Microwave vegetation indices and the application for vegetation optical depth retrieval using WindSat data

The vegetation optical depth, which describes vegetation attenuation properties, is a key factor for estimating soil moisture and some vegetation parameters such as vegetation water content and biomass. Vegetation indices are effective tools for retrieving vegetation optical depth. In this study, we have used a new type of microwave vegetation indices(MVIs) based on WindSat data and deduced the theoretical relationship between MVIs and effective vegetation optical depth. The optical depth had a coherent global pattern with NDVI.