Surface parameters retrieval from alluvial fan in Ejina area of Inner Mongolia using multi-polarization SAR data

This paper presents the method of retrieving surface parameters of alluvial fan using multi-polarization SAR data based on Genetic Algorithm combined with backscattering models. The comparison of simulated results and field measurements shows that the method is efficient for surface parameters retrieval from alluvial fan. This method presented that the cross function of surface parameters inversion could be variable with the amount of data acquired. The data used for surface parameters inversion must be more than two scenes. The more data could generate the more accurate results. Then the surface parameters of alluvial fan in Ejina area of Inner Mongolia were estimated using ENVISAT ASAR and ALOS PALSAR data. The estimation results shows the ground surface of Ejina alluvial fan is very flat, so the range of its roughness is small, and the root mean squared heights in most party of the alluvial fan are no more than 1.0cm. The roughness in the area along Heihe River is big, and it is very small in the other areas far from Heihe River. The estimation result of soil moisture shows this area is very arid, and the soil volume moisture in most party is no more than 10%.