Estimation of extinction and phase function of random media using the measured backscatter frequency correlation function

A novel application of radar backscatter data to the classification and inversion of biophysical parameters of terrestrial targets is proposed. Traditionally in radar remote sensing, the backscattering coefficients and the backscatter phase difference statistics of distributed targets are used to estimate the biophysical parameters of interest. However, because of the complex nature of random media scattering problems, target classification and parameter inversion algorithms are very convoluted. One obvious way of enhancing the success and the accuracy of an inversion algorithm is to expand the dimension of the input vector space. Some applications of a new measurable parameter, namely the target frequency correlation function (FCF), is proposed. The frequency correlation function of random media is studied for the purpose of establishing a relationship between extinction and phase function of the target and the measured correlation functions. The University of Michigan wideband polarimetric scatterometer systems are used to verify the theoretical models and algorithms developed in this study.