New polarimetric calibration proposal and its evaluation using ALOS PALSAR calibration campaign measurements

We propose new polarimetric calibration algorithms using two reference targets: a polarization-preserving reflector and a polarization rotating one. In this method, iteration procedure is adopted for accuracy improvement in deriving transfer matrices of radar transmitting and receiving antennas, FR(Faraday rotation) matrix and actual scattering matrix of observed target. Availability of this method was evaluated by measured results obtained in calibration campaign of PALSAR(phased array type L-band synthetic aperture radar) boarded on ALOS(advanced land observing satellite). It is proved that the proposed method can derive each matrix component separately.