A new empirical model to inverse soil moisture and roughness using two radar configurations

A new empirical model for the retrieval, at a field scale, of the bare soil moisture content and the surface roughness characteristics from radar measurements is proposed. The derivation of the algorithm is based on the results of 3 experimental radar campaigns conducted under natural conditions over agricultural areas. Radar data were acquired by means of several C-band space borne (SIR-C, RADARSAT) or helicopter borne (ERASME) sensors. This algorithm is more specifically developed using the radar cross-section σ⁰ (HH polarization and 39° incidence angle off nadir), namely, σ_0(HH,39), and the differential (HH polarization) radar cross-section Δσ₀=σ_0,23°-σ_0,39° in terms of an original roughness parameter, Zs, and Mv. An inversion technique is proposed to retrieve Zs and Mv from radar measurements.