Polarimetric SAR image classification employing subaperture polarimetric analysis

Polarimetric SAR image classification remains an important research area. Various methods continue to be developed for specific applications. High-resolution polarimetric SAR systems and advances in computational and data storage capabilities have revived interest in novel polarimetric analysis techniques. Accordingly, subaperture analysis of polarimetric SAR data has received renewed attention. A central assumption of SAR image formation is that individual radar scatterers are stationary; they have no structure and provide a constant reflectivity during the imaging process. However, with increased resolution, and hence fewer scatterers per pixel, the nonstationary response from any given scatterer is more likely to influence total radar backscatter of a pixel. We present a method to assess the polarimetric variability across the full aperture.