Two experiments yielding lunar surface information employing polarized radar waves
Polarized radar waves used for determining local statistical electromagnetic backscattering properties of lunar or other planetary surface
ELECTROMAGNETIC SCATTERING↗
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Results for “Radar Polarization”
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On the calibration of climatological satellite rainfall measurements using a transportable ground-based polarization radar
The use of a ground-based polarization radar is proposed for the calibration of climatological satellite rainfall measurements. A distribution matching method for improving the correlations between radar reflectivity and rainfall brightness temperatures is discussed. The importance of collecting measurements of all observables at the same spatial resolution is demonstrated using GATE rainrate data (Patterson et al., 1979). The use of the matched distribution method to calibrate techniques such as HART (Atlas et al., 1988; Rosenfeld et al., 1988) is examined. Also, consideration is given to the application of polarization radar data to the interpretation of brightness temperatures.
Jameson, A. R.↗
A generalized analysis of dual-polarization radar measurements of rain
In the study of meteorological phenomena by radar, it has been shown that dual-polarization radar measurements can yield useful data about precipitation structures within the radar beam. The techniques available for dual-polarized radar measurement are differential reflectivity, or Z(DR), linear depolarization ratio (LDR), and circular depolarization ratio (CDR). This paper presents a theoretical analysis of backscattering from a volume filled with raindrops using Rayleigh scattering theory. A generalized radar equation is given in matrix form, and the dependence of backscatter measurements in terms of a rainstorm model including raindrop shape, size, and canting angle is examined. Calculated results which show the dependence of Z(DR) on beam elevation angle and polarization angle are presented. Some results for LDR and CDR are presented, showing how these quantities depend on raindrop parameters.
Stapor, D. P.↗
Application of color-combined multiple polarization radar images to geoscience problems
Color combined multiple polarization radar image application to geoscience problems
Simonett, D. S.↗
Evaluation of multiple polarized radar imagery for the detection of selected cultural features
Multiple polarized radar imagery evaluation for detection of cultural features
Lewis, A. J.↗
The geological value of simultaneously produced like- and cross-polarized radar imagery.
Geologic evaluation of simultaneously produced like- and cross-polarized radar imagery
GEOLOGY↗
Characteristics of the vertical profiles of dual-frequency, dual-polarization radar data in stratiform rain
Airborne dual-wavelength and dual-polarization radar data are analyzed for measurements taken in stratiform rain in the western Pacific during September 1990. The focus of the paper is on the vertical profiles of the linear depolarization ratio, LDR (10 GHz); the reflectivity factor, dBZ (10 GHz); and the dual-frequency ratio, DFR (10, 34.45 GHz). Statistical characterizations of the maxima of these quantities and the relative locations at which they occur suggest that the eccentricity of the melting particles is fairly large and that the shape and size of the particles are correlated. To try to explain these features, two types of simulation are presented. In the first, a set of measured drop size distributions is used in the context of a standard model of the melting layer. Variations in snow density, as well as shape, size, and orientation distributions are used to study the relationship between these parameters and the radar measurements. To reduce the amount of ambiguity in the estimation, a second type of simulation is described in which the size distribution of the snow is estimated. Comparisons between the simulated and measured profiles indicate that radar measurements can be used to derive certain characteristics of the particle size and shape distributions in the melting layer.
Meneghini, R.↗
On the use of polarized radar measurements for vegetation studies
Radar engineers have used several polarization combinations (HH, HV, VV, and/or VH) in the design of radar imagers and scatterometers for remote sensing research and applications. Scientists have explored their use for vegetation identification, mapping, and canopy condition assessment. In some cases, one polarization combination or another has produced good results; however, the results have not been consistent. In this paper, the use of polarized radar measurements is considered for vegetation studies on a theoretical basis to define ways of isolating parameters related to canopy structure and composition in the presence of backscattering from the underlying surface. It is found that scientists should use all three polarization combinations (VV, HH, and VH or HV) and their ratios.
Paris, J. F.↗
Imaging radar polarization signatures - Theory and observation
Radar polarimetry theory is reviewed, and comparison between theory and experimental results obtained with an imaging radar polarimeter employing two orthogonally polarized antennas is made. Knowledge of the scattering matrix permits calculation of the scattering cross section of a scatterer for any transmit and receive polarization combination, and a new way of displaying the resulting scattering cross section as a function of polarization is introduced. Examples of polarization signatures are presented for several theoretical models of surface scattering, and these signatures are compared with experimentally measured polarization signatures. The coefficient of variation, derived from the polarization signature, may provide information regarding the amount of variation in scattering properties for a given area.
Van Zyl, Jakob J.↗
Microwave remote sensing and radar polarization signatures of natural fields
Theoretical models developed for simulation of microwave remote sensing of the Earth surface from airborne/spaceborne sensors are described. Theoretical model calculations were performed and the results were compared with data of field measurements. Data studied included polarimetric images at the frequencies of P band, L band, and C band, acquired with airborne polarimeters over a agricultural field test site. Radar polarization signatures from bare soil surfaces and from tree covered fields were obtained from the data. The models developed in this report include: (1) Small perturbation model of wave scatterings from randomly rough surfaces, (2) Physical optics model, (3) Geometrical optics model, and (4) Electromagnetic wave scattering from dielectric cylinders of finite lengths, which replace the trees and branches in the modeling of tree covered field. Additionally, a three-layer emissivity model for passive sensing of a vegetation covered soil surface is also developed. The effects of surface roughness, soil moisture contents, and tree parameters on the polarization signatures were investigated.
Mo, Tsan↗
Modeling and observation of the radar polarization signature of forested areas
To understand radar measurements of forested areas, the authors have developed a model of L-band (25-cm) microwave scattering from a forest. The forest floor is modeled as a rough dielectric surface above which is a layer of nearly vertical dielectric cylinders representing tree trunks. Above this layer is a second layer consisting of randomly oriented cylinders which represent branches. The authors identify several scattering mechanisms and calculate the corresponding Stokes matrices, which combine to give the total Stokes matrix and resulting polarization signature. It is found that this simple model permits accurate prediction of the polarization of the scattered waves and that additional mechanisms, including the effects of leaves and twigs, are not required for the 25-cm observation of the forests studied. The authors present measurements of the polarization signature acquired over a forested area and show comparisons with model calculations.
Durden, Stephen L.↗
Space configuration as an explanation for lithology-related cross-polarized radar image anomalies
Three rock types are described that produce dark cross-polarized images on Ka-band imagery: lava flows dating from Pleistocene and Holocene, some Tertiary volcanics, and certain massive sandstones. Their planar surfaces are large with respect to the wavelength of the Ka-band system, yet are small in comparison to the resolution. It is found that only outcrops with proper faceted surface orientations produce significant radar returns showing the dominance of specular reflectors. The omnidirectional attitude of the facets and their wide distribution on the outcrops explains the independence of look-direction that the flat-lying anomalous outcrops exhibit in production of darker cross-polarized images.
Mccauley, J. R.↗
Mapping of Sea Ice Edge Using NSCAT Dual-Polarized Radar Measurements
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polar sea ice climate changes Arctic ship navigati↗
Polarization radar measurements in rain at 5 and 9 GHz
Potential techniques for measuring rainfall rate R and rainwater content W at 9 and 5 GHz are explored. An investigation is made of a previous technique to use the polarization propagation differential phase shift with increasing distance from the radar Phi(H-V) to estimate and remove the effects of specific and polarization differential attenuation from Z(H) and Z(DR), respectively. It is shown that in rain this technique is sensitive to variations in the drop-size distribution. It is confirmed that Phi(H-V) can be used to extend the distance over which useful measurements of Z(H) and Z(DR) can be obtained. While residual errors introduced by attenuation and the 'noise' from the correction scheme itself eclipse the potential of many possible techniques for quantitative rainfall measurements at these frequencies, the attenuation recovery scheme is argued to be adequate for obtaining useful polarization microphysical measurements, particularly above the melting level, even after encounters with rain.
Jameson, A. R.↗
Magellan vertical polarization radar observations
The Magellan high-gain radar antenna system was designed to transmit and receive signals in a pure linear polarization state. The nominal mapping configuration placed this linear polarization direction parallel to the surface of Venus, providing SAR image data in the HH polarization (horizontal transmit and receive) and radiothermal emission data in the H (horizontal - receive only) polarization. During Magellan's extended mission (cycles 2 and 3), two brief experiments were conducted in which the spacecraft was rotated 90 degrees along the axis of the antenna boresight, producing SAR data in the VV polarization and emission data in the V polarization. This study focuses on the SAR results from the first experiment, which included portions of the highly reflective Beta Regio highlands. Theoretical models of polarimetric backscatter, along with experimental data from terrestrial surfaces, predict VV backscatter cross section values to be higher than HH values for most natural surfaces. Randomly polarized ('depolarized') backscatter from rough surfaces is expected in equal amounts for either incident polarization. Roughness differences will therefore be more pronounced in HH measurements than in VV, because the depolarized random component makes up a proportionately larger fraction of the HH backscatter. In addition, HH cross section values are observed to fall off more rapidly than VV values with increasing incidence angle. Slope-related backscatter differences will, therefore, be more pronounced in HH images. The small perturbation polarimetric scattering model also predicts higher VV to HH ratios for surfaces of high dielectric constant.
Plaut, Jeffrey J.↗
Some empirical and theoretical interpretations of multiple polarization radar data.
Radar backscatter return interpretation in identifying terrain phenomena and composition
SURFACE ROUGHNESS↗
Mars - Dual-polarization radar observations with extended coverage
Arecibo Observatory radar observations of Mars at 13 cm wavelength have yielded accurate measurements of the full backscatter spectrum in two orthogonal polarizations, and constitute the first global view of the small scale surface roughness distribution on Mars. Areas of maximum depolarization correlate well with the volcanic regions Tharsis and Elysium. Comparisons between the moon and Mars using radar data, ground truth, and simple scattering models, suggest that Mars possesses a relatively high average coverage by decimeter-scale rocks. Attention is also given to quasi-specular scattering results, of which the most unusual were obtained over the Olympus Mons aureole region.
Harmon, J. K.↗
Surface configuration as an explanation for lithology-related cross-polarized radar image anomalies
One problem that has persisted since the development of multipolarized radar is the cause or causes of differential depolarization which is expressed as tonal reversals between like- and cross-polarized images of certain outcrops. Rocks producing anomalously low returns on the cross-polarized image could be classed into three general types: (1) certain geologically recent lava flows (late Pleistocene and Holocene), (2) some tertiary volcanics and (3) certain massive sandstones. Differential depolarization has been produced by volcanic rocks of various compositions including rhyolite, rhyodacite, dacite, andesite, and basalt. This has led to the conclusion that differential depolarization is not directly caused by any compositional factor. However, the study of aerial photos and subsequent field observation have led to the conclusion that the weathering and other surface characteristics of the outcrops are responsible for their appearance on multipolarized imagery.
Mccauley, J. R.↗