Absolute radiometric calibration of the CCRS SAR

Author

Ulander, L.M.H. ; Hawkins, R.K. ; Livingstone, C.E. ; Lukowski, T.I.

Author_Institution

Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Ottawa, Ont., Canada

Volume

29

Issue

6

fYear

1991

fDate

11/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

922

Lastpage

933

Abstract

Determining the radar scattering coefficients from SAR (synthetic aperture radar) image data requires absolute radiometric calibration of the SAR system. The authors describe an internal calibration methodology for the airborne Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) SAR system, based on radar theory, a detailed model of the radar system, and measurements of system parameters. The methodology is verified by analyzing external calibration data acquired over a six-month period in 1988 by the C-band radar using HH polarization. The results indicate that the overall error is ±0.8 dB (1σ) for incidence angles ±20° from antenna boresight. The dominant error contributions are due to the antenna radome and uncertainties in the elevation angle relative to the antenna boresight

Keywords

calibration; microwave measurement; radar theory; radiometry; remote sensing by radar; C-band; Canada Centre for Remote Sensing; HH polarization; SAR image data; SAR system; absolute radiometric calibration; antenna radome; elevation angle; error contributions; internal calibration methodology; microwaves; radar theory; remote sensing; synthetic aperture radar; Airborne radar; Calibration; Radar imaging; Radar measurements; Radar remote sensing; Radar scattering; Radar theory; Radiometry; Remote sensing; Synthetic aperture radar;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/36.101371

Filename

101371