Analysis of DEM corrected ERS-1 SAR data for snow monitoring

In this paper results from a study on the use of digital elevation model (DEM) corrected and absolute calibrated ERS-1 SAR data and Landsat TM data for snow parameter extraction in mountainous areas is presented. The results indicate that the geometric optic surface scattering model describes the backscattering from a wet snow surface. σ₀ is found to linearly decrease as the TM derived snow ratio increases. By performing a slope effect reduction processing to the SAR data a significant increase in the correlation coefficient between σ₀ and TM derived snow ratio is obtained