HELICOPTER-BORNE MEASUREMENTS OF RADAR BACKSCATTER FROM FORESTS

Helicopter-borne scatterometer measurements of various forest and surface types were conducted in spring 1988 in Espoo, near Helsinki. The scatterometer operates at 5.4 and 9.8GHz and employs four linear polarizations (VV, HH, VH and HV). At each of the eight channels the radar can measure the backscattering properties of a target with a range resolution of 1metre. The experimental results indicate that the location of backscattering sources within the forest canopy varies substantially with tree species. By applying principal component analysis to the radar return versus range spectrum, identification of tree species is shown to be possible. © 1990 Taylor & Francis Ltd.