Model of the speckle noise forprocessing of SAR images

A model of statistical properties of speckle noise in SAR images which formed from rough surfaces is described. The autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions of speckle intensity are investigated in both single-look and multi-look images of stationary random rough surfaces in term of the SAR system parameters and the autocorrelation function of backscatter radar cross-section fluctuation. Speckles are modeled with a multiplicative noise model and verified with real SAR data. Using the developed statistical noise model the property of SAR images has been investigated. It is shown that if the correlation scale of cross-section fluctuation functions of speckle intensity depends on those of the cross-section fluctuations. This property, therefore, may be applied to image classification. Comparison of the theory with computer simulation shows good agreement.