In situ backscattering measurements of snowcover with coherent scatterometers at 5.3 and 35 GHz

This paper presents backscattering measurements of snowcover with two scatterometers at 5.3 GHz (C-band) and 35 GHz (Ka-band). The data were recorded in the Swiss Alps on February 21 and 22, 1995 during stable, dry-snow conditions. The snow height varied from 1.25 to 1.40 m. Scattering profiles, the angular and spectral dependence of the backscattering coefficient γ and the amplitude of the correlation coefficient ρ at 5.3 GHz are shown. The authors found that the waves at C-band are mainly backscattered by the ground for incidence angles greater than 20°. At 35 GHz, the backscattering originates from within the snowcover