L-band Polarimetric Interferometry in Boreal Forest Parameter Estimation, a Case Study

In this study we concentrate on the application and validation of forest height estimation by polarimetric SAR interferometry for boreal forest. The study material was collected during the FinnSAR campaign, carried out in Finland in fall 2003. The main instruments of the campaign were E-SAR airborne radar (L- and X-band) and HUTSCAT helicopter-borne profiling scatterometer (X- and C-band). The validated forest height estimation algorithm is based on random volume over ground (RVoG) model inversion by using POLinSAR data. We compare POLinSAR-derived forest height with results from profiling HUTSCAT scatterometer measurements and with ground measurements and discuss the results. Our results show that the forest height values, estimated by means of two different instruments, are in good agreement.