Evaluation of P-band foliage penetration through polarimetric high resolution SAR imaging with the RAMSES radar

ONERA in association with DGA, CNES and several laboratories, conducted an experiment of P-band (435 MHz) imaging at high resolution (2 m) with full polarimetric capability. The test site is a cultivated pine forest in south west France. It is populated with appropriately scattered and oriented dihedrals and corner reflectors. Under-covered reflectors and vehicles are also included. Measures of the under cover reflector returns showed that attenuation in horizontal polarisation depends on the angle of view (more than in vertical polarisation). The wide antenna illumination pattern (/spl plusmn/30/spl deg/) allows one to image up to aircraft nadir, thus confirming an important penetration through foliage on its vertical profile.