A radiative model to simulate forest emission at L-band: sensitivity of brightness temperature to forest components

Currently, there is a strong interest in studying the L-band emission of forests to exploit the sensitivity of the microwave signature to surface soil moisture and forest biophysical parameters such as biomass or LAI. In this paper we contribute to the understanding of the forest emission problem through simulations of the L-band brightness temperature based on a discrete radiative transfer model. Prior to L-band simulations, a geometric model of a maritime pine tree forest has been developed to get a close description of a real forest. L-band simulations are then analysed and compared to airborne radiometric data over the Les Landes (SW France) Maritime pine tree forest.