Inter-comparisons of snow covered terrian microwave scattering models

Dry snow is a two-phase random medium with air and ice, which can be modeled as either sphere particles or random medium. The newly developed bicontinuous scattering model greatly enhanced the ability to model the snow scattering characteristics based on microstructure with most similarity to real snowpack. In this study, the geometric equivalent parameters of bicontinuous scattering model are derived and validated by using stereological method. By combining with dense media radiative transfer equations, the snow covered ground backscattering coefficient and brightness temperature are simulated. The bicontinuous-DMRT model is compared with sphere based model - QCA-DMRT model. The snow scattering characteristics predicted by the two models are studied. The models are validated with scatterometer and radiometer measurements.