DocumentCode :
1084701
Title :
Snow mapping in alpine regions with synthetic aperture radar
Author :
Shi, Jiancheng ; Dozier, Jeff ; Rott, Helmut
Author_Institution :
Center for Remote Sensing & Environ. Opt., California Univ., Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Volume :
32
Issue :
1
fYear :
1994
fDate :
1/1/1994 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
152
Lastpage :
158
Abstract :
Active microwave sensors can discriminate snow from other surfaces in all weather conditions, and their spatial resolution is compatible with the topographic variation in alpine regions. Using data acquired with the NASA AIRSAR in the Otztal Alps in 1989 and 1991, the authors examine the usage of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to map snow- and glacier-covered areas. By comparing polarimetric SAR data to images from the Landsat Thematic Mapper obtained under clear conditions one week after the SAR flight, the authors found that SAR data at 5.3 GHz (C-band) can discriminate between areas covered by snow from those that are ice-free. However, they are less suited to discrimination of glacier ice from snow and rock. The overall pixel-by-pixel accuracies-74% from VV polarization alone with topographic information, 76% from polarimetric SAR without any topographic information, and 79% from polarimetric SAR with topographic information-are high enough to justify the use of SAR as the data source in areas that are too cloud-covered to obtain data from the Thematic Mapper. This is especially true for snow discrimination, where accuracies exceed 80%, because mapping of a transient snow cover during a cloudy melt season is often difficult with an optical sensor. The AIRSAR survey was carried out in summer during a heavy rainstorm, when the snow surfaces were unusually rough. Even better results for snow discrimination can be expected for mapping in the spring, when snow is usually smoother
Keywords :
hydrological techniques; remote sensing; remote sensing by radar; snow; synthetic aperture radar; 5.3 GHz; AIRSAR; C-band; Otztal Alps; SAR; alpine; discrimination; hydrology; mapping; measurement technique; microwave SHF; mountainous area; polarimetric; radar remote sensing; snow cover; spatial resolution; synthetic aperture radar; Ice; Microwave sensors; NASA; Polarization; Remote sensing; Satellites; Snow; Spatial resolution; Surface topography; Synthetic aperture radar;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0196-2892
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/36.285197
Filename :
285197
Link To Document :
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