using multi‐incidence and multi‐polarization ASAR data

Authors: Baghdadi, N.¹; Holah, N.¹; Zribi, M.²

Source: International Journal of Remote Sensing, Volume 27, Number 10, 2006 , pp. 1907-1920(14)

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Abstract:

The potential of Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) for the retrieval of surface soil moisture over bare soils was evaluated for several ASAR acquisition configurations: (1) one date/single channel (one incidence and one polarization); (2) one date/two channels (one incidence and two polarizations); (3) two dates/two channels (two incidences and one polarization); and (4) two dates/four channels (two incidences and two polarizations). The retrieval of soil moisture from backscattering measurements is discussed, using empirical inversion approaches. When compared with the results obtained with a single polarization (HH or HV), the use of two polarizations (HH and HV) does not enable a significant improvement in estimating soil moisture. For the best estimates of soil moisture, ASAR data should be acquired at both low and high incidence angles. ASAR proves to be a good remote sensing tool for measuring surface soil moisture, with accuracy for the retrieved soil moisture that can reach 3.5% (RMSE).

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431160500239032

Affiliations: 1: Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM—French Geological Survey), BP 6009, 45060 Orléans, France and also ISTO, Université d'Orléans, 45067 Orléans, cedex 2, France 2: CETP/CNRS, 10/12 avenue de l'Europe, 78140 Velizy, France

Publication date: 2006-05-01

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