Abstract
The analysis of experimental data collected by X-band SAR of COSMO-SkyMed (CSK®) and TerraSAR-X (TSX) images on the same surface types has shown significant differences in the signal level of the two sensors. In order to investigate the possibility of combining data from the two instruments, a study was carried out by comparing images collected with similar orbital and sensor parameters (e.g., incidence angle, polarization, look angle) at approximately the same date on two Italian agricultural test sites. Several homogenous agricultural fields within the observed area common to the two sensors were selected. Some forest plots have also been considered and used as a reference target). Direct comparisons were then performed between CSK and TSX images in different acquisition modes. The analysis carried out on the agricultural fields showed that, in general, the backscattering coefficient is higher in TSX Stripmap images with respect to CSK-Himage (about 3 dB), while CSK-Ping Pong data showed values lower than TSX of about 4.8 dB. Finally, a difference in backscattering of about 2.5 dB was pointed out between CSK-Himage and Ping-Pong images on agricultural fields. These results, achieved on bare soils, have also been compared with simulations performed by using the Advanced Integral Equation Model (AIEM).
Highlights
With the launch of COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) and TerraSAR-X (TSX) missions, a significant quantity of X-band backscattering data, useful in several hydrological applications, was made available to the scientific community [1,2,3].The presence of these SAR satellites represents an excellent opportunity to monitor the parameters involved in the hydrological cycle, thanks to a very short revising time in convenient and various configurations of incidence angles and polarizations.Some preliminary considerations on the sensitivity of X-band SAR to surface parameters have been mostly performed in the framework of the SIR-C/X-band experiment [4,5,6]
The noise equivalent sigma zero (NESZ) was neglected, since the value is −19 dB for TSX and −22 dB for CSK, in the worst cases, as it can be observed in [24] and [25]
It can be observed that CSK Ping Pong (PP) σ° data show the lowest values
Summary
With the launch of COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) and TerraSAR-X (TSX) missions, a significant quantity of X-band backscattering data, useful in several hydrological applications, was made available to the scientific community [1,2,3].The presence of these SAR satellites represents an excellent opportunity to monitor the parameters involved in the hydrological cycle, thanks to a very short revising time in convenient and various configurations of incidence angles and polarizations.Some preliminary considerations on the sensitivity of X-band SAR to surface parameters have been mostly performed in the framework of the SIR-C/X-band experiment [4,5,6]. With the launch of COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) and TerraSAR-X (TSX) missions, a significant quantity of X-band backscattering data, useful in several hydrological applications, was made available to the scientific community [1,2,3]. The presence of these SAR satellites represents an excellent opportunity to monitor the parameters involved in the hydrological cycle, thanks to a very short revising time in convenient and various configurations of incidence angles and polarizations. ASI/1720 HydroCOSMO demonstrated a considerable sensitivity of X-band backscatter to soil, snow and vegetation features [7,8]. Analogous results have been obtained from the exploitation of TSX data, as it has been demonstrated in [13] and [14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
