Paddy Rice Identification Using Polarimetric SAR Data in Southern China

Rice is one of the largest food grains in the world, providing food for more than one third of globe population. The radar remote sensing has been proved as an effective tool for rice mapping. With the emergence of spaceborne polarimetric SAR satellite, researches on polarization backscattering behavior and identification methods of paddy rice are of great significance and attract attention of remote sensing communities. Zhazuo Area located in Guizhou Province of southwest China was selected as the test site of this study. The RADARSAT-2 polarimetric data acquired at four dates were used to analyze the polarization backscattering behaviors and temporal variation characteristics of rice, and identification method for rice based on optimal polarization combination was established. This study shows that HH with HH/HV is the best polarization combination for rice identification under the adoption of linear polarization combination.