Relating soil water measurements at fire disturbed sites in Alaska to ERS-1 SAR image signature

Studies of ERS-1 imagery have shown that fire scars in the Alaskan boreal forest are significantly (3-6 dB) brighter than surrounding unburned forest. Additionally, studies have shown that soil moisture increases in black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) forests when fire disturbs the site, due to changes in evapotranspiration rates and changes in the ground permafrost conditions. The purpose of this study was to relate soil water content at six fire scars in interior Alaska to ERS-1 SAR backscatter measurements. Results show that for younger burns (<4 yrs) a positive linear relationship exists between measured soil water and radar cross-section. Results from older burns do not indicate this relationship