Target decomposition analysis of SIR-C data to infer surface conditions

SIR-C images taken over the Sarobetsu test site are analyzed using the target decomposition method to characterize the scattering mechanisms and relate them with the surface conditions. The scattering mechanisms assumed are double bounce scattering, Bragg scattering, odd bounce scattering, and cross scattering. The SIR-C data analyzed was taken on 10 April 1994 at the incident angle of 23.8 degrees. Two target areas (forest and pastureland) are extracted from the images, where in the former double bounce and cross scatterings must exceed the others, while in the latter odd bounce and/or Bragg scattering is expected to dominate, by referring to aerial photographs. The analysis results agree well with the expectations with one exception, i.e. the most significant mechanism in the forest is the odd bounce scattering. Analysis is made on two additional areas extracted from the mountain and the wildland, and it is confirmed that the former result is similar to that of the forest and the latter result agrees with that of the pastureland. It suggests the potential of the target decomposition method to infer surface conditions.