On the accuracy of crosstalk calibration of polarimetric SAR using natural clutter statistics

A method for the routine correction of fully polarimetric synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) images proposed by J.J. van Zyl (1990) uses assumed statistical properties of natural distributed targets. The method has the potential to improve dramatically the accuracy of polarimetric imagery contaminated by antenna crosstalk and may be of importance for future spaceborne polarimetric SARs as well as current airborne systems. The accuracy of the method is assessed when the statistics of clutter deviate from the assumed form, and limits are placed on likely acceptable deviations. These statistics are studied for a heterogeneous forestry and agricultural scene imaged by the NASA/JPL radar. The only significant deviations were found over certain man-made targets, including villages, and a single agricultural field. The results lend support to the routine use of the van Zyl method in such applications