Variations of Microwave Scattering Properties by Seasonal Freeze/Thaw Transition in the Permafrost Active Layer Observed by ALOS PALSAR Polarimetric Data
Radar backscattering properties can be extremely sensitive to the freeze/thaw states of the ground surface. This study aims to evaluate the changes of L-band microwave scattering characteristics between thawed and frozen conditions by using polarimetric scattering mechanism indicators. ALOS PALSAR p...
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Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/7/12/15874 |
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doaj-aa6e5b37f6514679b7940655dc305a032020-11-24T22:52:05ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922015-12-01712171351714810.3390/rs71215874rs71215874Variations of Microwave Scattering Properties by Seasonal Freeze/Thaw Transition in the Permafrost Active Layer Observed by ALOS PALSAR Polarimetric DataSang-Eun Park0Department of Geoinformation Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-747, KoreaRadar backscattering properties can be extremely sensitive to the freeze/thaw states of the ground surface. This study aims to evaluate the changes of L-band microwave scattering characteristics between thawed and frozen conditions by using polarimetric scattering mechanism indicators. ALOS PALSAR polarimetric mode data acquired in winter and spring seasons over Eastern Siberia are used in this study. Experimental results show that the actual scattering mechanisms and their seasonal variations over various forested and non-forested permafrost ecosystems can be successfully characterized by the polarimetric target decomposition parameters and the polarimetric coherences. In addition, fully polarimetric radar observations exhibit great potential for mapping land cover types and surficial features in the permafrost active layer. Particularly, the co-polarization coherences on the HV-polarization basis and circular-polarization basis were found to be very useful for discriminating different surficial geocryological characteristics in recently burnt forests and thermokarst regions.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/7/12/15874synthetic aperture radar (SAR)radar polarimetrymicrowave scattering mechanismpermafrost active layerfreeze/thawALOS PALSAR |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sang-Eun Park |
spellingShingle |
Sang-Eun Park Variations of Microwave Scattering Properties by Seasonal Freeze/Thaw Transition in the Permafrost Active Layer Observed by ALOS PALSAR Polarimetric Data Remote Sensing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) radar polarimetry microwave scattering mechanism permafrost active layer freeze/thaw ALOS PALSAR |
author_facet |
Sang-Eun Park |
author_sort |
Sang-Eun Park |
title |
Variations of Microwave Scattering Properties by Seasonal Freeze/Thaw Transition in the Permafrost Active Layer Observed by ALOS PALSAR Polarimetric Data |
title_short |
Variations of Microwave Scattering Properties by Seasonal Freeze/Thaw Transition in the Permafrost Active Layer Observed by ALOS PALSAR Polarimetric Data |
title_full |
Variations of Microwave Scattering Properties by Seasonal Freeze/Thaw Transition in the Permafrost Active Layer Observed by ALOS PALSAR Polarimetric Data |
title_fullStr |
Variations of Microwave Scattering Properties by Seasonal Freeze/Thaw Transition in the Permafrost Active Layer Observed by ALOS PALSAR Polarimetric Data |
title_full_unstemmed |
Variations of Microwave Scattering Properties by Seasonal Freeze/Thaw Transition in the Permafrost Active Layer Observed by ALOS PALSAR Polarimetric Data |
title_sort |
variations of microwave scattering properties by seasonal freeze/thaw transition in the permafrost active layer observed by alos palsar polarimetric data |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Remote Sensing |
issn |
2072-4292 |
publishDate |
2015-12-01 |
description |
Radar backscattering properties can be extremely sensitive to the freeze/thaw states of the ground surface. This study aims to evaluate the changes of L-band microwave scattering characteristics between thawed and frozen conditions by using polarimetric scattering mechanism indicators. ALOS PALSAR polarimetric mode data acquired in winter and spring seasons over Eastern Siberia are used in this study. Experimental results show that the actual scattering mechanisms and their seasonal variations over various forested and non-forested permafrost ecosystems can be successfully characterized by the polarimetric target decomposition parameters and the polarimetric coherences. In addition, fully polarimetric radar observations exhibit great potential for mapping land cover types and surficial features in the permafrost active layer. Particularly, the co-polarization coherences on the HV-polarization basis and circular-polarization basis were found to be very useful for discriminating different surficial geocryological characteristics in recently burnt forests and thermokarst regions. |
topic |
synthetic aperture radar (SAR) radar polarimetry microwave scattering mechanism permafrost active layer freeze/thaw ALOS PALSAR |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/7/12/15874 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT sangeunpark variationsofmicrowavescatteringpropertiesbyseasonalfreezethawtransitioninthepermafrostactivelayerobservedbyalospalsarpolarimetricdata |
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1725667238412812288 |