SAR calibration: an overview

Progress in synthetic-aperture radar, (SAR) calibration is reviewed. The difficulties of calibrating both airborne and spaceborne SAR image data are addressed. The quantities measured by a SAR, i.e. radar backscatter, are defined and mathematical formulations for the three basic types of SAR image are developed. The difficulties in establishing science requirements for calibration are discussed. The measurement of SAR image quality is briefly addressed. The problem of radiometric calibration is introduced via the SAR form of the radar equation, with both internal and external calibration approaches considered. The development of algorithms for polarimetric radar calibration is reviewed and the problems involved in phase calibration of interferometric SAR are discussed. Future challenges in the field of SAR calibration are considered