A two layer water cloud model

Two layer water cloud model (WCM2), which is a refined version of the conventional water cloud model (WCM), considering the vertical inhomogeneity in the vegetation layer. The vertical inhomogeneity of the vegetation layer is described by the distribution of water content per unit volume. A piecewise linear function is used to describe the distribution of water content per unit volume. We analyze the variation tendency of vegetation scattering under different vertical inhomogeneity conditions by means of WCM2 and validate it using a physically-based model developed at Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. The result shows that the vertical inhomogeneity affects vegetation scattering significantly. Comparison between model predications and field measurements on radar backscattering coefficients for soybean shows WCM2 has the potential to get a better prediction result.