Global monitoring of hydrological parameters in Africa by using both active and passive microwave sensors

The possibility of a global monitoring of hydrological parameters in Africa was endeavored by using both active and passive microwave sensors. Two ALOS/PALSAR images of Ethiopia were compared with optical data and ground information collected on site by the Istituto Agronomico per l´Oltremare, in Florence. Moreover, AMSR-E data were used as a reference for investigating soil moisture and vegetation conditions. The brightness temperature and the backscattering coefficient values have been related to land features, obtained from ground data and cartographic and meteorological information.