A simple parameterization of the L-band microwave emission from rough agricultural soils

A simple model for simulating the L-band microwave emission from bare soils is developed. The model is calibrated on a large set of measurements obtai ned during a three-month period over seven plots covering a wide range of s urface roughness (representing the total range which can be expected on agr icultural fields), soil moisture, and temperature conditions. The approach is based on the parameterization of an effective roughness parameter as a f unction of surface characteristics: surface roughness (standard deviation o f height and correlation length) and the surface soil moisture. The paramet erizations that are developed are independent of incidence angle and polari zation and are valid over a large range in surface roughness conditions, re presentative of most of typical agricultural bare fields, from very smooth (rolled field after sowing) to very rough surfaces (deeply plowed soil). Th is approach will enable the use of microwave radiometric observations for s oil moisture retrieval over agricultural areas.