A hybrid scattering model for surface parameter estimation using polarimetric SAR interferometry

In this work the potential of using the interferometric coherence at different polarization over surface scatterers to extract information about surface parameters is investigated. The sensitivity of the individual coherence contributions to surface roughness and moisture conditions is discussed and simulated using a novel hybrid polarimetric surface scattering model. The model itself consists of a coherent part obtained from the extended Bragg model and incoherent part obtained from the integral equation model. Finally, the experimental airborne SAR data are used to validate the proposed model at different polarizations.