Mapping and monitoring land cover in Corumbiara area, Brazilian Amazônia, using JERS-1 SAR multitemporal data

This paper discusses the use of a JERS-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) time-series for mapping and monitoring land cover in a test site in the region of Corumbiara, Rondonia State, western Brazilian Amazonia. In order to support JERS-1 data analysis, land cover maps were obtained by digital classification of Landsat TM images acquired from 1993 to 1997 period, following a procedure based on image segmentation, unsupervised classification, and post-classification image edition. The comparison of these products with JERS-1 images shows that clean deforested areas are well identified presenting a low backscattering response as expected. However areas that have been cleared and even burned but with remaining forest material left on the ground present high backscattering response opposed to expected. Considering these observations and user interpretation expertise, JERS-1 SAR images can be used to map and monitor land cover changes in Amazonia.