Polarimetric measurements of radar backscatters of a wet-land rice field throughout a growth period at L- and C-bands

Backscattering coefficients and phase-difference statistics of a wet-land rice field in Suwon, Korea are measured using a ground-based polarimetric scatterometer at 1.9 and 5.3 GHz throughout a growth year from transplanting period to harvest period (May to October in 2006). The ground truth data including bio-mass, plant height, and leaf-area index (LAI) are also collected for each measurement. The measured backscattering coefficients and phase difference statistics are analyzed based on the growth age for each polarization, frequency, and incidence angle. It is found that the hh-polarized backscattering coefficients have wider sensitivity region than the w-polarized backscattering coefficients with respect to the rice growth age.