Foliage attenuation and ground reflectivity measurements in forest stands at millimeter-wave frequencies

In this paper, outdoor experimental procedures as well as two-way foliage attenuation and ground reflectivity data acquired using a nadir-looking radar operating at 35-GHz are presented. The outdoor measurements were conducted at Aberdeen, Maryland, on two distinct forest stands, one being deciduous (Spesutie Island test site) and the other one mostly coniferous (Edgewood test site). The foliage parameters of these stands, including tree density, height, trunk diameter, location, foliage coverage, etc., were also characterized accurately. This type of data is the first of its kind and has not been reported before in the open literature. It was collected during a foliage-covered target detection experiment.