Comparison of measurements and theory for backscatter from vegetation-covered soil on the Konza prairie

We made radar backscatter measurements over the Konza Prairie as a part of the First ISLSCP Field Experiment (FIFE) to determine soil moisture. We made these measurements using Cand X-band ScatterOrneterS in a helicopter. Nearly simultaneous radar and radiometer data sets were collected along two transects that coincided with direct soil-moisture measurements. The results from this experiment showed that radars can be used for soilmoisture estimation over the complete transect, whereas radiometer sensitivity to soil moisture was drastically reduced over regions left unburned for many years. A combined rough-surface/volume-scatter model was formulated. Here we compare calculated and measured scattering data to determine the sensitivity of the scattering coefficient to different surface treatments.