Modeling the Multifrequency Emission of Forests and Their Components

This paper describes a microwave model which simulates the emissivity of forests, including litter effects. Detailed input data about forest geometry are obtained by direct measurements and/or by allometric equations. Model outputs have been compared with multifrequency measurements carried out over five broadleaf forests in Italy. Fundamental information about forest properties was available. A general agreement between simulated and measured data is observed. Some discrepancies require further investigation. Also a component analysis has been done. The contribution of soil emission is very low for higher forest volumes, but is appreciable for lower forest volumes.