A polarimetric model of topographic effects on P-band forest backscatter

Paper in proceeding, 2015

P-band backscatter from boreal forest is simulated using a fully polarimetric Cylinder-Over-Ground model. Trees are represented by tapered stacks of cylinders placed over lossy dielectric planar ground that is individually fitted to the topography. The results show a strong topographic dependence and also demonstrate the limitations of the odd-, even, and volume-scattering interpretation of the Pauli decomposition. BioSAR 3 SAR images, in-situ data and LiDAR-derived DCM and DTM enable a comparison with real forest backscatter through simulation of complete plots. While many features are reproduced the need for an expansion of the model to include ground and branch scattering is identified. If sufficient agreement is achieved the model will be used to further improve topographic corrections for the retrieval of above ground forest biomass from P-band SAR images.