Quantitative analysis of SMEX´02 AIRSAR data for soil moisture inversion

In July 2002, the AIRSAR system flew several data acquisition flights during the SMEX´02 field experiment in Iowa. The test site was chosen specifically because of the varying vegetation cover to allow more quantitative testing of the radar inversion algorithms under these conditions. Field conditions were generally favorable for this experiment, and data were acquired during an initial dry period, followed by a wet period after significant rain, and again followed by a drier period. This paper discusses in detail the characteristics of the AIRSAR data acquired, and provides an initial quantitative assessment of the accuracy of the radar algorithm under these vegetated conditions.