EFFECT OF SCATTERING MECHANISMS ON POLARIMETRIC FEATURES OF CROPS ANDTREES

This Paper discusses selected features of backscatterig data collected in summer 1989 at C, L and P band over the Dutch Flevoland test site by the NASA/JPL airborne polarimetric SAR within the MAESTRO 1 Campaig n. The dependence of the response of microwave active sensors on the d ifferent types and conditions of soils, crops and trees is analysed on the basis of polarization responses (or signatures), backscattered po wers at relevant polarizations and correlation coefficients. The scatt ering mechanisms that appear to be effective in controlling the copola r and cross-polar radar responses of different vegetation types at the three radar frequencies are discussed too.