Evaluation of Radar Backscattering Models IEM, Oh, and Dubois for SAR Data in X-Band Over Bare Soils

authors

• Baghdadi Nicolas
• Saba Elie
• Aubert Maelle
• Zribi Mehrez
• Baup Frédéric

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abstract

The objective of this letter is to evaluate the surface radar backscattering models, namely, integral equation model (IEM), Oh, and Dubois, for synthetic aperture radar data in X-band over bare soils. This analysis uses a large database of TerraSAR-X images and in situ measurements (soil moisture “mv” and surface roughness “h_rms”). Oh’s model correctly simulates the radar signal for HH and V V polarizations, whereas the simulations performed with the Dubois model show a poor correlation between TerraSAR-X data and model. The backscattering IEM simulates correctly the backscattering coefficient only for h_rms < 1.5 cm in using an exponential correlation function and for h_rms > 1.5 cm in using Gaussian function. However, the results are not satisfactory for the use of IEM in the inversion of TerraSAR-X data. A semiempirical calibration of IEM was done in X-band. Good agreement was found between the TerraSAR-X data.

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