A generalized radar scattering model for multispecies forests with multilayer subsurface soil

A generalized radar scattering model to predict backscattering for different frequencies and polarizations is crucial in the endeavor to understand the relationship between radar measurement and properties of both the vegetation and soil, and for allowing the estimation of both vegetation and soil information from radar data. In this work, we develop a combined radar scattering model of vegetation and multilayered soil structure to represent realistic soils with multiple layers of various textures, depths, and moisture contents. A multilayered soil scattering model based on first order small perturbation method (SPM) is integrated [1] to account for direct ground scattering. Furthermore, the coherent interaction between the vegetation and layered ground is included using a recently developed model based on the Kirchhoff approximation [2].