Performance simulation of spaceborne P-band SAR for global biomass retrieval

This paper evaluates the use of a spaceborne low-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for forest biomass retrieval. Airborne radar data are used as input to a SAR simulator in which SAR system parameters of the assumed spaceborne system and propagation effects in the ionosphere (primarily scintillation and Faraday rotation) are modelled. The simulations are performed for different ionospheric perturbation states. Some simulated spaceborne low-frequency SAR images over boreal forest are shown and their usefulness for forest biomass retrieval are studied and discussed The results indicate that it is possible to separate boreal forest into three classes assuming a moderate distorted ionosphere