SIR-C/X-SAR Experiment on Montespertoli test site

1. Data Acquisition

1.1 Data takes

a) April: 7 data takes at incidence angles between 24 and 55 - weather conditions: scattered rains.
b) October: 5 data takes at incidence angles between 24 and 55 (35 was missing) - weather conditions: clouds and showers.

SIR-C data at incidence angles lower than 45 degrees were full polarimetric.

1.2 Delivering/Processing

All SIR-C data collected in April and October have been delivered and processed. Only X-SAR data collected in April have been delivered and processed.

1.3 Calibration

A check, carried out with external Calibrators (Corner reflectors), has shown a good calibration of SIR-C data, whereas X-SAR data had to be calibrated.

2. Results

- A comparison with ERS-1, JERS-1 and AIRSAR data has shown a very good consistency of L- and C-band data.

- The sensitivity of L-band HV pol to both arboreous and herbaceous vegetation biomass has been confirmed.

- A good separation between bare and vegetated fields has been obtained from the ratio RL/RR at C band.

3. Publications:

Journals:
[1] Baronti, S., F. Del Frate, S. Paloscia, P. Pampaloni and D. Solimini, 1995 "SAR polarimetric features of agricultural areas," Int. J. Remote Sensing , vol. 16, no. 14, pp. 2639-2656.
[2] Ferrazzoli, P., S. Paloscia, P. Pampaloni, G. Schiavon, S. Sigismondi and D. Solimini, 1996, "The potential of multifrequency polarimetric SAR in assessing agricultural and arboreous biomass," submitted to IEEE Trans. Geosci.Remote Sensing Special Issue , "Symposium on Retrieval of Geo-and Bio-Physical Parameters from SAR data for Land Application."

Conference Digests:
[1] Pampaloni, P. , S. Paloscia and S. Sigismondi, 1995, "The Microwave Backscattering of Vineyards," Proc.International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS '95 , Firenze (Italy), T. Stein Editor, pp. 222-223, IEEE N 95CH 35770, ISBN 0-7803-2567-2.
[2] Baronti, S., G. Macelloni, S. Paloscia, P. Pampaloni and S. Sigismondi, 1995, "An Automatic Method for Land Surface Classification using Multi-frequency Polarimetric SAR Data", Proc. International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS'95, Firenze (Italy), T. Stein Editor, pp. 973-975, IEEE N 95CH 35770, ISBN 0-7803-2567-2.
[3] Ballerini, P., F. Catani, S. Moretti, S. Paloscia, P. Pampaloni and S. Sigismondi, 1995,"Hydrological modeling integrated with multifrequency SAR data on the Pesa and Virginio basins of Montespertoli site," Proc. International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS '95 , Firenze (Italy), T. Stein Editor, pp. 1055-1057, IEEE N 95CH 35770, ISBN 7803-2567-2.
[4] Amodeo, G., P. de Matthaeis , P. Ferrazzoli, S. Paloscia, P. Pampaloni, G. Schiavon, S. Sigismondi and D. Solimini, 1995, "The potential of multifrequency polarimetric SAR in assessing agricultural and arboreous biomass," Proc. Int. Symp. Retrieval of Geophysical Parameters from SAR Data for Land Application , Toulouse (France) 10-13 October 1995.
[5] Ferrazzoli, P., S. Luciani, G.Schiavon, D. Solimini, P. Pampaloni, S. Paloscia and S. Sigismondi 1995, "Correlating Polarimetric SAR data with vegetation biomass", Progress in Electromagnetic Research Symposium (PIERS '95 ), 24-28 July 1995, Seattle, Washington, USA.
[6] Coppo, P., G. Macelloni, P. Pampaloni, S. Paloscia and S. Sigismondi, 1996, "The SIR-C /X-SAR experiment: the sensitivity of microwave backscattering to surface roughness of bare soils," Proc. Int. Geosci. Remote Sensing Symp. (IGARSS '96 ), Lincoln, Nebraska.
[7] Amodeo, G., P. de Matthaeis, P.Ferrazzoli, S. Paloscia, P. Pampaloni, G.Schiavon, S. Sigismondi and D. Solimini, 1996, "Monitoring vegetation features with multi-temporal SAR data," Proc. Int. Geosci. Remote Sensing Symp. (IGARSS '96), Lincoln, Nebraska.

4. Future plans

4.1 Planned investigations

a) Sensitivity to soil moisture and surface roughness parameters
b) Comparison of experimental data with theoretical models of surface roughness (IEM, GO, SPM)
c) Assimilation of SAR data in Hydrological models
d) Interferometry of hilly areas

4.2 Publications:

Accepted conference communications and Invited Papers:
[1] Coppo, P., S. Lolli, G. Nesti, P.Pampaloni and D. Tarchi, 1996, "Microwave surface scattering models validation on artificial dielectric surfaces at the EMSL," Invited paper Progress in Electromagnetic Research Symposium (PIERS '96), Innsbruck 8-12/7/96, session: "Experimental studies on microwave emission and scattering from rough surfaces," organized by P. Pampaloni.
[2] Coppo, P., G. Macelloni , P. Pampaloni, S. Paloscia and S. Sigismondi, 1996, "The sensitivity of microwave backscattering to surface roughness of bare soils," Invited paper Progress in Electromagnetic Research Symposium (PIERS '96), Innsbruck 8-12/7/96, session: "Experimental studies on microwave emission and scattering from rough surfaces", organized by P. Pampaloni.
[3] Pampalon, P., G. Macelloni, S. Paloscia and S. Sigismondi , 1996, "Multifrequency SAR sensitivity to hydrological parameters: the SIR-C/X-SAR experiment on Montespertoli supersite", Invited Paper at URSI General Assembly, Lille 28.8-5.9 1996, session : SIR-C/X-SAR results.
[4] Pampaloni, P., G. Macelloni, S. Paloscia, R. Ruisi and C. Susini, 1996, "Estimating Crop Biomass with Microwave Sensors", Invited Paper at URSI General Assembly, Lille 28.8-5.9 1996, session : Remote Sensing for ecology.
[5] Pampaloni, P., 1996, "Microwave remote sensing of soil and vegetation parameters, Invited Paper at the International Congress on Environment Climate, ICEC-96. Roma (Italy), March 4-8, 1996.

Research Papers on subjects a, b, c will be submitted to International Journals.

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