AN EMPIRICAL-APPROACH TO ESTIMATING LEAF-AREA INDEX FROM MULTIFREQUENCY SAR DATA

An empirical approach for estimating leaf area index from multifrequen cy SAR data is presented. The analysis of multifrequency-multipolariza tion SAR data, collected over agricultural fields revealed a correlati on between the L-band backscattering coefficient and the leaf area ind ex of certain types of crops. Since the C- and P-bands are also sensit ive to vegetation biomass, the backscattering coefficient at P-, L- an d C-bands has been related to a volumetric leaf area index (i.e., the leaf area index multiplied by the average leaf thickness) normalized t o the wave number. This relationship has been used to estimate the lea f area index from multifrequency SAR data.