Analysis and modelling of the scattering by randomly tilted trunks with conical shape

In forestry applications, the use of microwave radar observations is limited by the difficulty to understand the complex interactions between the target and the electromagnetic wave. In this study, the authors concentrate on the so-called trunk-ground corner effect. This effect is strongly dependent on the trunk geometry and its modelling could lead to efficient biomass retrieving algorithms. A method allowing the estimation of the scattering by shape-of-revolution objects with slowly varying radius is used to model the scattering by the trunks and to derive an equivalent cylinder radius. The relation between the backscattering cross-section and geometrical characteristics are investigated and discussed in the perspective of biomass retrieval