Measurement of radar backscatter from rough soil surfaces using linear and circular polarizations

Abstract
Radar backscatters from loam with a dry bulk density of 0·6g/cm3 have been measured at 9·9 GHz using both linear and circular polarizations. The sensitivity of radar return to soil moisture content has been obtained at five polarization combinations, HH, VV, HV, LR and LL (L and R denote the left-circular and the right-circular polarizations, respectively). Comparison of the moisture sensitivities shows that the sensitivity of HV is the highest among five polarizations and the sensitivity of LL is slightly higher than that of HH, VV and LR. Surface scatter theories are discussed in relation to the moisture sensitivities of five polarizations.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: