Estimation of Rice Growth Using RADARSTA-2 SAR Images at Seosan Region

Abstract

Radar remote sensing is appropriate for monitoring rice because the areas where this crop is cultivated are often cloudy and rainy. Especially, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can acquire remote sensing information with a high temporal resolution in tropical and subtropical regions due to its all-weather capability. This paper analyzes the relationships between backscattering coefficients of rice measured by RADARSAT-2 SAR and growth parameters during a rice growth period. We examined the temporal variations of backscattering coefficients with full polarization. Backscattering coefficients for all polarizations increased until Day Of Year (DOY 222) and then decreased along with Leaf Area Index (LAI), fresh weight, and Vegetation Water Content (VWC). Vertical transmit and Vertical receive polarization (VV)-polarization backscattering coefficients were higher than Horizontal transmit and Horizontal receive polarization (HH)-polarization backscattering coefficients in early rice growth stage and HH-polarization backscattering coefficients were higher than VV-polarization backscattering coefficients after effective tillering stage (DOY 186). Correlation analysis between backscattering coefficients and rice growth parameters revealed that HH-polarization was highly correlated with LAI, fresh weight, and VWC. Based on the observed relationships between backscattering coefficients and variables of cultivation, prediction equations were developed using the HH-polarization backscattering coefficients.