Using multiple-polarization L-band radar to monitor marsh burn recovery

Aircraft L-band VV-, HH-, and VH-polarizations were examined as tools for m onitoring burn recovery in a coastal marsh. Significant relationships were observed between time-since-burn (difference between burn and image collect ion dates; 550-900 days after burn) and returns I elated to all polarizatio ns. As marsh burn recovery progressed, VV returns decreased while HH and VH returns increased. Radar returns extracted from control sites adjacent to each burn-simulated nonburn marsh and were not individually or in combinati on significantly related to the time-since-burn. Normalized by the control data, VH-polarization explained up to 83% of the total variations. Overall, the L-band multipolarization radars estimated time-since-burn within +/-59 to +/-92 days.